2000

​The Lauder School of Government, Diplomacy & Strategy is the first of its kind in Israel. Amb. Ronald S. Lauder, president of the World Jewish Congress, was the proponent of the school’s vision and assisted with its foundation.

At the school’s inauguration ceremony, founding dean, the late Prof. Ehud Sprinzak z"l, pledged that the students attending the new school “would, at the time of their graduation, find that they were equipped with valuable tools that would pave their way to Israel’s diplomatic service, to local and national politics, international companies and the security and intelligence communities; tools that would ensure that they were on a path of social mobility, one that ensures they maximize their personal potential”.

And so it has been. The school has been the breeding ground for the next generation of leaders, training the public and political leadership of the 21st century. The school is currently headed by Prof. Alex Mintz, who has introduced a certification program, which is highly sought after by top students from Israel and around the world.

Prof. Boaz Ganor serves as Dean of the School.

​The Lauder School of Government, Diplomacy & Strategy’s Institute for Policy and Strategy has been hosting the annual Herzliya Conference on the Balance of Israel’s National Security since 2000. Prof. Uzi Arad, the conference’s founder, came to the realization that there was a need to create an annual venue in which senior leaders could meet to debate the crucial issues on Israel’s public agenda, with the aim of offering ways to bolster national security and resilience, in their broadest sense.

The conference quickly became the highlight of the political calendar, as well as a platform on which issues of the highest relevance to Israel’s resilience are discussed. Conference speakers are of the highest international caliber and often include prime ministers, ministers, IDF chiefs of staff and the heads of security and intelligence agencies.

The late Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon z”l, chose the Herzliya Conference as the stage for two of his most important political addresses: when in 2002 he announced his support of the roadmap, and in 2003 he presented the Gaza disengagement plan.

Maj. Gen. (res.) Amos Gilead currently serves as the Head of the Institute for Policy and Strategy.

​IDC Herzliya has made it its mission to train the future leadership. Therefore, IDC strives to locate candidates, who have proven potential leadership, and are in need of financial assistance, with aim of affordingthem scholarships.

One of every six IDC students is afforded financial aid. Among the various programs operating in this spirit are two unique programs: The "Keren-Or" program was first introduced in 2000 and affords students who are struggling financially but are highly motivated, an opportunity to acquire a business administration or computer science degree.

Candidates undergo a careful screening process, which is not based on their prior knowledge, and means to assess their chances of successfully handling a demanding curriculum. "Keren-Or" students are afforded a scholarship amounting to 90% of their tuition, as well as auxiliary classes and an extended curriculum outline.

The "Israel at Heart" program is fostering leadership and excellence among the Ethiopian community. The program offers Ethiopian students with extraordinary leadership potential the opportunity to acquire their undergraduate degree, and aims to train them to assume leadership roles in Israeli society. The program offers students a full scholarship, including student allowance benefits.

​Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal and Magic Johnson are just a few of the college-grown superstars to have come out of university athletics in the United States – an arena which has propagated record holders in various sports.

IDC Herzliya has always appealed to outstanding athletes as a venue for their academic studies. The university now boasts 30 competitive teams for men and women, led by coach Ilan Kowalsky.

Athletes are made to meet all academic requirements and IDC Herzliya provides them with special auxiliary classes to ensure that they do so. Tournaments in all the various team sports, such as mini-football, basketball, volleyball, handball etc., are held during the school year.

In addition students participate in competitions for their individual sports, such as windsurfing, tennis, swimming, judo, karate, athletics and more.

IDC Herzliya’s teams have marked outstanding achievements in academic sports, including winning the first place in the Academic Sports Association championship – all sans a single sports facility on campus.

As IDC Herzliya’s campus expands, students will enjoy a sports center that will include basketball courts and training facilities.