ד"ר אסתי אונגר אבירם

Dr. Estee Ungar Aviram
Director of the Human Resource Management and Development MA Degree
Email: [email protected]

Sapir's Human Resource Management and Development unique graduate degree offers human resource managers (HRM) and organizational development consultants (OD) a defined professional identity. Our program equips these professionals with theoretical and up-to-date knowledge together with advanced practical skills that increases their value to any organization.

The human resource is one of the most valuable assets of an organization. A business plan that includes human resource management and development enables the organization to maintain and even increase its value, versus its competitors. Our innovative program expands HRM and OD professionals' knowledge base and skillset to create new strategies that preserve and increase the value of their organizations.

Founded on the academic infrastructure, experience and expertise of the College and its undergraduate Human Resource Management Department we launched the MA degree in 2016, to address the growing demand from our alumni and other professionals to provide advanced studies in HRM and OD. The program links academic research with organizational practices and needs that reduces gaps between academia and the field. Training includes critical and systemic thinking tools, the capacity to identify problems and the adoption of an evidence-based approach for solutions and practices.

We operate two specialization tracks: Human Resource Management and Intra-Organizational Consulting & Development.  Participants gain exposure to both disciplines' academic theory and practice. They understand the need for professional collaborations to identify, design and implement changes, which help organizations meet their goals and thrive. Students learn that together, they can provide the organization with feasible, comprehensive and holistic solutions.

In the HRM track, students address the human resource manager's crucial role in an organization. They learn how to harness human resources to foster strategic processes for organizational development and change. We train excellent HR managers to lead and implement advanced practices that will develop human resources as part of the organizations business strategy. Our program focuses on a comprehensive understanding of the recruitment, selection, placement, retention, promotion and development of employees. In addition, students gain invaluable knowledge about fundamental issues in the labor markets, salary structures and pensions.

In the OD track, we provide training for consulting, management and organizational development positions. Students deepen their knowledge in leading organizational change and development together with developing consulting skills. They gain the tools to help an organization reach its goals, given the environment in which it operates. The program's central focus is on how to change reactive management into a proactive management, one that encourages the creation of a vision, setting goals and innovation; that motivates employees to contribute their best efforts for the advancement of the organization's objectives. Key topics include a comprehensive understanding of the strategic, group and personal interventions, utilized in organizational consulting and development. Addressing the complexity of the OD's work and roles, students' develop interpersonal skills for meetings with employees, throughout all stages of an organizational change and development.  They learn about up-to-date trends of leading consulting and development procedures in private, public, third sector and fourth sector organizations.

Graduates are in high demand in senior human resources management positions and organizational consulting firms, human resources, human capital and skills managers, organizational development unit managers, learning and training unit managers, as well as intra-corporate advisors to private, public and third sector companies and organizations.