Last week Shenkar hosted a visit by professor Mostapha Bousmina, president of the Euro-Mediterranean University in Fez, Morocco (Université euro-méditerranéenne de Fès). As part of the visit, Ms. Orit Efrati, chairperson of Shenkar's board of trustees, and her husband, attorney David Efrati, hosted a significant and extraordinary gathering of colleagues.

The Shenkar visit took place as part of the academic cooperation agreement signed between the two institutions in May 2022. During the four-day visit, Shenkar hosted two workshops attended by members of both institutions with speakers from academia and industry. During these workshops, the participants discussed collaboration projects for integrating artificial intelligence in agriculture, food security and transportation.

At the heart of the visit was an invitation to professor Bousmina and staff members from the Euro-Mediterranean University in Fez to a gathering at the Efrati home: the event began with professor David Passig presenting changing global trends with a particular focus on the Middle East and Africa. His presentation led to a lively discussion on the different opportunities for collaboration between Israel and Morocco to advance critical issues in water, agriculture and food security in Africa. The gathering was also attended by Morocco's ambassador to Israel, Mr. Abderrahim Beyyoudh; former minister Rafael Edri; Dr. Mira Malcov; president of Shenkar professor Sheizaf Rafaeli and his wife, professor Anat Rafaeli; professor Shmuel Kenig and his wife, professor Hanna Dodiuk; chairman of ZIM's board of directors, Yair Seroussi and his wife, professor Vered Vinitzky-Seroussi; attorney Zion Amir; and Gad and Etty Propper, along with key individuals from academia, industry and the legal profession.

At the end of the gathering, the academic relationship between Shenkar and the Euro-Mediterranean University in Fez was proposed as a foundation stone for incorporating figures from industry and academia into programs aimed at ensuring water, energy and food security in Africa, with the support of the relevant government entities.

Published January 25, 2023