In face of current geo-political events in Israel and the world, the roles of diplomats, policy analysts, and decision-makers have become more complex, challenging and relevant than ever. The University of Haifa is training the next generation of policy makers and international mediators to address these complexities in several unique 1-year English-taught International Masters Programs: Peace Conflict Management, National Security, Public Policy Management, Diplomacy and International Relations. These programs are specially designed to offer multidisciplinary understanding and practical tools to address social, political, and economic challenges in today’s diverse, interconnected global environment, specifically in the MENA region.
Striving for peace and managing conflict
As the complexities of international relations deepen in an increasing globalized world, the demand and critical necessity for global mediators has never been higher. The University of Haifa is at the forefront of Peace & Conflict Management studies, an exciting discipline and a rapidly growing field.
“Peace and conflict Management has become a 21st century must-have skill set,” says Dr. Ran Kuttner, head of the UHaifa International’s Master’s Program in Peace and Conflict Management, “as we can see on-interpersonal, organizational, communal, national and global levels- it’s becoming increasingly crucial to have professionals who can bridge gaps between diverse stakeholders and help transform conflicts into dialogues.”
The University of Haifa was the first in Israel to align with the global Sustainable Development Goal’s (SDGs) and the International Peace & Conflict Management Master’s program is consistent with them, especially UN Goal number 16 – promotion of peace and justice. “By default, all SDG goals need conflict management skills to put them into action, and this is exactly what our program is all about,” Kuttner says.
Situated in the beating heart of the conflict-stricken Middle East, Haifa – Israel’s most diverse city – is the ultimate location to learn about conflict resolution. The only city in Israel that is part of the International Intercultural City Network, Haifa offers students the opportunity to learn from a wide range of cultural perspectives first-hand. “Our multidisciplinary approach not only provides a holistic understanding of Peace & Conflict on educational, philosophic, psychological and political levels, but also the opportunity to experience it in the making,” says Kuttner. “Our students tour Haifa and Israel, explore a wide range of conflicts on local and global levels, and engage in hands-on work with renowned NGOs, where students have the chance to participate directly in peace building efforts.”
Luisa Giese from Germany, a Masters student at UHaifa International, has found this aspect of the program deeply meaningful. “”What I find remarkable is that, unlike others, this program is very practice-oriented”, says Giese. “Through field trips and traveling, I’m getting the unique opportunity to see aspects of the local conflict from a closer view.”
With a diverse student body from around the globe, the Master’s Program in Peace and Conflict Management provides a unique opportunity to network and learn from fellow future peacekeepers who are taking the first steps towards a fulfilling and impactful career. “As today’s complex world presents a multitude of barriers that make it difficult to engage in collaboration, our program aims at breaking them down and working together to create a more dialogue-driven approach throughout the world,” says Kuttner.
Creating Future Policy Makers
Aligned with the School of Political Science’s prestigious program, ranked among the top 100 programs worldwide, UHaifa International offers a 1-year Master’s program in Public Administration (MPA), specializing in Public Management and Policy Making. Designed to train students for a management level career, the program welcomes administrative officers, policy makers, and managers in the public sector, alongside students who aspire to careers in public administration, local government, or non-governmental organizations.
“We offer our students a toolbox of public administration and management skills that can be applied in various career settings as soon as they complete their degree”, says Dr. Valerie Isaak, Head of the Master’s Programs at the University of Haifa’s School of Political Sciences. This includes practical workshops focused on time management, interviewing, and hiring prospective employees, ethics in public administration, leadership, as well as political and global economics. Students will also write a practicum under the guidance of a university advisor that will address a core issue or organization in their home country.
“Our strongest point is praxis and we’re committed to walk the talk,” says Issak,”That’s why I personally teach a course on how to transform theoretical models on narrowing social gaps into practical business plans.”
The program’s multidisciplinary approach offers students a broader understanding of public administration in various fields. “UHaifa International’s MPA program is helping me learn about public management and policy in complex and uncertain environments,” confirms Ihor Stephanov, a student from Ukrane. “As both a lawyer and an ethical activist, this wide perspective is helpful and important.”
Masters in National Security: Learning from the Best
“If you aspire a career in National Security, then the University of Haifa, in Israel, is the right place for your graduate studies,” says Dr. Dan Schueftan, head of the National Security Program at UHaifa International, and with good reason. For decades, Israel has contended with a multitude of complex national security challenges and has gained unmatched ingenuity in addressing them. The University of Haifa has designed its National Security program in partnership with Israel’s globally renowned National Security College- which conducts the IDF’s most elite course of study- the world’s leading institution for defense and intelligence.
The program teaches mastery in both high-level theory and practical skills to address complex national security challenges in governmental, security, and private sectors, focusing on strategic social, political, ethical, diplomatic, economic, and military fields.
UHaifa International Master’s program in National Security is headed by Dr. Dan Schueftan – an internationally renowned expert in his field, a consultant to leading decision makers, global lecturer, accomplished writer, and sought-after media commentator. For decades, Dr. Schueftan has been consulted national security advisors, military and intelligence professionals, and diplomats.
“The program, together with UHaifa’s campus, reflect a culturally pluralistic student body with an atmosphere of mutual respect and inclusion,” says Anna Lena Klaka, a Masters student from Germany. Klaka’s insight can be sensed both on campus and in class.
“Just like Israel, our classroom includes people from all over the world, so it’s a natural lab to discuss and analyze pressing, complex, real-time national security dilemmas, processes, and conflicts”, says Schueftan. “We analyze fascinating national security case studies, include the mistakes and achievements of the past that have shaped Israel’s unique role in the Middle East and in the world.”
Fueling Diplomacy and International Relations
Students interested in learning about the complex diplomatic challenges in a broader international setting, both in Israel and in Eastern Europe, can benefit UHaifa International’s Dual Degree Program in International Relations. The University of Haifa, in collaboration with the Institute of International Relations at the University of Warsaw, offers a unique opportunity for a double-accredited degree focusing on international collaborative diplomatic mechanisms, challenges and solutions. Students attend two study semesters at each institution respectively, produce a written thesis supervised by one lecturer from Haifa and one from Warsaw, and receive a Masters in International Relations from both universities.
Students interested in completing their Master’s in just one year can do so with the Master’s program in Diplomacy. “With extensive experience residing in the Middle East, my multi-faceted academic time at the University of Haifa significantly enhanced my diplomacy and communication skills, providing me with new perspectives on evolving events in the region”, says Deborah Ann Samuel, a Diplomacy studies Master’s graduate from India.
Samuel says that her study experience aligned with her passion for improving society and making her mark on the world. “I was able to strengthen social and academic connections attended conferences on Indian Jews, religious diversity, and diplomacy, and even submit research proposals to the 40th Conference of the Association for Israel Studies and the 12th Conference of the European Association for Israel Studies. Samuel adds that her education at UHaifa extended beyond the classroom. “I visited the Golan Heights, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and various community centers, where I had the opportunity to hear from working diplomats and community leaders.”
There’s never been such diversity in a University
Located in a multi-cultural city on top of Mount Carmel with breathtaking views of the Mediterranean Sea, the University of Haifa is Israel’s most diverse, sustainable, affordable, and equal opportunity academic research center. It’s scholarship options and atmosphere of excellence, diversity and inclusion attract students from over 90 countries to a once in a lifetime opportunity to explore new cultures, meet people from all over the world, and leverage new knowledge to a competitive advantage for a future career.