Electra FM in Collaboration with Bar-Ilan University: Conclusion of the First Certification Cohort of the IFM Program

Electra FM and Bar-Ilan University marked the completion of the first certification cohort of the Integrated Facilities Management (IFM) program, as part of an academic-professional collaboration designed to develop managers capable of operating in complex, dynamic, and multi-system operational environments.

The event was held with the participation of Bar-Ilan University’s senior leadership, the Specialized Programs Division, Electra FM’s management, the program’s academic faculty, and the program’s graduates. In the opening remarks, Zohar Yinon, Chief Executive Officer, welcomed the collaboration and emphasized the importance of connecting academia with real-world application and professional practice in a rapidly evolving market.

Daniel Milo summarized the process and emphasized that beyond the learning itself, a broader value was created: “This was a joint effort by both the students and the teaching staff. What emerged here was not only theory and practice, but also a strong networking framework, a synergy formed among participants who, at the beginning of the journey, often did not even know one another. After a year and a half, a shared ecosystem has been built here, a professional community whose goal is to lead knowledge and, over time, also to drive impact.”

He added that the participants perseverance and commitment throughout the program, alongside their day-to-day professional responsibilities, constitute a significant achievement in their own right.

The program was academically guided by Dr. David Shalom, the program’s Academic Coordinator, who led a learning process combining critical thinking, professional curiosity, and a continuous connection between academic knowledge and applied practice. The program was developed within the framework of the Specialized Programs Division, in collaboration with the academic faculty and under broad academic leadership, including Prof. Noa Vilchinsky, Head of the Specialized Programs Division, as part of the program’s academic content and conceptual framework.

Following this, Idit Shani, VP of Strategy & Business Development, addressed the audience and emphasized the managerial significance of the training and the responsibility that accompanies the certification:
“An integrated IFM manager is someone who knows how to connect people, technology, and processes, sees the big picture, and makes precise decisions, both in routine operations and in moments of truth.”

On behalf of the graduates, Tuvia Yahalom, Projects and Soft Operations Manager at Electra Tomer and the graduates’ representative, shared insights into the group’s journey throughout the year. He emphasized that the program was born out of a genuine need from the field to strengthen professionalism, deepen knowledge, and adapt management practices to a complex and dynamic operational reality. According to him, the first cohort represented a pioneering step that lays a new professional foundation for the entire industry.

In his remarks, he stated: “The first cohort is not merely an academic program; it is a breakthrough and a real opportunity to influence the way future generations of IFM managers in Israel will operate. The integration of academic knowledge with applied practice is what enables us to develop as managers and lead the field forward.”

At the center of the event were the graduates’ final projects, which were based on real-world challenges and demonstrated the application of the integrated management approach, incorporating managerial models studied as part of the program. The projects addressed, among other topics, systems and process management, strengthening operational continuity, planning and control, service and customer experience, and decision-making in multi-interface environments.

The conclusion of the first certification cohort marks another significant milestone in the collaboration between Bar-Ilan University and Electra FM, establishing a professional-academic framework for the development of a new generation of integrated IFM managers in Israel.