Hebrew University Student Union

What Hebrew University Student Union does

The Hebrew University Student Union (אגודת הסטודנטים של האוניברסיטה העברית) is a registered Israeli nonprofit association (amuta no. 580003952), founded in 1984, that serves as the official representative body for approximately 25,000 students across four Hebrew University campuses: Mount Scopus, Givat Ram, Ein Karem (Faculty of Medicine), and Rehovot (Faculty of Agriculture). The union is governed by an 88-member elected Conference (Vaada) and operates through five operational departments plus two support units, with campus-specific coordinators reporting to department heads. Its mandate spans academic representation in faculty and university committees, welfare services, housing guidance, free inter-campus shuttles, locker rentals, legal aid clinics, sports center discounts (Cosell), a peer tutoring marketplace, an academic course-summary bank, exam preparation marathons, and specialized rights programs (Zkhuyot and Stars) covering reserve-duty personnel, parents, first-generation students, ultra-orthodox, Arab, Ethiopian-origin, and students with learning disabilities.

The union operates without any proprietary technology platform. Its service delivery is supported by a public-facing website (aguda.org.il), Facebook and Linktree social channels, weekly email newsletters, and the Skopos-produced weekly student newspaper 'Pi Haaton.' It generates revenue through four streams: (1) recurring membership fees (דמי חבר) collected via the university administration for access to services; (2) the wholly-owned Skopos economic company producing marketing, advertising, and publishing income; (3) a 25% minority stake in Akademon Israel, a multi-university office supplies retail chain co-owned with Hebrew University and Karviz; and (4) the Sefatach entrepreneurship center providing professional services in partnership with Jerusalem municipality and government bodies. Distribution is primarily direct through physical campus offices, with locker subscriptions priced at 170/135 ILS annual, 120/90 ILS semester, and 40/25 ILS monthly for members versus non-members. The union has no parent company, no external investors, and is democratically controlled by its elected student representatives under its own bylaws.

Name

Hebrew University Student Union

Legal name

אגודת הסטודנטים והסטודנטיות באוניברסיטה העברית (ע"ר 580003952)

Website

https://aguda.org.il

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Hebrew University Student Union is a registered Israeli nonprofit association founded in 1984 that serves as the official representative body for approximately 25,000 students across Hebrew University's four campuses, delivering academic advocacy, welfare services, legal aid, shuttles, lockers, sports discounts, and commercial subsidiaries including a newspaper, an entrepreneurship center, and a minority stake in a multi-university office supplies chain.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Student Services and Academic Representation

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Labor Unions and Similar Labor Organizations (813930), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

International Student Academic & Personal Support (case management, referrals) (EDALANAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

University/Campus Public Bus Operators (THAIAEAG)

Keywords

• Student representation services
• Academic advocacy services
• Campus shuttle transportation
• Student welfare services
• Student legal aid services

Headquarters

HQ city

Jerusalem

HQ country

Israel

HQ region

Middle East

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees (דמי חבר): Students pay membership fees through the university administration to access union services including academic representation, legal aid, housing assistance, and welfare services.
2. Skopos - Economic Company: An economic company that generates financial income through marketing, advertising, and production activities. Produces 'Pi Haaton' - the weekly student newspaper distributed across all campuses.
3. Akademon Israel Ownership (25%): The union holds 25% ownership in Akademon Israel, a chain of office supplies stores operating across four Hebrew University campuses and other Israeli universities including Ariel, Ben-Gurion, and Bar-Ilan.
4. Sefatach - Entrepreneurship Center: Business entrepreneurship center helping students with employment and business ventures, working with municipal and governmental bodies in Jerusalem to support student enterprises, particularly in hi-tech sectors.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Hebrew University Student Union is the official representative body for approximately 25,000 students across four Hebrew University campuses, delivering academic representation, welfare support, free legal consultations, locker rentals, shuttle transportation, sports center discounts, private tutor matching, course-summary repositories, and entrepreneurship services. The union also operates commercial subsidiaries — Skopos (weekly student newspaper "Pi Haaton"), Akademon Israel (25% owned stationery chain), and Sefatach (entrepreneurship center) — to cross-subsidize free member services.

Product overview

Hebrew University Student Union (אגודת הסטודנטים של האוניברסיטה העברית) is a student organization providing a comprehensive suite of services across four campuses (Mount Scopus, Givat Ram, Ein Karem, and Rehovot) to approximately 25,000 students. The union operates as a platform-plus-services model, offering core student services including the Academic Bank (digital repository of course summaries), Private Tutors Board (peer tutoring marketplace), Shuttles (free inter-campus transportation), Lockers (rental storage), Cosell Sports Center (discounted fitness), Marathons and Review Sessions (academic support), Attorney Services (free legal consultation and notary), Transparency Portal (governance documentation), Housing Services (rental guidance), and the Stars Program (subsidies for reserve soldiers and parents). The union also maintains commercial subsidiaries including Skopus (student newspaper), Sifta (entrepreneurship center), and Academon (stationery retail chain). Student rights are comprehensively documented through the Zkhuyot (rights guides) covering 14 distinct topic areas.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• סקופוס (Scope): Student newspaper and media production company producing 'פי האתון' (Peh Ha'aton), the weekly student newspaper of the Hebrew University.
• אקדמון ישראל (Akademon Israel)
• סיפתח (Sefatach)

Products and services

• Academic Bank (הבנק האקדמי) A digital repository of course summaries, lecture notes, and study materials uploaded by previous-year students. Students can browse and download summaries to supplement learning across academic subjects.
• Private Tutors Board (לוח מורים פרטיים) An online board that connects Hebrew University students with private tutors — senior students and graduates — who offer lessons in various academic subjects at student-friendly prices.
• Shuttles (שאטלים) A free shuttle bus service operating between Hebrew University campuses (Mount Scopus, Givat Ram, Ein Karem) and student housing areas during the academic year.
• Lockers (לוקרים) Locker rental service for students at the Givat Ram campus, offered on annual (170 ILS / 135 ILS members), semester (120 ILS / 90 ILS members), and monthly (40 ILS / 25 ILS members) subscription plans, with a 15% discount for reserve-duty soldiers with 30+ days of service.
• Cosell Sports Center (מרכז ספורט קוסל) Sports center partnership providing discounted fitness and sports-facility access to union members across campus locations via cosell.co.il/students.
• Marathons and Review Sessions (מרתונים) Academic review sessions and study marathons for challenging courses, including printed exam booklets and study guides, partly subsidized through the Stars program for eligible students.
• Attorney Services / Legal Aid Clinic (חתימת עו״ד) Free on-campus lawyer consultation and notary services for union members covering employment, housing contracts, and municipal tax (arnona) declaration verification.
• Rav-Kav (רב-קו) Public transportation card services facilitated through the union for student transit needs.
• Student Stores (חנויות) Retail shop offering various goods and products for students at discounted union member prices.
• Transparency Portal (שקיפות) Online portal providing access to union protocols, committee minutes, annual budgets, and proper-management documentation for member accountability.
• Loans and Lending Warehouse (מחסן ההשאלה) Equipment lending service allowing students to borrow items such as tents, drills, and other tools for personal use.
• Stars Program (תוכנית הכוכבים) Subsidy program for students performing military reserve duty, parents, or those in mourning, enabling them to sponsor marathons, exam booklets, and book loans.
• Student Rights Guides - Zkhuyot (זכותונים) Comprehensive guide documents summarizing student rights covering 14 topic areas: exams, military reserve duty, clinical training, parenting, Ethiopian immigrants, learning disabilities, the Haredi community, the Arab community, and first-generation academia.
• Academic Representation (ייצוג בוועדות) Student representation service in faculty and university committees, including disciplinary proceedings, with full advocacy support for union members.
• Housing Services (דיור) Comprehensive housing guide with tips, neighborhood information, and rental contract guidance for students seeking apartments near Hebrew University campuses.
• Skopos Student Newspaper (סקופוס / פי האטון) The weekly student newspaper "Pi Haaton" produced by Skopos, the union's wholly-owned economic subsidiary that generates revenue through marketing, advertising, and production activities, distributed across all campuses.
• Sefatach Entrepreneurship Center (סיפתח) Business entrepreneurship center helping students with employment, startup ventures, and professional mentorship, in collaboration with Jerusalem municipal and governmental bodies, focused particularly on hi-tech sectors.
• Akademon Israel Stationery Chain (אקדמון ישראל) Stationery and office supplies retail chain in which the union holds 25% ownership, operated as a joint venture with Hebrew University and Karviz. Stores operate across all four Hebrew University campuses plus Ariel, Ben-Gurion, and Bar-Ilan universities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Free lawyer consultation services available to member students for housing contracts and municipal tax declarations
• +2 more outcomes

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Skopos (סקופוס)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerEconomic company owned by the union that produces the student newspaper 'Pi Haaton' (פי האתון), generates revenue through marketing, advertising, and production activities. Serves as the union's commercial arm and primary revenue-generating subsidiary.
• Akademon Israel (אקדמון ישראל)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOffice supplies retail chain with union holding 25% ownership. Joint venture between the union, Hebrew University, and Karviz company. Operates stores across all four Hebrew University campuses plus Ariel University, Ben-Gurion University, and Bar-Ilan University.
• Sefatach (סיפתח)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBusiness entrepreneurship center helping students with employment and business ventures. Works with Jerusalem municipal and governmental bodies to support student enterprises, particularly in hi-tech sectors. Provides mentorship, workshops, conferences, and startup support.
• Cosell (קוסל)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSports center providing discounted membership rates for union members. Details available at cosell.co.il/students.
• Hebrew University AdministrationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe union represents students in university governance, including participation in faculty and university committees, academic policy decisions, and budget approvals. Joint ownership of Akademon Israel with the university.
• Jerusalem Municipality (עיריית ירושלים)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe union works with Jerusalem municipality on transportation (shuttle services to campuses), student housing advocacy, and Sefatach entrepreneurship center partnerships.
• Student Dormitory Residents (דיירי מעונות)minorOthersDormitory residents organization supported by the union's welfare department. The union coordinates housing advocacy and welfare services for dormitory residents.
• Course Instructors and Private Tutors (מורים פרטיים)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe private tutors board connects students with tutors (graduates and advanced students) at competitive prices across all academic disciplines. Tutors register through [email protected].

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Ariel University Student Union: The student union at Ariel University. Provides similar student services across campus and notably operates as a partner through the Akademon Israel retail chain, demonstrating the cross-university collaboration aspect of the academic supplies market.
• Reichman University Student Union: The student union at Reichman University (formerly IDC Herzliya), a private university. Offers comparable academic, welfare, and entrepreneurship services and is particularly relevant given Sefatach's focus on student entrepreneurship and innovation.
• Ben-Gurion University Student Union: The student union at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. Provides comparable multi-campus student services, academic representation, and welfare support, and notably operates as a partner through the Akademon Israel retail stores the Hebrew University Student Union co-owns.
• Open University of Israel Student Association: The student association at the Open University of Israel. Provides services to a large distance-learning student population, comparable in structure and mission but distinct in delivery model (remote vs. campus-based student services).
• Weizmann Institute Student Association: The student body organization at the Weizmann Institute of Science. Provides academic representation and welfare services to a graduate-focused science student population, with a smaller but more research-oriented constituency.
• Technion Student Union: The student union at the Technion - Israel Institute of Technology. Provides analogous academic advocacy, social services, and student programming to engineering and science students, operating under similar democratic governance and membership-based funding models.
• Tel Aviv University Student Union: The student union at Tel Aviv University, Israel's largest university with a substantially larger student population. Provides parallel academic representation, welfare services, and student advocacy, making it the closest comparable in organizational structure and mandate.
• Bar-Ilan University Student Union: The student union at Bar-Ilan University. Provides parallel services including academic representation, welfare, cultural activities, and student rights advocacy, and operates as a partner through the Akademon Israel retail joint venture spanning multiple Israeli universities.
• University of Haifa Student Union: The student union at the University of Haifa. Provides comparable academic, welfare, and advocacy services to a diverse student body, operating with similar membership-based governance and revenue structures tied to the parent university.

Others

• National Union of Israeli Students: The national umbrella organization for Israeli university student unions. Coordinates policy advocacy at the national level and represents collective student interests to government bodies, parallel to but distinct from any individual student union's local mandate.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AgudaHUJI
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hebrew-university-student-union

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Hebrew University Student Union