The Division for External Studies was established in 1988 to provide English-language programs in the agricultural, food and environmental sciences. In 2015 Prof. Moshe Coll from the Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment established The International School of Agricultural Sciences, as the home of all the international activities and programs carried out in the Rehovot campus. 

The Robert H. Smith Faculty’s teaching and research activities have always played a central role in advancing agriculture to strengthen Israel’s economy while training tomorrow’s scientists and agriculturists. The Smith Faculty’s mission is to protect and rehabilitate the environment while increasing food production and reducing world hunger; mobilize agriculture to meet human health needs; improve the quality and purity of agricultural products; and share the benefits of Israeli research and innovation with other nations.

The International School is dedicated to sharing the Smith Faculty’s knowledge and expertise throughout the international community by providing opportunities to acquire advanced academic knowledge and observe up-to-date practical applications. The educational programs encourage students to explore new fields and cultures, exchange ideas and experiences, contribute to capacity building and problem solving, and create partnerships for future cooperation. 
 

The International School of Agricultural Sciences Staff

Address:

The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food & Environment
The International School of Agricultural Sciences
Herzl Street 229
POB 12 
Rehovot 7610001 
Israel

Emails:

Prof. Yael Helman, Head, International School: yael.helman@mail.huji.ac.il

Ms. Racheli Inbari, Administrative Manager: rachelii@savion.huji.ac.il  

Ms. Noa Schwarzwald, International Programs Team Leader & ELLS representative: noapl@savion.huji.ac.il  

Ms. Keren Ohayon, International MSc Programs: kerenoha@savion.huji.ac.il 

Ms. Edit Hakim, International MSc Programs: editha@savion.huji.ac.il

Mr. Jonathan Cohen, International MSc Programs: jonathanco@savion.huji.ac.il

Ms. Liron Dayan Ben Menachem, MASHAV Program: lirondb@savion.huji.ac.il

Ms. Mahyan Gon, Student Exchange: mahyang@savion.huji.ac.il  

Ms. Mahyan Gon, Student visas: visa.agri@mail.huji.ac.il

Ms. Gili Avidor-Gafni, Reisfeld Residence Manager: reisfeld@mail.huji.ac.il

Ms. Sagit Shkolnik, Accounts Manager: sagitsh@savion.huji.ac.il

Telephone numbers:
+972-8-9489285 / +972-8-9489509 

Fax:
+972-8-9470171

The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment

The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment was named for the late Robert Hilton Smith (1928-2009), a great friend and benefactor. Due to his unmatched philanthropy and support, the Faculty has undergone dramatic changes and development in recent years.

The Faculty of Agriculture, established in 1942, has been one of the major factors contributing to successful settlement in Israel and to the development of its remarkable achievements in agriculture. 
This has been due to leading research in agriculture and to the education of generations of students specializing in plant or animal sciences, in health and disease, as well as in the economic aspects of agriculture and rural development. More recently, consequent to the development of the Institute of Biochemistry, the faculty became the leading academic authority in Israel for human food and nutrition.

The world around us is changing: there is growing awareness of the state of the environment, and there is growing concern due to the over-exploitation of natural resources by mankind. Together with this concern, reduction of water and food resources together with a steady rise in population size is progressively leading many parts of the world into a state of hunger. This "new world" has led the Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment to realize its modified role and responsibility before Israel and the world. According to this new vision we are committed to a responsible role in preserving the environment for future generations, and while doing so, to continuously search for ways to increase sustainable food and water resources.

These apparent contradictory directions are under intense investigation.

For example, as plant diseases cause over 30% loss of produce, alleviating these diseases will directly lead to a significant increase in production; however, in contrast to previous approaches of chemical pest control, our scientists are deeply involved in finding environmentally safe methods for pest control.

Another example of advanced technological agriculture is the investigation of conditions permitting plants to live and flourish under conditions of scarce water. This example highlights use of state-of-the-art research in molecular biology and genetic engineering and in deciphering the gene pool of many plants and animals.

A final example for environmentally relevant agriculture is the quest for filtration systems to allowreclamation of contaminated water.

The new, or improved, as I should say, Faculty continues in its mission of academic education. We can boastthat Faculty graduates hold prominent positions at the forefront of public decision-making in environmental protection, agriculture, biotechnological industries, in addition to key roles as scientists in academia.

We invite you all to take part in our vision and to join the extended family of the Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment.

With best wishes,

Prof. Benny Chefetz, Dean

Read more about the faculty: http://en.hafakulta.agri.huji.ac.il/ 

Read more: SCOPUS Magazine feature on agricultural research at the Smith Faculty

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

 

 

 

Facts:

Founded in: 1918

Opened in: 1925

6 campuses

7 faculties

14 schools

23,000 students

1,000 senior faculty members

More than 7,000 patents registered

8 Nobel Prize winners

1 Fields Medal winner in mathematics

Among its founders: Albert Einstein, Martin Buber, Chaim Nahman Bialik, Chaim Weizmann

 

Excellence

The Hebrew University strives for excellence, an integral element in its academic life. Its outstanding scholars have achieved impressive breakthroughs in a variety of disciplines, and it is among the very top winners of the European Research Council's competitive grants to young researchers. One-third of all competitive research grants awarded in Israel are won by Hebrew University scholars.

University academicians publish frequently in prestigious scientific journals, and their research has garnered outstanding awards in Israel and worldwide, including the Nobel Prize, the Fields Medal and the Israel Prize. Most PhD holders in Israel earned their degrees at the Hebrew University, and our alumni hold key positions in academia, public service and the business sector.

Life on campus

In Jerusalem, one of the most beautiful of cities in the world, the university maintains three campuses: the Mount Scopus campus for the humanities and social sciences; the Edmond J. Safra Campus for exact sciences; and the Ein Karem Campus for medical sciences. Its other campuses are the Rehovot faculty for agriculture, food, veterinary medicine and environmental sciences; the veterinary hospital in Beit Dagan; and the Interuniversity Institute for Marine Sciences in Eilat.

The university boasts three sports facilities which are among the most advanced in the country, 11 libraries, 5 computer centers, 6,000 dormitory beds, and dozens of student activity groups focusing on politics, society, the environment and more.

International involvement

The Hebrew University is ranked internationally among the 100 leading universities in the world. Its student body numbers 23,000 students from Israel and 65 other countries. It is actively engaged in international cooperation for research and teaching. It has signed 150 agreements for joint projects with other universities and 25 agreements for student exchanges with 14 countries.  Its faculty members include young scholars who have returned to Israel from advanced studies at leading institutions of higher education throughout the world.

The Hebrew University has been a leader in bringing about changes in the world community in agriculture, environmental quality and public health. Students from developing countries have carried out advanced studies at the Hebrew University and returned to their home countries in order to apply the knowledge they gained and to improve the level of services provided to their compatriots.

The university’s Rothberg International School offers programs for overseas students. Among its alumni are actress Natalie Portman, journalist Thomas Friedman, and former US ambassadors to Israel Martin Indyk and Daniel Kurtzer.

Patents and innovations

The Yissum Research Development Company of the Hebrew University is 15^th in the world in the number of patents registered. Yissum is responsible for marketing the technology and scientific know-how generated by Hebrew University researchers and students. To date it has registered over 7,000 patents for 2,023 inventions, more than 600 of these patents have been commercialized, and products manufactured on the basis of the patents are sold at over $2 billion a year. Yissum’s portfolio boasts 72 companies established on the background of inventions developed by Hebrew University researchers.

Particularly outstanding developments include the drugs Exelon used to treat Alzheimer’s patients and Doxil for use in ovarian cancer; a cherry tomato variety with a particularly long and excellent shelf life; and Mobileye, a “computer-vision” vehicle collision warning and driver safety system.