The IDC began to act as a higher-education institution which is not a university under the approval of the Council for Higher Education 25 years ago (as an unfunded private institute). The significant development of the IDC throughout the years in expanding the range of areas it teaches and researches at the various degree levels (first, second, and third degrees), in increasing the senior academic staff of the institute, and in building the research and teaching infrastructures, have led it to impressive achievements that put it right up there with other universities in Israel. A professional committee whose members are senior professors from Israel and abroad, which examined this issue including all its aspects, reached the conclusion that the IDC meets the standards of a university in terms of the academic, scientific, and research level, and unanimously recommended the Council for Higher Education to recognize the IDC as a university.

The Chairperson of the Council for Higher Education (CHE), the Minister of Education Dr. Yifat Shasha-Biton: "Recognizing the IDC as a university is yet another layer in reinforcing higher education in Israel. The IDC is an institute with an innovative and creative agenda having international emphases and coupled with social programs for encouraging higher education in varied populations".

The Chairperson of the Planning and Budgeting Committee (PBC), Prof. Yaffa Zilbershats: "I welcome the establishment for the first time in Israel of an unfunded university. This move will lead to the continued development of a thriving academic system in Israel".

CHE Vice Chairman, Prof. Edo Perlman: "From its foundation, the IDC has acted to encourage internationality in its academic activity and to encourage interdisciplinarity in teaching and research".

The CHE approved the application of the IDC to be recognized as a university. The IDC is an unfunded higher-education institute that was recognized by the CHE 25 years ago having 9000 Israeli and international students in a variety of academic degrees for first, second, and third degrees.

Over the last months the CHE examined the issue of recognizing the institute as a university through an academic committee whose members are senior professors from Israel and the world: Prof. Nahum Finger – chairperson, Prof. Reuven Avi-Yonah, Prof. Avishai Henik, and Prof. Ronnie Friedman. The committee examined the issue and found that the IDC meets the standards of a university in terms of the academic, scientific, and research level as well as in terms of its teaching and research infrastructures.

An examination of the research outputs of the institute showed that it is right up there with other universities in Israel, supports researchers with resources, research infrastructures and teaching load, as in any other research university.

The institute devotes both attention and resources to adequate induction of new staff members as acceptable in research universities, encourages academic and research activity in a range of areas and international collaborations, and demonstrates an impressive ability to raise donations and research budgets.

CHE Chairperson, the Minister of Education Dr. Yifat Shasha-Biton: "Recognizing the IDC as a university is yet another layer in reinforcing higher education in Israel. The IDC is an institute with an innovative and creative agenda having international emphases and coupled with social programs for encouraging higher education in varied populations. As of its outset it has promoted its staff to research standards of universities in Israel and its graduates have integrated in leading positions in the economy and public service. This is a happy day to higher education in Israel".

PBC Chairperson, Prof. Yaffa Zilbershats: "I welcome the establishment for the first time in Israel of an unfunded university. This move will lead to the continued development of a thriving academic system in Israel".

CHE Vice Chairman, Prof. Edo Perlman: "From its establishment, the IDC has acted to encourage internationality in its academic activity and to encourage interdisciplinarity in teaching and research. Encoraging the staff members to research has been done by resources, infrastrucres, and matching the teaching load to research achivements, similarly to other research universities in Israel. Recognizing this institute as a university is the sensible thing to do considering its achievements during the years of its existence and the high academic standards in light of which it has acted. I congratulate the IDC on its celebration".