Mandel Program for Social Leadership in the North
The Mandel Program for Social Leadership in the North aims to train a group of outstanding and diverse leaders who have the ability to translate theory into practice, in order to bring about significant change in the varied aspects of life in Israel’s North and improve the quality of life of all of its residents. The full-time program meets five days a week for one academic year.
The Mandel Program for Social Leadership in the North is designed to contribute to the development and flourishing of Israel’s northern region by developing the human capital of the region and leveraging local forces that can bring about change and improve reality.
The program invests in women and men who have the passion to work for the good of society, and who are willing to invest in studying and in honing their skills. Fellows come from all of Israel’s diverse communities and work sectors in the North.
Each year, up to 20 outstanding fellows are accepted to the program, which began in 2017 and is now in its sixth cohort. The program meets five days a week for one academic year. Fellows receive a monthly living stipend, in order to enable them to fully devote their time and energy to the full-time program.
The Course of Study
The program’s curriculum is based on the study of the humanities as a theoretical, methodological, and ethical foundation; the study of society, against the background of the North; and leadership studies and refinement of skills. Study units in these three areas include:
- Humanities – Philosophical thinking; historical thinking; the origins of democracy and its challenges; culture; and religion as humanities.
- Social Studies – Human geography, government and politics, local government, and public policy, all against the background of the North.
- Leadership and Skills Studies – Courses on leadership, leadership in a diverse society, and learning in action (in groups or individually)
The program includes three types of study that are integrated with each other and complement each other: theoretical studies; group learning in action (this includes an exercise in the field that focuses on selected issues that affect the North, study tours, and encounters with influential figures); and a unique personal learning track.
Graduates of the program join the Mandel graduate community, and work toward a future in which the diverse society of the North thrives and shares feelings of pride, belonging, recognition, and responsibility.
