Following two semesters of weekly meetings, lectures and project tasks, the Program for Progressive Economists` third course came to an end. 30 socially committed students of economics participated in the course. Target group of this exclusive project, which is conducted in cooperation with the Social Economic Academy and the Berl Katznelson Foundation, are economics students from Israel´s leading universities.
The course confronts the participants with issues that are not being taught in the regular curriculum. It is about progressive approaches in modern economic and social policies, which often contradicts the neoliberal dominance in universities´ teaching programs. This leads to scrutiny and equally to enrichment of regular curricula at universities. Focal point of the programs however are internships in Israel´s public sector. Within their internship in ministries or municipalities, the students together with their mentors develop concrete approaches to existing problems. Their counselling is so successful that the majority of our course´s graduates receive a job offer from their internship partners.
During the closing event on August 2nd in Jerusalem, an especially successful project was presented which has been conducted in cooperation with the ministry for agriculture. Following, Dorit Salinger, Director of Capital Market, Insurance and Savings Department in the Ministry of Finance, gave an insight into how the public sector can function as a catalyst for social and economic justice. The event closed with the solemn presentation of the final certificates to the graduates.
