Jerusalem, April 11, 2011 -- The Hebrew University of Jerusalem has signed an agreement with Heidelberg University in Germany in the area of academic management. It is the first agreement of its kind between an Israeli and foreign university.
"The agreement will enable us to advance and develop our administrative workers," said Billy Shapira, vice-president and director-general of the Hebrew University. "Heidelberg University has a long tradition of academic administration," she said, "and I believe that we will be able to learn a great deal from them, as well as our providing assistance to our German colleagues."
The agreement calls for annual mutual visits by administrative staff of the Hebrew University to Heidelberg and from Heidelberg to the Hebrew University.
Heidelberg University was established in the 14th century and is considered one of the most veteran of European universities. Like the Hebrew University, it is rated in the Shanghai rankings among the top 100 universities in the world.
"In academia international research cooperation is widespread; therefore I decided to utilize that pattern for the sake of the administrative staff," said Shapira. "As an international university, I view this cooperative agreement as an important, unique means to learn from the experiences of one of the greatest universities in the world, and hope by so doing to improve our own administration," she said.