Apple Inc has hired the dean of Yale University's business school to start the Apple University. It's not going to become the basis of an Apple cult, but rather a facility where future Apple staffers will (allegedly) be initiated in the ways of the company.

Citing the Cupertino-based Mac maker, the Wall Street Journal reports that Joel Podolny, the dean of the Yale School of Management, will join Apple as vice president and dean of Apple University. Mr. Podolny previously taught at Harvard and Stanford universities.

Mr. Podolny will be stepping down as dean first thing in November, but will stay at Yale until the end of 2008, according to a spokeswoman from the university. She added that Mr. Podolny would begin exercising his abilities as vice president of Apple University in early 2009.

Richard Levin, the president of Yale, noted in a farewell announcement that Podolny "leaves the Yale School of Management in the strongest position it has enjoyed in its 30-year history." The dean was also responsible with leading the school's efforts to raise more than $170 million for the Yale Tomorrow fund.

Podolny came to Yale in 2005 to apply the sociological concept of status to the study of market competition, according to macnn, but also to teach technological evolution and social network perspectives. Apple declined to provide details about the university or the position just filled, but the dean's expertise would suggest the Apple University will serve as an educational facility for the company's employees.

Steve Jobs, Apple CEO, is known to have led a Pixar University, which trained and educated the staff of the animation production company. Apple's Chief Executive was Pixar's largest shareholder before the studio was sold to Walt Disney Co. in 2006. According to the above-mentioned source, Podolny's hiring suggests Apple is applying the same methods to educate its own staffers.