Page 3 - Perspective 2022 - 11.9.22

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
JCT IS ALIVE AND WELL
Dear Friends,
It’s great to be alive. Despite the trials and tribulations of productivity and in our providing highly skilled personnel
these past few years, or maybe because of them, we all
understand how much we have for which to be grateful.
And yet, an interesting discussion in the era of artificial
intelligence (AI) and machine learning is: What does it
mean to be alive? Can AI produce sentient computers –
machines that are alive? While once the topic of science
fiction, such discussions are now quite real and have broad
ethical, moral and practical ramifications.
How do we know if an object is alive? Life must be dynamic
and able to respond to external stimuli while retaining its
original identity. A living being must be able to grow and
reproduce. And, finally, life requires a constant input of
energy and resources; it cannot remain static.
The same question can also be asked about institutions.
Successful institutions are alive and vibrant. They respond
to changes in the needs of society and are able to tangibly
demonstrate their contribution to the world around them.
They must grow and consistently increase their impact on
their target population.
I am happy to report that JCT is alive and well!
From its inception, the mission of JCT has been to provide
the talent that is so vital to the growth and welfare of
Israel. We take great pride in our 14,000 graduates and
their achievements. We are constantly growing in numbers
of students and in innovative new programs, such as a
first-of-its-kind master’s program in Medical Informatics.
This growth is also evident in our expanding facilities, most
prominently in the ambitious but vital construction of the
new Tal Campus.
We are constantly changing and adapting to the needs of
the State. Our outreach to under-represented populations
(Ethiopians, women, and Haredim) is bearing fruit and
catalyzing essential social change.
As exciting new opportunities have emerged, our focus
has expanded from engineering and high-tech to include
a wide range of healthcare-related programs. Our impact
across these many disciplines is evident in our research
for many sectors of the Israeli marketplace. This has
all been done while remaining faithful to the values and
vision of our founders and striving for the excellence that
is prominent in programs like our Selma Jelinek School of
Nursing and in our highly acclaimed Cyber Elite training
program.
The key to maintaining this success is the constant input of
energy and resources. We are keenly aware of the efforts
of our dedicated academic and administrative staff and
we are endlessly grateful for the ongoing support of our
many friends around the world. The partnerships that we
have forged in academia and in industry, both in Israel and
abroad, are fueled by the active engagement of a wide
range of stakeholders and generous donors.
We thank you all, and look forward to continuing to build
and strengthen these relationships for many years to come.
Best wishes for a happy and healthy new year to you and
your families.
Professor Chaim Sukenik
President
‫שנה טובה ומתוקה‬
Wishing you all a year of good health
and prosperity!
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