Professor D. Hadjimitsis, the EXCELSIOR PC and Vice-Rector of Academic Affairs of the Cyprus University of Technology (CUT) visited, following a formal invitation, the Ben-Gurion University in Israel between 23 and 25 April 2018.
Prof. D. Hadjimitsis met Efrat Borenshtain, who was responsible for the tour in the Marcus Family Campus, Ben-Gurion University (BGU) of the Negev Beer-Sheva. The Ben-Gurion University was founded in 1969 and is Israel’s fastest-growing and most dynamic university. Prof. Hadjimitsis first met Prof. Yuval Goren of the Department of Bible, Archaeology and Ancient Near Eastern Studies and discussed the potential collaboration of the Geological Survey Department of Cyprus, the ECoE and the BGU for the use of geospatial and geodetic technologies.
Following, Prof. Hadjimitsis met Prof. Emeritus Nachum Finger of the Department of Industrial Engineering and Management which is one of the largest engineering departments in BGU with 30 faculty members and more than 800 undergraduate students, 120 MSc students and 40 doctoral students, (http://in.bgu.ac.il/en/engn/iem/Pages/default.aspx). Professor Emeritus Nachum Finger is responsible for the evaluation of projects in Israel and suggested collaboration with the EXCELSIOR team on quality programs with new ideas and new standards. As Prof. Finger was the former Rector of Ben-Gurion, he would be able to provide knowhow on how a Centre of Excellence could operate. Prof. Finger gave Prof. Hadjimitsis a tour of the Robotic Laboratory and explained the application of UAVs in the agricultural sectors.