Dean of the Faculty of Education, Prof. Nirit Bauminger-Zviely

The Faculty leads multi-dimensional research that includes, among other areas, child development, special education and autism, cognitive diversity, and learning disabilities.

It also explores developmental and learning processes, including the neurological processes that support learning, as well as the educational contexts in which individuals grow. Particular emphasis is placed on science and technology education, teaching and learning processes, and research on organization, management, and leadership in both formal and informal education. The Faculty is home to more than 1,500 students pursuing bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees, as well as teaching certificates, with a strong focus on connecting scientific knowledge to its practical application in educational settings.

Prof. Nirit Bauminger-Zviely is an international expert in autism. Her Laboratory for Research and Intervention in Autism is at the forefront of global research on the social phenotype of autism and leads scientific and applied innovation through groundbreaking knowledge and tools. Her research focuses on identifying predictors and mechanisms underlying social-interaction characteristics and on developing evidence-based models that promote social interactions and social inclusion. She also studies friendship, social cognition and emotions such as loneliness and jealousy, as well as the impact of motor abilities and motor coordination on social functioning.

In recognition of her international scientific contributions, Prof. Bauminger-Zviely was named a Fellow of the International Society for Autism Research (INSAR) and received the Rector’s Award for Scientific Innovation. She has published two books with leading publishers (Springer and Guilford) and more than 80 chapters and articles in top-tier journals. Her work is widely cited and presented around the world, and she is frequently invited as a visiting professor and keynote speaker at leading universities, including the UC Davis MIND Institute, La Trobe University in Australia, and the University of Geneva. In addition, she has served as a lead researcher in international collaborations with the United States and Europe.

Prof. Bauminger-Zviely founded and leads a unique master’s program in autism within the Faculty of Education, training professionals from a wide range of fields. The social-intervention models developed in her laboratory are implemented in many educational frameworks in Israel and worldwide. Her work integrates scientific contribution with social impact, bridging research knowledge with practice to improve the quality of life of autistic individuals and empower the professionals who support them.