About the Program

The Identity and Public Policy Program runs parallel to the academic school year, totaling two semesters (four terms). Classes take place on Thursdays, from 9:30 to 20:00.
The program consists of some thirty weekly sessions (fifteen per semester). Classes are not in session during semester break.
Classes take place at the JSC campus at the Zippori Center in the Jerusalem Forest (subsidized shuttle service available). In addition, several tours are conducted throughout the country, as well as two weekend seminars. There are also leadership and personal development workshops throughout the year.
Click here to view the calendar for the 2015-2016 school year.
Click here to view the timetables of classes from the previous year.

Target Audience

The Identity and Public Policy Program is geared toward outstanding BA, MA or doctoral students in the humanities, social sciences and law, who demonstrate a leadership profile and see their future in Israel’s public service, as well as young professionals who have completed their studies and are engaged in academic research or are pursuing senior positions in various fields with the public sphere, in Israel and abroad, including politics, civil service, security, diplomacy, culture, media and journalism, the business sector, and civil society.
The program is intended for students age 22-34.

Cost

Tuition stands at 3,600 NIS (tuition is subsidized and constitutes a fraction of the cost of the program).
Limited number of discretionary scholarships and stipends available, based on academic merit. For more information, click here .

Program Requirements

Attendance – Attendance is mandatory for all classes. The success of the program is dependent on full and active participation, in terms of its social as well as educational aspects. Accordingly, tardiness or absence, even from only part of the school day, will not be allowed. In exceptional cases, absences must be coordinated with the program heads at least two weeks in advance. Regardless, no more than one absence per semester will be allowed. Students who cannot attend the program fully will not be allowed to participate.
Bi-weekly reports – One-page reports on the required reading for each session, either a summary or critique. The purpose of these reports is to stimulate and hone students' thinking in preparation for each session. Students are required to submit at least three reports per term (you may choose for which study sessions/tours of each term you would like to submit a report). Reports must be submitted at the start of the school day.
General knowledge quizzes – Over the course of the year there will be several mandatory quizzes, for the purpose of giving students a solid knowledge base of basic concepts.
Quarterly position papers – At the end of terms I-III, students will be required to submit a position paper of 800 words on one of the topics covered in that term, presenting clear arguments and effectively tackling counter arguments. At the end of each semester, participants who have submitted outstanding position papers will present them to the group. The select papers will be posted on the JSC website and Facebook page.
End-of-year project – Participants are required to submit a project proposal at the end of the year. The project, which will receive the guidance of the JSC staff within the framework of the program, will consists of its planning aspects only; participants will choose how best to execute the project. The project’s scope is wide and varied. Guidelines for formulating project proposals will be given later in the year.