Ruth Yakir

Dr. Ruth Yakir is a member of University of the People’s Arts & Sciences Advisory Board and has over fifty years of experience in the field of education. Dr. Yakir served as the director of the Center for International Studies at Kibbutzim College of Education, Technology and the Arts until 2012 and chairs a “think tank” to propose changes in teacher education curricula in the era of globalization.

From 1997 to 2006, Dr. Yakir served as Academic Director of Kidum Colleges, overseeing programs of the University of Liverpool in Israel, including the Master of Education program and the Master of Arts in English Language Teaching and Learning program.

Prior to joining Kidum, Dr. Yakir was Assistant Head of Kibbutzim College of Education in Tel Aviv, in charge of research and development. During those years, she set up and directed the Department of Educational Administration and the School Principals’ Certification Program of the College. She also initiated and directed a special program for talented teacher education students.

Dr. Yakir’s career in education has also included acting as Principal for two Israeli regional high schools, teaching sociology of education and educational administration at Kaye College of Education in Beer Sheba, Israel, and serving as Economic Manager of a kibbutz.

Dr. Yakir received her B.A. from the University of Chicago, and her M.A. and Ph. D. in Sociology of Education from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.