JOINT POST-GRADUATE STUDIES BETWEEN SHENKAR AND LOWELL

The post-graduate studies project in Plastics Engineering between Shenkar and the University of Massachusetts at Lowell was initiated and funded by Mr. David Pernick, Life Chancellor of Shenkar College.

According to the joint agreement, Lowell recognized the B.Sc. degree granted by the Department of Plastics Engineering in Shenkar. Thus, no prerequisite courses are needed by Shenkar graduates in order to join the post graduate studies (M.Sc. and Ph.D.) at Lowell. Furthermore, Shenkar graduates can carry out the research part of the post graduate studies at Shenkar.

Dan Lewitus was the first graduate of the Plastics Engineering Department in Shenkar to join the program in September 2002. He spent the first year at Lowell to complete the courses required for a M.Sc. degree. Upon return to Israel in June of 2003 he conducted the research part at the Joseph Sagol’s laboratories for Polymer Research in Shenkar. This part of the program was supported by Kafrit Industries and the Israel Plastics & Rubber Center. Dan successfully defended his thesis in June 2004 and received an M.Sc. degree from the University of Massachusetts at Lowell.

Tehila Efrat followed Dan in September of 2003. Similarly, she completed her courses and came back in July 2004 to start her research. She was supported while conducting the research by the Israel Plastics & Rubber Center. Tehila defended her research thesis in June of 2005.

The joint Shenkar Lowell program was upgraded in 2004 when Fabian Rios was selected to study toward a doctorate degree in Plastics Engineering. Both David Pernick and Palram Industies have been supporting Fabian during the three year program. Fabian spent 4 semesters at Lowell for the courses required and came back to Shenkar to carry out the research for his doctorate thesis.

In 2005 Yanir Shaked, who graduated from Shenkar with a B.Sc. in Plastics Engineering, followed Fabian and enrolled for a doctorate degree in Plastics Engineering. Yanir will come back to Shenkar in the spring of 2007 to start his research in polymer nanotechnology.

Recently, David Pernick renewed his commitment to the joint Plastics/Nanotechnology program between Shenkar and Lowell. He pledged to support the program at a level of $75,000 per year for 4 years - for a total of $300,000.

This joint program has contributed immensely to the reputation of the Plastics Engineering Department at Shenkar and supported our recent application to the Council for High Education to establish a Master’s program in Plastics Engineering at Shenkar. David Pernick’s vision and generosity is highly appreciated. He has made this program possible and the Israeli plastics industry and the Israel Plastics & Rubber Center have followed his lead.

For further details, please contact Prof. Hana Dodiuk , Head, the Department of Plastics Engineering at Shenkar, e-mail: hannad@shenkar.ac.il