History & Our Vision

History

Ashkelon Academic College (AAC) was established in 1965 by Bar Ilan University with the goals of making academic studies more accessible to people living in the south-western part of Israel; developing innovative methods of teaching and learning; setting high standards of academic research and international cooperation; achieving academic excellence by providing scholarships for outstanding students, fostering research, and establishing research institutes in various disciplines. AAC was recognized as a regional college in 1991, entitling it to confer a Bar Ilan University degree. In 2000, it was accredited independently as an academic college. In 2007 the Council of Higher Education granted the college its credibility for independent tracks.

Our Vision

The next AAC ten-year program places the college in a respectable position at the forefront of higher education in Israel’s academic institutions with approximately 6,000 students studying for bachelor’s degrees, hundreds of students studying for master’s degrees and 400 junior and senior faculty members conducting research and engaging in international cooperation with universities around the globe. In order to achieve these goals AAC has invested in the Authority for Research and Publications and in the International Relations Office. AAC’s vision for the coming years is to expand access to higher education in the region, nurture the professionalism of employees in the areas of our operation, cultivate academic and democratic discourse in our region, and foster excellence, research, and knowledge.