The University of Cambridge is at the forefront of a new initiative to attempt to improve relations between Muslims and Jews within the business world. The program, designed and funded by the Edmond de Rothschild Foundation, brings together twenty-four.

Muslim and Jewish social entrepreneurs from the UK, France and the US. These twenty-four, who are given a place on the basis of their previous business experience and achievements, then take part in a program which attempts, not only to give them a greater knowledge of business, but also to teach the history of the Arab-Israeli conflict in the hope of fostering an increased level of tolerance and co operation between these young business people in the future.

The program is highly competitive and, now in its second year, has received five hundred applicants for the twenty-four places, a testament to the high regard with which this executive education programme is held.

The University, who co-sponsors the program with the Columbia Business School takes responsibility for providing lectures and supervisions on the Muslim and Jewish relations while the Columbia Business School takes responsibility for teaching the individuals about social business including aspects such as creating a marketing plan and how to raise venture capital.

The Executive Director of the Edmond de Rothschild Foundation, Firoz Ladek, has expressed his view of education as a means of building bridges and this is the primary aim of the programme. It is hoped, therefore, that through this scheme the individuals will become part of a network that transcends cultural differences in order to allow their businesses to grow. This is the key reason for the program's focus on social entrepreneurs for whom a desire to do good has already, the Foundation argues, been illustrated through previously launched businesses. Over the past 2 years, these have included an organisation that works to improve cancer care in adolescent patients as well as a counselling service that helps those women who live in fear of honour killings.

Rob Mindell, the Interfaith Officer of the Cambridge University Jewish Society said of the programme, "The Rothschild Foundation Programme is ground- breaking and it’s so pleasing to see Cambridge University leading the way in Muslim-Jewish relations."