J Academy
The Jewish Gap Year for Aspiring Professionals
Learn About
Your Jewish Heritage. Empower Your Decision-Making through Literacy.
Practical
Relevant. International.
Experience
One Year
Full of Possibilities
Now enrolling for Sep. 2018
Apply Now!What is J Academy?
The Jewish Gap Year Program includes Ten Months of Jewish Learning, Professional Development Courses & Training, 3 Professional Internships and 4 Countries
An Unforgettable Experience of A Lifetime
Apply Now!
Apply now to the International gap year program!
Professional Development
In today’s tough economic environment, finishing a university degree is no longer enough to land a successful job. Employers, investors, and clients want to see life skills, experience, and practical know-how before they hire a young university graduate. Additionally, research has shown that one's IQ accounts for 20% of all the factors that determine one's career success. Soft-skills, emotional intelligence, self-confidence, social competence, constructive conflict management, great networking, and much more are all necessary to score high in the twin games of career and life. J Academy has created a program that offers a welcome break from ordinary studies and the pressures of solely academic achievement - a chance to get better acquainted with oneself and the world. At the same time, students will effectively learn life skills that will be truly relevant and vital to career success in the coming, all-important years ahead.Languages
Business English is taught throughout the year and serves as a critical component to the work internship units in London and around the world. Upon successful completion of the course, students will receive a certificate of language proficiency -- which enhances their resumes and further differentiates the students in a competitive job market. Additionally, a year-long Hebrew language course strengthens each student's international framework of language skills and understanding.Jewish Learning
Learn more about the traditions of the Jewish people, the relevance of the multi-faceted Jewish heritage in today’s world, and the importance of Israel. Gap Year Program courses include topics such as Jewish Personalities, Ethics, and Modernity. Who are you? Not what you do, or where you live. Are you Jewish? What does that mean to you? The Jewish people have a long-standing chain of generations who made great efforts and personal investments to gain education, and cultural and traditional literacy in all forms, viewing it as a sacred duty. Your role in the world is unique. Learn more about your chapter in the unfinished story of human history.Internships
It’s nothing new. Nearly all entry-level jobs require previous work experience -- as a pre-requisite -- so competition for internships is often fierce. The expectations for such internships are often similar to those of entry-level jobs. One needs to have know-how, the ability to work well with a team, and have a good, well-established professional network. Many aspiring professionals become frustrated: If one needs to have already had a good internship -- just to get an internship, how is one supposed to get his/her foot in the door at the workplace? And how can one acquire the necessary skills? By participating in JAcademy, students acquire practical work experience, skills, and indispensable professional contacts. We guarantee program participants a spot in three international internships.Program Design
The year-long curriculum is divided into six-week units: three internships, and four skill modules.
Numerous workshops, training, block seminars and practical assignments give students the opportunity to develop new skills and hands-on knowledge. The four Skill modules are based on the ideas of world-renown professional development author Stephen R. Covey, covering the following areas:
Time invested at JAcademy will pay dividends for years to come.
Internships
Berlin, London and Israel
We provide students with practical work experience in Berlin, London and Israel. Students can apply themselves to building up great resumes in their dream fields, or use the opportunity to try out three totally separate career areas - all of which provide participants with clarity and professional direction.
The point of the internships is to get real work experience, to improve his/her workplace English skills, and to allow one to develop a network of colleagues in the relevant areas. JAcademy students may participate in an internship in a law firm, marketing group, laboratory, or in a hotel management office. The list of possibilities is long and varied, and the choice belongs to the student. A certificate of completion will be given for every internship, and students may receive letters of reference as well.Articles & Stats
The gap year phenomenon is gaining popularity in Germany and around the world. The year typically falls between high school and university, or between Bachelor and Master’s degrees. Top-notch universities, such as Harvard, encourage their students to take a gap year. JAcademy provides students with the opportunity to experience an enriching year of professional and personal development in one, compact gap year -- providing maximum value for one's time. Recommended book readings include: The Education of Millionaires, by Michael Ellsberg The Gap-Year Advantage, by Karl HaiglerLinks
Here are some additional articles extolling the value of the Gap Year experience: Delaying College to Fill in the Gaps Ways a gap year expedition abroad can improve your career prospects Why Your High School Senior Should Take a Gap Year 10 Reasons You Should Take A Gap Year The Gap Year Advantage Gap Year Data & BenefitsHeadquarters
Berlin, Germany
During the program's time in Berlin, students reside in a unique, highly-acclaimed, artistic, modern facility.
JAcademy headquarters is located in the heart of Berlin, in the central district known as Mitte. The district's designers explain: "This city district is the playing field of the city of Berlin - and the players are not only politicians, the rich, or the famous. Mitte is so many things: an artistic center, social center, center of political power, and a fertile ground for the digital avant garde, full of entrepreneurs. The whole world comes to Berlin, and they all come for just one thing: Berlin-Mitte."
Prerequisites
Educational Level: Abitur/International Baccalaureate, Fachabitur oder Matura. Proficiency in English. The program is open to Jewish high school and university graduates. Age Range: 18-25.
Cost
Length of Program: 20.08.2018 - 16.06.2019. The full program cost depends on the financial circumstances of the applicant. More information is available upon request.
Application Process
Start the process by filling out the online form below. Next, we contact you by email and/or phone, and provide you with a full application form.
Fill out the application and send it back, together with an essay, and copies of your university or school transcripts, as applicable. We will review your information. Finalists will be invited for a face-to-face interview in Berlin, and will be informed immediately as to whether they have been accepted. 1. Register Online 2. Complete & Submit Full Application Form + Relevant Attachments 3. Interview in BerlinFor More Information
[email protected] | telephone: +49 30 24 62 7885 Mailing Address: Brunnenstraße 33, 10115, Berlin, Germany
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