The Prime Minister’s Office, the Municipality of Jerusalem and the Jerusalem Development Authority (JDA) have announced a plan designed to encourage students to come to Jerusalem and stay in the city after completing their studies.
Students that live in the city and study for a scientific/technological degree will enjoy tuition loans that will become grants if the student remains to live and work in one of the city’s high-tech industries for three years after completing his or her degree.
The amounts of the loan/grant are NIS 8,000 per annum for a first degree and NIS 7,500-10,000 per annum for a second degree.
In order to rejuvenate the Jerusalem city center, a unique and innovative model is being advanced in which students who choose to live in the area will enjoy rent subsidies of up to NIS 6,600 per annum. Jerusalem intends to join the trend in western European countries where, over the past decade, young people and students have been encouraged to return to city centers.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon stated that he intends to continue enacting various plans for strengthening the capital, including in the fields of employment and housing in the city center. Sharon said, “Jerusalem is Israel’s eternal capital and thus we must enhance its status as a national asset of the highest order.”
Jerusalem Mayor Uri Lupoliansky said that this is a gift to students who will start the academic year in the capital of the State of Israel. Lupoliansky said, "The government and the Prime Minister have put the city of Jerusalem at the top of their agenda and it is already possible to see the results.”
JDA director Ezra Levy said: “Young people are the future of Jerusalem. The JDA is advancing a series of projects designed to bring young couples and students in order to assure the future of the capital.”
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on Sunday, October 30, 2005