The Big Breakthrough: Israel’s First MBAI Certification Launches at BGU
After nearly a year of planning, development, and academic-practical consolidation, Israel’s first MBAI certification was launched last night (Monday). This unique program integrates management studies with a specialization in artificial intelligence, initiated by The Institute, in collaboration with the Glazer Faculty of Management at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.
The launch event and opening of the first course were held online, in the presence of the Dean of the Faculty of Management, Prof. Yotam Lurie, who opened the evening by addressing the importance of academic readiness for the rapid changes driven by artificial intelligence: "We are all facing rapid changes and a new dynamic that the world of artificial intelligence is placing before us. This is no longer just a technological domain, it is a reality that is penetrating every workplace and every managerial role. Where this is heading is still unclear, but through collaboration with the Institute for Artificial Intelligence and practitioners from the field, we can begin to understand this phenomenon."
Following Prof. Lurie’s remarks, a congratulatory video message from faculty alumnus and entrepreneur Dovi Frances was screened, highlighting the growing connection between academia and the forefront of business innovation.
The first course in the program, Business Strategy in the Age of Artificial Intelligence, is taught by Ms. Rotem Dolev, Senior Partner at Deloitte Israel in AI and business transformation. The course reflects the Institute’s core values: creating a strong bridge between academic knowledge and up-to-date managerial practice, while providing direct exposure to real-world challenges and tools. Ms. Dolev emphasized the scale of impact:
"We are in the midst of an economic earthquake. Trillions of dollars in direct and indirect impact by 2030, and it affects every sector. The challenge is not only the technology but understanding how it is reshaping business models. The goal of the course is to focus on the managerial perspective: what organizations must do today to remain relevant in a rapidly changing world".
As part of the certification, the next course will be AI and Big Data-Driven Decision Making, which will also include professional certifications from NVIDIA. This is enabled through the Institute’s strategic partnership with the global technology leader and its international AI learning platform and represents a significant component in providing graduates with a competitive advantage.
More than 40 graduate students from the Glazer Faculty of Management have enrolled in the MBAI certification, making it the first program of its kind in Israeli universities. The program is structured as a three-semester certification track: Spring semester, Summer semester and Fall semester of the following academic year. Each course focuses on a different aspect of integrating artificial intelligence into management, with the goal of creating a learning continuum that combines theoretical depth with practical application. The certification will also be offered next year to new graduate students in the Management School.
The launch of the MBAI certification is not merely the introduction of a new academic program. It is a strategic move that positions Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and its Faculty of Management at the forefront of managerial education in the age of artificial intelligence, signaling a clear direction: the future of management starts now.
