Bar-Ilan University and Electra FM Launch a Groundbreaking Academic Program in Integrated Facility Management

Vision and Innovation in Facility & Property Management
A Collaboration between Academia and Industry

On Monday, February 17, 2025, Bar-Ilan University and Electra FM, Israel’s leading Facility and property management firm, announced a first-of-its-kind strategic partnership: an advanced academic program in Integrated Facility Management (IFM). The program, which will begin on February 25, establishes a new standard for training managers in integrated management in Israel.

The IFM (Integrated Facility Management) model offers a holistic approach to property operations and management, allowing for full integration of systems and processes to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and deliver quality service experience. This new program provides participants with hands-on training, operational tools, and strategic thinking skills—tailored to the dynamic realities of the real estate and management world.

The festive launch ceremony, held on Bar-Ilan University’s campus, featured a series of keynote speeches presenting the vision and plans. Mr. Zohar Yinon, CEO and Senior Vice President of the University opened the event by emphasizing the importance of the connection between academia and the industry market: “Academic knowledge combined with Electra FM’s practical experience creates top-tier training.” The program aims to train a new generation of facility managers of campuses and skyscrapers equipped with advanced and complex technological and electromechanical systems.

In his remarks, Mr. Daniel Milo, CEO of Electra FM, underscored the commitment to excellence and professional development: “The company’s vision focuses on promoting a high-level, integrated management and operation model, stemming from our commitment to advancing professional, academic, and practical knowledge alike, grounded in advanced methodologies and a reliable research foundation, the program meets the strategic needs of the organization and the management sector in Israel.”

Professor Noa Vilchinsky, Head of the Designated Programs Unit at Bar-Ilan University—the unit that developed and oversees the program—highlighted the importance of the academic perspective: “We’ve built a training track that combines academic values such as reliable knowledge, critical thinking, and a healthy dose of skepticism, with practical skills, to ensure that graduates of the program receive the necessary thinking skills and intellectual tools to succeed in the field.”

Idit Shani, Vice President for IFM at Electra FM, delivered a comprehensive presentation on the program’s development, from defining its initial goals to forming the strategic partnership:
“The program’s development is the result of our vision to deepen knowledge and professionalism in the sector of facility management and operations, collaborating with Bar-Ilan University allowed us to shape a unique program built on solid academic foundations, tailored to the needs of the business environment.”

Dr. Dudi Shalom, the program’s academic director, presented the study curriculum and emphasized the program’s uniqueness: “The combination of academic study and practical application is what will make our graduates leaders in this field.”

The year-long academic program spans 12 months and offers a comprehensive study track that includes 143 academic hours, combining theory and practice. Its five core areas—Practical Management, Engineering Literacy, Legal Aspects of Management, Management Innovation, and Practicum—were carefully designed to provide participants with a professional and up-to-date toolkit.

The program’s teaching staff, which includes Prof. Vilchinsky, Dr. Dudi Shalom, Dr. Amir Alaluf, and Dr. Hanan Adad, Eng. Shai Friedman, Dorit Uziel, and Hillel Kazar ensure a high academic standard combined with extensive practical experience. The lecturers were carefully selected to guarantee the optimal integration of theory and practice.

With the first group beginning on February 25, a new chapter in facility and property management in Israel is unfolding. This innovative academic program promises to sustain a new generation of professional managers equipped with in-depth theoretical knowledge and advanced practical tools. It appears that the collaboration between Bar-Ilan University and Electra FM marks the beginning of a new era for integrated facility and property management in Israel.

We wish the first student group of the program a great success and look forward to witnessing its positive impact on the future of the management business in Israel. Without a doubt, this is a significant milestone in the professional development of the industry, promising to raise the level of professionalism and service throughout our organization.

The strategic partnership between Bar-Ilan University and Electra FM (part of the Electra Group) reflects a long-term commitment to developing the facility and property management sector in Israel, setting new standards for professional excellence, technological innovation, and business leadership.

For more information and to register for the program, please visit Bar-Ilan University’s website or contact Electra FM.