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Privatize for Peace

Harvard Extension School Management Team in Israel

During Harvard's spring recess last March, a teaching team from the Extension School flew to Israel to participate in a historic Israeli-Palestinian program. From March 22 to 26, the Harvard team of Dr. Michael Shinagel (Dean of Continuing Education and University Extension and Senior Lecturer on English), Dr. Henry Leitner (Director of Information Technology for the Division of Continuing Education and Senior Lecturer on Computer Science), and their respective spouses, Ms. Marjorie North (Extension lecturer on public speaking) and Dr. Catalina Laserna (Extension lecturer on technologies of education) were invited to teach in a Senior Management Seminar sponsored by Galillee College, Tivon, Israel, in cooperation with the Shimon Peres Center for Peace, Tel Aviv, and the Palestinian Center for Regional Studies, Ramalla.

What made this seminar historic was the gathering of ten young Israeli leaders and ten young Palestinian leaders who participated. It marked the first time that Israelis and Palestinians studied together in such an international seminar. In addition to the four Harvard Extension School faculty, there were lectures by Professor M. Dajani, a Palestinian, and Dr. Boaz Tamir, an Israeli. The high point of the seminar was the personal appearance and lecture by former Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres on the prospects for peace in the region. His message was: "Privatize for Peace."

The seminar curriculum was comprised of modules on strategic planning, total quality management, computers and information technologies for competitive advantage, executive speaker training, educational reform, "cross-border" management, and management styles in the Arab world.

The seminar participants found the interaction between Israelis and Palestinians enlightening and encouraging. One Palestinian official observed that this was the first time he had encountered Israelis in a nonmilitary capacity. The seminar concluded with a ceremony in Ramalla attended by Palestinian and Israeli dignitaries and the participants. The final note was one of hope with the wish for a follow-up session whereby the learning process and the friendships could continue. The Harvard teaching team was gratified by the success of the seminar and the opportunity to become acquainted with the people and visit many memorable sights in the region. They are considering the possibility of a return engagement in the near future.

Michael Shinagel, left, Marjorie North and Catalina Laserna, middle and Henry Leitner, right, spoke with former Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres at a reception following the Senior Management Seminar in Tel Aviv, Israel.

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