Opinion
12 Mar 26

University of Galway Student Union to hold referendum over ties to Israeli institution today

The University of Galway and the Israel-based university Technion have collaborated on the ASTERISK project since early 2025, with Technion allegedly holding ties to defense contractors contributing to the ongoing genocide in Palestine.

The University of Galway Student Union is set to hold a referendum today over the university's ties to the Israeli institution Technion.

The referendum, which coincides with the university's student union elections, will propose for the University of Galway to cut all ties with Technion, an Israel-based university which allegedly works with defense contractor Elbit systems, offers credits to IDF soldiers, and has hosted programmes for the development of combat drone technologies.

UG currently collaborate with Technion through the sustainability research project ASTERISK, which commenced in early 2025. The project researches the process of extracting green hydrogen from seawater, and includes a variety of universities worldwide, such as the University of Newcastle and the Technical University of Berlin.

The ongoing project has sparked much controversy throughout the university and greater Galway community, with the UG Palestinian Solidarity Society regularly holding protests and demonstrations throughout campus and the city centre, urging administration to end the project. University of Galway have argued in response that they remain contractually obligated to the project until 2027, but will "not participate in any new institutional research agreements involving direct Israeli partners until further notice."

The University of Galway Student Union issued a notice of referendum earlier this month, stating that the "referendum has been requested by 500 members of the Students’ Union in accordance with the Students’ Union Constitution, Article 16".

The motion presented on the ballot reads: "That Comhaltas na Mac Léinn, Ollscoil na Gaillimhe demands that the University cut all ties with Technion."

Students blockading the Quadrangle at the University Of Galway. Photo credit: Fionn O'Connor.

Amid the controversy, artists such as filmmaker Margo Harkin, actress Olwen Fouéré, as well as historian Kerby Miller refused honourary degrees from UG this past November, standing in solidarity with the motion to terminate the ASTERISK contract.

"I believed that I could take on this challenge more effectively from within, as a newly conferred honorary alumni," Fouéré said.

"After a great deal of thought, I have regrettably come to believe that the stronger, and perhaps more visible, action is in refusing to accept an honorary degree at this moment in the University's history."

Fouéré concluded by calling on the University of Galway leadership to "fulfil the University's promise of divestment" and to cease all partnerships with Technion and Israel "in compliance with the University of Galway's obligations under Irish and international law."

Students have been asked to cast their votes for the referendum via YourSpace, a student extracurricular portal, with votes closing at 8pm.