Hebrew U program gives foreign students Start-Up ‘taste’

For English-speaking students from abroad who want to experience the Start-Up Nation firsthand, Hebrew University has started a one-year MBA program, emphasizing entrepreneurship and innovation. Beginning this fall, the program, stretching over three semesters — offered jointly by Hebrew University’s Jerusalem School of Business Administration and the Rothberg International School — will offer internships as well.

Those internships, in which students will be placed with Israeli companies and start-ups, will allow students to get a first-hand look at how Israel’s tech ecosystem works, and help them find a place in it. Along with the internships, the 48 credit program – which will lead to a full MBA, recognized world-wide – will include elective courses in Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Global Aspects of Finance, and Globalization and Management. And, of course, the program will expose students to the rest of Israel, via tours, cultural and social events and more.

Some of those internship placements will be done via Hebrew U’s Yissum Research Development Company, the school’s tech transfer program. Yissum, founded in 1964, is considered by experts in the field as one of the the top 15 technology transfer companies in the world, and works with companies such as Microsoft, Novartis, Johnson & Johnson, Roche, Merck, Teva, Intel, IBM, Eli Lilly, Adobe, Google, Lucent, Nestle, Phillips, Syngenta, Vilmorin, Monsanto, and many more.

The program, said Prof. Yishay Yafeh, Dean of the Jerusalem School of Business Administration, “will train a select group of students with the knowledge, analytical tools and business skills to successfully adapt to emerging trends in today’s global markets. Students will gain value beyond the classroom through access to the Israeli business hub of innovation, hi-tech firms and start-ups, and networking with faculty and local students.”

With the program, Hebrew U joins nearly all other Israeli universities that already offer an MBA program for foreign students. Unlike the Hebrew U program, however, most are not specifically tailored to expose students to Israel’s tech innovation ecosystem (although portions of other universities’ programs are dedicated to the subject).

According to Prof. Mimi Ajzenstadt, Provost of the Rothberg International School, Hebrew U “created this program in response to demand from students around the world for an English-language Hebrew University MBA. This program answers that need with instruction from Hebrew University’s outstanding faculty and training from people in the business world, combined with practical work experience.”

Applications are being taken through March 15, Hebrew U said.