Cotler Fellows during the academic year 2025-2026 took part in a program rich with lectures, field trips, and workshops that acquainted them with Israeli society, history, landmarks, and landscapes, and informed them on the means to promote human rights and democracy and to fight antisemitism and racism at large. The fourth cohort, which brought together 23 of the best and brightest international students from 19 countries, included Fellows from several countries that were represented for the first time, including South Korea, Kenya, Haiti, China, Spain, Ghana, Uganda, and Malta. Upon the conclusion of the program, several described the impact it had on them.

“The fellowship was an incredibly enriching experience. It brought together people who are deeply passionate about human rights, justice, and democracy, creating a safe space for open, respectful discussions on difficult issues from different perspectives. The guest speakers and Ambassadors Club sessions inspired thoughtful conversations and encouraged critical thinking.

One of the most valuable aspects of the program was the opportunity to experience Israel beyond the classroom through visits to religious sites, archaeological sites, and marginalized communities, giving me a deeper understanding of the country’s history and society. I also appreciated the strong focus on personal development, particularly the training in public speaking, media engagement, and workshop facilitation, which gave me the confidence to lead a workshop outside my area of expertise. 

I would highly recommend this fellowship to students from all disciplines, as it broadens perspectives and equips participants with valuable skills that extend far beyond their field of study.”

Joan Otieno (Kenya)

“The Irwin Cotler Institute fellowship was a very positive and enlightening experience, one that allowed me to make the most of my few months in Israel to gain as broad a perspective as possible on the state’s political diversity. I was able to learn all of this by exploring many parts of the country that I would not have visited on my own, which gave me a much more comprehensive (and entertaining) understanding of the key democratic challenges facing Israel and the Middle East more broadly. I highly recommend this experience to any student interested in contemporary political issues.”

Elie Houé (France)

“The program was an outstanding complement to my studies. Meeting participants from 19 countries broadened my understanding of diverse cultures and brought a wide range of perspectives to the class discussions. The lectures covered topics ranging from democracy and extraterritorial voting rights to Holocaust education around the world, and featured speakers of exceptional calibre. We also participated in numerous field trips that brought our learning about Israeli society beyond the classroom and into real-world settings. Highlights included meeting religious and community leaders from a variety of backgrounds, including ultra-Orthodox and Arab-Israeli communities. Overall, it was a fascinating and enriching experience that enhanced my studies while providing valuable opportunities to connect with people, ideas, and places.”

Nancye Kochen (Australia)

“The Irwin Cotler Fellowship has been one of the best experiences of my time as a student at Tel Aviv. The program has taken us to places I never thought I would go — experiences I genuinely could not have found anywhere else.

The lecture that remained with me the most was that of Dr. Sharon Nazarian, an Iranian-American academic and international affairs expert, about Iranian Jewish identity and what life is really like inside Iran—the kind of firsthand account you simply can’t get from a book. The field trips hit just as hard: walking through the ruins at Beit She’an and Caesarea gave me a completely different sense of the historical weight this region carries, layer upon layer of civilizations you can still see stacked on top of each other. And visiting Mea Shearim, getting to actually see and understand the ultra-Orthodox way of life up close, was one of those experiences that no article or documentary could have given me in the same way.

Beyond the experiences themselves, the Institute also opened real doors professionally. I had the opportunity to contribute to the Antisemitism Worldwide Report for 2025, published by the Center for the Study of Contemporary European Jewry and the Irwin Cotler Institute—a chance to see how serious academic research translates into work that actually informs public understanding and policy.

I’d recommend this fellowship without hesitation to any student, regardless of their field—it’s one of those experiences that ends up shaping you well beyond the months you actually spend in it.”

Miguel Leboso Moriano (Spain)

“I applied to the Irwin Cotler Fellowship Program with great enthusiasm, not only because I saw it as a wonderful opportunity to receive a scholarship that would allow me to devote more time to my research, but also because I considered it an excellent opportunity to learn. However, given my age, deep down I did not really believe I would be selected. I had looked up the profiles of fellows from previous years online, and it was quite clear that most of them were much younger than I was. Therefore, when I received the email informing me that I had been accepted, I felt a great sense of astonishment, immediately followed by happiness and satisfaction.

I had read a lot about the program, the topics that would be addressed during the lectures, and the field trips planned to allow us to gain a deeper understanding of Israel. I was truly excited. Yet I never expected to reach the end of the program and feel such deep sadness at the conclusion of that magnificent experience.

It was like a journey that deeply enriched me and transformed me. And I am not referring only to the knowledge I acquired on subjects I knew little about, or not at all, nor only to the skills I developed through the assignments I completed. I am referring to the sharing of life experiences, stories, and places that left a deep mark on me.

From a journey, one almost always returns with suitcases full of memories. I return from this journey with much more than memories. My suitcase is full of deep appreciation for the opportunity I was given, gratitude for all that was passed on to me, and an even stronger desire to continue exploring and researching. I return deeply aware that dialogue and open exchange, when grounded in respect, can take us far. I have learned that age did not matter and does not matter. What matters is keeping one’s mind and soul open, having the courage to listen, to question oneself, and to continue learning.”

Carmela Dilettoso (Switzerland)