ZEFAT ACADEMIC COLLEGETHE ACADEMIC SPIRIT OF THE GALILEE

5 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

6 THE ACADEMIC SPIRIT OF THE GALILEE

8 NEW ACADEMIC PANORAMAS FOR THE GALILEE REGION

11 HEALTH STUDIES

14 LAW SCHOOL

16 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

18 THE ACADEMIC SPIRIT OF THE GALILEE

20 NEW ACADEMIC PANORAMAS STUDIES

22 LAW SCHOOL

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

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We are very proud that Zefat Academic College is able to welcome

thousands of bright and motivated students from all walks of life to

pursue an academic education in fields ranging from health sciences

and law to the social sciences and the humanities.

Our students gain knowledge and skills to fulfill their individual

potentials, but we believe it is equally significant that, as they pursue

their careers, they contribute to strengthening the quality of life and

professional services in the underserved Galilee region.

Zefat Academic College is also dedicated to the urban renewal of

our city. Our technologically advanced lecture halls and laboratories

are designed to pay homage to the architecture and heritage of the

revered and historic city of Zefat. At the heart of our multi-faceted

academic endeavors is our commitment to a brighter future for

individuals and communities in the multicultural Galilee region, and

for Israeli society at large.

Prof. Aharon Kellerman

President, Zefat Academic College

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

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THE ACADEMIC SPIRIT OF THE GALILEE

At the heart of Zefat Academic College is a commitment to community service. The College guides students in providing thousands of hours of volunteer work under the auspices of a special unit within the Dean of Students Office.

The Social Work Department works in close cooperation with Zefat’s municipal social service department through student

internships and support to meet the needs of the community.

Zefat Academic College is revitalizing the city and region known as the center of

Jewish mysticism, and which has contributed greatly to advancing Jewish legal

discourse, and Jewish artistic expression throughout the centuries. The College offers

a twenty-first century academic gateway for thousands of aspiring students with deep

roots in the historic districts of Zefat and the Galilee region.

The contemporary city of Zefat is steeped in the heritage of the sacred literature and

poetry of its great Jewish philosophers and mystics of past centuries. Yet, at the same

time, a new generation is seeking to build on that legacy through the pursuit of higher

education—and Zefat Academic College is the focus for achieving that vision.

The College’s academic leaders and scholars have established dynamic programs

in the Health Sciences, Law, Humanities and Social Sciences that lead to bachelor’s

degrees approved by Israel’s Council for Higher Education. Men and women from

all walks of life are gaining the opportunity to fulfill their individual potential, advance

their careers and provide urgently needed professional services to the Galilee region

and Israeli society.

The state-of-the art classrooms, laboratories, and library of Zefat Academic College are

located within renovated nineteenth and twentieth century buildings that have been

preserved to retain the rich historic flavor of their illustrious past. At the same time, the

College’s approach to technology is fast-forward. Advanced technology is especially

crucial to link academic institutions in the Israeli peripheries to knowledge centers.

The College’s leading edge academic library is open to the public and classrooms

include advanced computer stations for professors and students. The campus is WIFI,

and the Galilee’s first nursing simulation center is integral to the College’s BSN program

in Nursing.

The vision of Zefat Academic College is to reinvigorate the city and the region with

academic opportunities for a new generation. Israel was recognized in 2012 by the

OECD as the “second most educated country in the world.” Zefat Academic College

is seeking to build on the momentum of that trend, for the benefit of the Galilee

communities and Israeli society at large.

INTRODUCTION

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Bachelor’s degree programs at Zefat Academic College provide new opportunities for

higher education to students in the Galilee, and beyond. Most programs are the first in

their field to be offered in the region. The aim is to provide thousands of students with

a well-rounded, quality higher education that will enable them to pursue professional

careers in a range of disciplines.

Ten baccalaureate programs are offered at Zefat Academic College and accredited by

The Israel’s Council of Higher Education:

NEW ACADEMIC PANORAMAS FOR ISRAEL’S MAJESTIC GALILEE REGION

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▪ Law (LL.B.)

▪ Nursing (BSN)

▪ Physiotherapy (B.PT.)

▪ Clinical Laboratory Sciences (B.Sc.)

▪ Community Information Systems (B.A.)

▪ Behavioral Sciences (B.A.)

▪ Social Work (B.A.)

▪ Multidisciplinary B.A. Degree (Economics & Management & Human

Resources, Sociology & Human Resources)

▪ Music, Art, and Literature (B.A.)

▪ Mysticism & Spiritualities (B.A.)

Zefat Academic College was launched 30 years ago as a small regional branch of Bar

Ilan University, and because approved to open independent baccalaureate programs

in 2007. Five multidisciplinary baccalaureate tracks remain under the auspices of

Bar Ilan University, and will become accredited to Zefat Academic College in 2013

including*:

▪ Criminology & Law Enforcement

▪ Life Sciences

▪ Special Education and Psychology

▪ Arabic

▪ Political Sciences

LOOKING AHEAD

New academic programs in the Health Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences will

offer study and career opportunities to strengthen the quality of health services and

academic achievement in the Galilee. It is anticipated that an Emergency Medicine

(B.A.) department will be accredited and launched in 2013:

B.A. PROGRAMS

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HEALTH STUDIESA NEW GENERATION OF HEALTH SCIENCE EDUCATION

HEALTH STUDIES strives to achieve new heights in health care education

in the Galilee. ZAC’s focus is on cultivating promising students to qualify as

state-of-the-art professionals in fields from nursing and physical therapy to

medical technology. The goal is to advance excellence in the health sciences

and improve care in hospitals, treatment centers and home services in diverse

and remote communities in Israel’s North, and throughout the country.

Academic courses imbue students with the multicultural awareness and skills that enable them to provide sensitive and effective health care for patients of all backrounds.

Health Studies Quick Stats:• x,xxx students

• xxx faculty members

• x,xxx students

• xxx faculty members

HEALTH STUDIES

Zefat Academic College is making an important contribution toward alleviating

the acute shortage of nurses in Israel with a program that focuses on striving for

excellence. Advanced technology and teamwork are essential aspects of the nursing

education at Zefat Academic College. Students gain experience and confidence by

practicing their skills on state of the art human dummies in the new simulation center

in addition to their rigorous direct-patient internships. Future nurses learn from highly

qualified practitioners as they achieve a well-rounded education that leads them to

their BSN degree.

Academic courses and faculty leaders imbue students with the multicultural

awareness and skills that enable them to provide sensitive and effective health care

for patients of all backrounds, an aspect that is unique to the training at ZAC. ZAC’s

first-of-its-kind study forum teaches students fluency in basic health terms in Russian,

Arabic, Yiddish and Amharic.

The Program was founded in 2007 yet its first graduates have already achieved

board certification at the highest rates of the more established programs across

Israel, and are sought after for staff positions in leading hospitals and health care

centers. Graduates have also been accepted into leading advanced-degree programs

throughout Israel.

Looking ahead, the Nursing Program aspires to develop advanced specialization programs

in emergency medicine, maternity care, dialysis, and to open a graduate program.

“Research demonstrates that academically qualified nurses have

a direct impact on improving the health of their patients. Zefat

Academic College’s BSN program in Nursing is designed to enable

our students to enhance the quality of care in the Galilee and

throughout Israel.”

Dr. Rabia Khalaila Chair, Department of Nursing

THE NURSING PROGRAM AT ZEFAT ACADEMIC COLLEGE

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The rigorous academic standards of the new physiotherapy program at Zefat

Academic College are attracting promising students from across Israel. The program

is the fifth of its kind to be accredited in Israel and the first in the heart of the Galilee

region.

Knowledgeable and experienced practitioners have been drawn to the faculty—

and these talented instructors guide a new generation of physical therapists—and

contribute to academia and research for the benefit of all.

The curriculum is intellectually demanding—but also teaches sensitivity to the human

needs of future practitioners and clients. Students gain insight into the mechanics of

movement and physical education. Thoughtful training addresses issues of treatment

and touch in conservative multicultural communities in the Galilee.

The future of physiotherapy includes a greater emphasis on bringing its practice from

urban medical centers to remote regions and patients’ homes. ZAC’s physiotherapy

graduates will lead the way in providing more accessible care.

“Zefat Academic College’s new B.PT. Program in Physiotherapy

focuses on the most important innovations in the field, from

preventive care to physical education. We want our graduates to

offer a new standard for care to reach even the most remote Galilee

communities.“

Dr. Smadar PelegChair, Department of Physiotherapy

THE PHYSIOTHERAPY PROGRAM AT ZEFAT ACADEMIC COLLEGE

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In light of the urgent need for academically qualified medical technicians in the Galilee

and throughout Israel, Zefat Academic College established a new medical laboratories

program, which opened its doors in 2012. As clinical laboratory work becomes

increasingly sophisticated, it is vital for aspiring technicians to acquire in-depth

knowledge of the sciences, management skills, and practical experience.

Zefat Academic College’s program offers a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree

recognized by Israel’s Ministry of Health, qualifying students to work in laboratories in

fields from biochemistry and microbiology to fertility and pathology. Graduates will

also have the credentials to pursue advanced degrees in Life Sciences or related fields.

A key aspect of the program entails an internship requiring 600 hours of supervised

clinical laboratory work. Students gain the experience essential to launching

professional careers and contributing to the quality of health care and research in

hospitals, clinics, and research centers in the Galilee and other regions in Israel.

“We offer a new opportunity for talented and motivated science

students to achieve academic training and practical skills. We aspire

to clinical laboratory technicians who will bring a new level of

professionalism to patient care and clinical research in the Galilee and

Israel’s North.“

Professor Yeshayahu Nitzan Chair, Department of Clinical Laboratories Sciences

THE CLINICAL LABORATORIES SCIENCES PROGRAM AT ZEFAT ACADEMIC COLLEGE

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LAW SCHOOLTHE PURSUIT OF JUSTICE

Law School Quick Stats:• x,xxx students

• xxx faculty members

• x,xxx students

• xxx faculty members

Law School Quick Stats:• x,xxx students

• xxx faculty members

• x,xxx students

• xxx faculty members

LAW SCHOOL, the first public law college in Israel’s North, opens the door

to legal education to students from all walks of life. The vision is to create

new opportunities for students and scholars to strengthen justice and public

service in the Galilee and contribute to the broader advancement of legal

theory and practice throughout Israel.

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The Law School provides a thorough and well-rounded legal education. Achievements are bolstered through a mentorship program which guides first year students.

LAW SCHOOL

The Law School is led by Professor Amnon Carmi, who founded Israel’s Society for

Medicine and Law, and served as its president for 30 years. Professor Carmi also

established the International Center for Health, Law and Ethics at the University of

Haifa. He holds the UNESCO Chair in Bioethics and is a member of UNESCO’s expert

committee in bioethics education.

Zefat Academic College Law School was established in 2008, and offers an important

opportunity for talented students from rural and urban districts of the Galilee to realize

their intellectual potential, earn a law degree and contribute to the public and private

development of the region.

The Law School provides a thorough and well-rounded legal education.

Achievements are bolstered through a mentorship program which guides first year

students.

Studies in legal theory and practice are further enhanced by a range of scholarly

endeavors, including the Law School’s Zefat Forum on Bioethics. The Forum

encourages fruitful dialogue among diverse thinkers, educators and practitioners to

promote new insights in bioethics through conferences, workshops and publications.

“The establishment of the first public law school in northern

Israel is an important milestone, not only for Zefat Academic

College, but for the Galilee region. Our vision is to educate

a new generation of lawyers who will strengthen public

institutions, the justice system, independent advocacy and

private enterprise throughout the Galilee.”

Professor Amnon CarmiHead of Law School

LEGAL EDUCATION: A NEW ERA FOR PUBLIC SERVICE AND PRIVATE ENTERPRISE IN THE GALILEEE

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The Forum’s mission is to advance scholarship in bioethics, with a focus on the

cultivation of expertise in Israel’s northern region.

The Law School has also established a Documentation Center for Bioethics, the first

of its kind in Israel. The Center is a partnership with the UNESCO Chair in Bioethics,

recognized for its leadership by the Israeli Ministry of Education’s UNESCO Committee.

The Center’s mission is to collect and review court rulings, legislation, journals, books

and curricula in bioethics. Students specializing in the field will serve on the staff of

the Center.

The region’s rich heritage and diversity is an inspiration for a legal curriculum

imbued with a commitment to respect and tolerate shared human values. We

anticipate that these values will bear an imprint on the careers of the School’s

graduates and the advancement of the Galilee.