The Asper Center for Entrepreneurship - a vehicle for enhancing business skills among both university students and businessmen in the field - was dedicated this month at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The center is named for Israel Asper of Winnipeg, Manitoba, who has developed Canada's largest media empire. He is the executive chairman of the CanWest Global Communications Corporation, which he founded and which last year added over 150 of the country's largest newspapers magazines and Internet sites to its already substantial percentage of Canada's independent television and radio stations.
Asper is also known as a prominent philanthropist in Canada and in Israel, donating substantially in particular to educational enterprises. Asper and his wife Babs attended the dedication of the new entrepreneurship center at the Hebrew University, which is modeled on a similar program he endowed at the University of Manitoba.
The center, located within the Hebrew University's Jerusalem School of Business Administration, will offer academic courses for students and for people who are involved in creating and operating start-up companies; sponsor research in entrepreneurship by members of the academic staff; and promote community involvement, including guidance for young, teenage "entrepreneurs" who will be given instruction and advice in creating new ideas for products or services and in marketing them to the public.
Asper said that the challenge facing Israel in the 21st century will be to create more opportunities for an expanding population. To do that it will take "entrepreneurs, risk takers," said Asper. He added that now was the time for the true friends of Israel to show their presence in the country and to express their support. "We're not afraid to be here and we're not afraid to talk about a fantastic, prosperous future for Israel," said Asper.
Asper is also known as a prominent philanthropist in Canada and in Israel, donating substantially in particular to educational enterprises. Asper and his wife Babs attended the dedication of the new entrepreneurship center at the Hebrew University, which is modeled on a similar program he endowed at the University of Manitoba.
The center, located within the Hebrew University's Jerusalem School of Business Administration, will offer academic courses for students and for people who are involved in creating and operating start-up companies; sponsor research in entrepreneurship by members of the academic staff; and promote community involvement, including guidance for young, teenage "entrepreneurs" who will be given instruction and advice in creating new ideas for products or services and in marketing them to the public.
Asper said that the challenge facing Israel in the 21st century will be to create more opportunities for an expanding population. To do that it will take "entrepreneurs, risk takers," said Asper. He added that now was the time for the true friends of Israel to show their presence in the country and to express their support. "We're not afraid to be here and we're not afraid to talk about a fantastic, prosperous future for Israel," said Asper.