Out of Training

"In addition I have seen another 9,000 graduates during this period from on-the-spot courses held overseas," he adds. "It has been my privilege to see first hand the cooperation we have struck up with partners like the University of Agriculture in Beijing, China where we offered 8 courses in 1995 and in Egypt near Alexandria where we gave 12 agricultural courses last year."

Mr. Paran, 55, who is leaving his post to become Israel's Ambassador in Ecuador, recalls that when he assumed office in 1993, after serving as the number two man in Israel's embassy in Canada, Israel did not have diplomatic relations with as many nations as it has today with 155 countries. This was reflected in last year's activities which saw 3,600 participants in 124 courses in Israel from 140 countries, while at the same time Israel ran 144 on-the-spot courses overseas. In particular, he talks proudly of MASHAV's developing cooperation with the Arab world in general, and Israel's Arab neighbours in particular.

"We have tried to cater for the needs of the developing world," explains Mr. Paran, "with curricula drawn from Israel's own experiences and the subjects in which we have something relevant to offer."

Mr. Paran stresses that Israel is almost unique in being both a developed country with the experiences of a developing country. "Most importantly we have found simple, cheap and practical solutions to many of the problems plaguing the developing world," he notes. "Solutions like drip irrigation, which are after all just pieces of rubber tubing with small holes in to get the maximum use from the minimum amount of water, can be made very sophisticated with computer controls and additives like fertilizers running through the pipes."

Mr. Paran also praises the high quality of MASHAV's instructors and notes that Israel has a reputation for being one of the only countries in the world where academics roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty. Israel's agricultural teachers first talk theory in the classroom and then go into the fields to show how its done.

The diverse ethnic origins of Israel's population also gives Israel an advantage in being able to offer courses in a wide variety of languages. For example in 1995, 55 courses were given in English, 24 in Spanish, 20 in Arabic, 11 in Russian and 9 in French. Then courses were offered - tailored for individual countries - in Albanian, Slovakian, Bulgarian, Hungarian and Romanian.

Along with the diversity of language, MASHAV also offers a wide range of topics. In 1995 some 50 courses were offered in agriculture, 24 in cooperation and labour studies, 12 in community development, 5 in rural development, 12 in medicine and public health, 5 in management, 7 in science and technology and 9 in education.

"We cooperate with the developing countries in areas where we can share our experience," stresses Mr. Paran, "and in a hungry world agriculture tops the list. But we are in a process of placing greater emphasis on education, medicine and public health. After all, a more educated and healthier population will be better placed to increase agricultural yields."

Mr. Paran explains that 20% of courses each year are new curricula aimed at meeting the changing international conditions and circumstances. Such courses as "AIDS prevention," "Alternative Energy Sources" and "Integrated Environmental Management" offer the best of Israel's research, development and application in these fields. New agricultural courses have also emphasized post-harvest technology following feedback from around the world that vast amounts of food are lost through inappropriate storage, packaging and transportation.

"Our Planning and Evaluation Unit," he says, "works very hard in following up on the effectiveness and relevance of courses, while all the time investigating new course options, some of which we initiate or adopt in response to overseas requests or suggestions here in Israel from appropriate professional organizations."

The most heartbreaking aspect of Mr. Paran's job has been seeing the number of excellent course applicants who cannot be accepted.

"For our more popular courses we often have six applicants for every place," he notes. "If a course has only two applicants per place, it is usually replaced the next year with another subject."

Mr. Paran stresses that applicants are considered on their merit. "No person is ever accepted for a course if his professional and academic qualifications are not suitable," insists Mr. Paran. "We also like to have as broad a geographical spread as possible among course participants. This is because in addition to giving the participants the best of our knowledge, and the opportunity to see the Holy Land, an important part of the MASHAV experience is meeting professional counterparts from every continent."

MASHAV graduates often become partners in future on-the-spot courses. The criterion for offering an on-the-spot course in a particular country is not only that nation's needs, and the existence of Israel's ability to contribute expertise, but also the availability of a local partner, be it a MASHAV graduate or a university or organization in the country concerned eager to help coordinate the course.

For Mr. Paran, though, the greatest satisfaction of his job at MASHAV has been being present at the graduation ceremonies and hearing the enthusiasm and gratitude of the participants from around the world.

"At the end of their courses we tell the students that they owe us two things," says Mr. Paran. "For a moment a look of anxiety flashes across their faces as they think perhaps their scholarships have not been for free after all. But they relax when we tell them that they owe us to pass on the information they have acquired in Israel to the maximum number of people, and apply the knowledge in whatever situations they can. Their second obligation, we say, is to stay in touch with their instructors in order to update themselves."

Mr. Paran, therefore, places a high value on the importance of the Shalom Clubs worldwide. Ongoing contact enables MASHAV to receive feedback from its graduates to help adapt and improve courses, and facilitates the finding of local partners for running on-the-spot courses. MASHAV hopes that graduates can also enrich themselves by staying in touch with Israel and their counterparts around the world with whom they shared their courses.

When Mr. Paran takes up his new position in Ecuador, one of his first actions will be to arrange a Shalom Club get-together for MASHAV alumni living in the region.

"Once you've been associated with MASHAV," he adds, "it remains a part of you for the rest of your life."