Last updated Sept. 24 8:00 p.m.

At today’s senate meeting, vice-president research and international Charmaine Dean confirmed that there are “no plans to renew the partnership” between the university and Technion-Israel Institute of Technology. The statement was made in response to a question brought up by student senator Rida Sayed, given his “understanding that the agreement is to conclude soon.”

In a referendum held October last year, 83.9 per cent of participating students voted ‘Yes’ in response to whether UW should sever its partnership with Technion due to its role in the research and development used by the Israeli Defence Forces.

“After two years of genocide, the non-renewal of the Technion partnership is a welcome thing for us to hear,” Sayed said. The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Palestinian Territory found last week that Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip since 2023, which have killed over 64,000 Palestinians, amount to genocide against Palestinians. The current conflict was sparked by Hamas’ attacks on an Israeli music festival that killed about 1,200 people. “But I also think that it’s very, very important to realize and acknowledge that our work isn’t done, that more conversations [will] be had… that we must continue to deliver on the second half of the [referendum],” he continued, referring to the second question in last year’s referendum that asked whether UW should review its partnerships and institutional investments to ensure prioritization of institutions with commitments to human rights, peace, and international law. In response to this question, 88.6 per cent of participating students voted ‘Yes’.

In a statement, Nick Manning, associate vice-president, communications and institutional relations, attributed the non-renewal to the federal government’s ongoing travel advisory urging citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Israel. According to Manning, UW has not completed research projects through its partnership with Technion since 2022, with the schools being unable to fulfil “key reciprocal exchange elements of the partnership” due to the travel advisory.

A spokesperson for UW student group Voices for Palestine called the partnership one “pillar of complicity,” and the non-renewal a “huge win” they attributed to pressure from the student community.  “I can’t understate that, but it’s nowhere near the end,” they added, calling for the university to divest from companies working alongside Israel and the Israeli Defence Forces. According to the spokesperson, VFP has submitted a motion recommending divestment from such companies to the Board of Governors.

Imprint has reached out to Technion for comment.