Following two semesters of weekly meetings, lectures and project tasks, the Program for Progressive Economists` fourth course came to an end. 30 students of economics from both, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Tel Aviv University, participated in the course. This unique project is conducted in cooperation with the Social Economic Academy and the Berl Katznelson Foundation.
The course aims to teach progressive approaches in modern economic and social policies, which often contradicts the neoliberal dominance in universities´ teaching programs. Thus, progressive students get in touch with economists and other professionals currently serving Israel’s public sector during internships, for instance in ministries or municipalities. Hereby the students develop together with their mentors concrete approaches to existing problems in the Israeli society. Their counseling is so successful that many of our course´s graduates receive a job offer from their internship partners.
The closing event took place on July, 29th in the Van Leer Jerusalem Institute. A student project was presented which handled with international university rankings and ways to improve the placement of Israeli universities in them. It was followed by a presentation of a high official working in the Ministry of Health as an example for the work in the public sector. He depicted the difficulties and tensions in decision making concerning the discrepancy between individual health interests and public financial requirements. The event closed with the solemn presentation of the final certificates to the graduates.
