Courses in Israel are conducted in various MASHAV-affiliated Institutions throughout the country. Some are international courses, in which trainees from various countries study in classes conducted in a common language; others are national courses, devoted to trainees from the same country.
Participants include graduate students, professionals, instructors, field workers, technicians and senior government personnel. Classes are small, affording individual attention to each student. Designed to present concepts and ideas, courses do not impose specific models or solutions. At the end of each course, participants are required to present an original project. Follow-up studies indicated that about one third of these project proposals are eventually carried out or provide a basis for project planning in the participants' home countries.
MASHAV's programs are intended to reach diverse populations with a wide spectrum of educational backgrounds and work experiences, as well as to enable participants, including teachers, farmers, engineers, community workers, regional planners, physicians and nutritionists, to transmit skills learned for the training of others. While levels of education and experience vary, MASHAV strives to tailor its courses to address the development priorities of each student.
On-the-spot courses are conducted by MASHAV experts for local trainees. Training concentrates on areas in which Israel has gained experience: agriculture and rural society, education, social development, public health, environmental and natural resources protection, and women in a developing society.
Short-term consultancies are arranged at the request of the host country, with MASHAV experts sent to provide specific advisory services or assistance in program implementation, to conduct a survey on a particular topic or to give support to MASHAV personnel on long-term projects.
Long-term consultancies involve MASHAV experts sent at the request of the host country to assist in the design, implementation, management or general assessment of pilot or development projects, or to supervise demonstration farms and advisory centers established by MASHAV in several countries.
Trilateral research programs, under MASHAV's auspices and in cooperation with government bodies, are designed to assist the developing world.