Sydney Uni has announced the end of its exchange program between Sydney College of the Arts (SCA) and the Israeli Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design, in a win for the campaign to cut ties with Israel. This comes after student and staff campaigning against its renewal, after learning the program was being negotiated in early 2025.
An open letter gathered more than 200 signatures of SCA students, staff and supporters. Activists spread the word about the exchange program by walking through the SCA building on campus and approaching students and staff from the faculty. Following this a grouping of SCA students and Palestine activists began to organise small demonstrations—including a speakout at last year’s graduation art show to build awareness.
Management has tried to deny that campaigning played any role in its decision, saying that students had not accessed the program since 2015. But this is a result of BDS campaigning for over a decade and growing student recognition of the reality of Israel’s apartheid state.
We should celebrate this as a step forward for efforts to cut all ties with Israel across university campuses.
By Maeve Larkins
