The “Wikipedia in Academia” program invites lecturers to integrate Wikipedia writing as an academic assignment in their courses — turning course-generated knowledge into public knowledge.
As part of the program, students write or expand articles on the Hebrew Wikipedia, engaging in information gathering, literature review, source citation, and presenting knowledge in an accessible way for the general public.
The result: A meaningful learning experience that strengthens academic skills, contributes to information and research literacy, and gives students a sense of impact and involvement.
Why is it worthwhile?
For lecturers:
- Shape your field in the public sphere – Students make your field of study and research accessible to the general public.
- Recognition and credit – Each course is documented on an official project page on Wikipedia, and every article includes a template on the talk page with course and lecturer details.
- Opportunity for innovative teaching – Integrating a relevant, meaningful assignment with academic value and public contribution.
For students:
- Strengthen academic literacy – Gathering information from reliable sources, accurate referencing, scientific review, and clear writing.
- Deepen understanding – Writing requires processing material and making it understandable to others.
- Contribute to society – Publishing articles on Wikipedia is a direct contribution to expanding free knowledge in Hebrew.
How does it work?
Wikimedia Israel provides full support to lecturers and students throughout all stages of the course:
- Assistance in selecting suitable articles
- A tailored opening lecture for the course
- Instructional materials for students
- Professional guidance during the writing process
- Support in uploading the articles to Wikipedia’s article space
Our experience ensures that the outputs meet Wikipedia’s standards—and almost all are successfully accepted into the article space. All services are provided free of charge.
Who is it for?
✔ Undergraduate courses (core or elective) from the second year and up
✔ Graduate-level courses
✔ Lecturers seeking to combine innovative teaching with social value
Arab and Jewish Students Write Wikipedia Together
Wikimedia Israel leads a groundbreaking project that brings Jewish and Arab students together around the joint creation of free knowledge. As part of the program, implemented as an academic assignment in institutions of higher education, students write and expand articles in both Hebrew and Arabic Wikipedia.
This collaborative work is not only an exercise in academic skills — it is, first and foremost, a dialogue between students from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds. It reduces negative stereotypes and fosters a more positive campus climate. Most participants report having built meaningful connections with their peers, and describe the assignment as especially innovative and enriching.
The program is supported by the Edmond de Rothschild Foundation and is expanding year by year, intending to make high-quality knowledge accessible in both Hebrew and Arabic, while building bridges of understanding and cooperation in Israeli society.
