Achievements

Pillar 1: Enhance LAU’s Scholarly Footprint and Visibility

News Articles

LAU Faculty Recognized Regionally for Teaching Innovation LAU Achieves Historic Rankings in the Arab World Dr. Mawad’s Legacy: Weathering Storms, Emerging Stronger Dr. Elie Bouri Ranked No.1 in Lebanon by Research.com LAU Becomes an Official SAT Test Center Dr. Elie Bouri Receives the Shoman Award

Goal 1: Attract global talent

• Global Talent Recruitment: LAU is attracting accomplished scholars to its faculty, adding 12 distinguished members in AY 2023-24. This signifies a substantial progress towards the goal of hiring four faculty members, with further additions anticipated in the upcoming years.
• International Research Collaboration: The institution’s commitment to fostering global research collaborations is evidenced by the recruitment of over 20 non-resident international research faculty members from diverse fields in Fall 2023, totaling 93 non-residents since April 2022. This influx of expertise has enriched LAU’s research endeavors and contributed to its broader academic impact. In Fall 2023, LAU has formed a committee to oversee non-resident faculty renewals, focusing on responsible research conduct and ethical AI usage in research. LAU also promotes global engagement and interdisciplinary collaboration through the organization of an international Conference (ICMMAAC’24) and multiple national symposia.

Goal 2: Improve research impact and capacity

• Research Funding: LAU’s efforts to promote research excellence are underscored by the successful launch of the President Intramural Research Fund (PIRF) grant. With active grants since Fall 2023 and the third PIRF cycle underway for Fall 2024, the institution has demonstrated its commitment to supporting innovative research projects. Initial observations showcase a significant increase in extramural grant applications, including 26 applications submitted during the two academic years since the launch of PIRF (past 18 months) compared with only 6 during the two years prior to its launch (AYs 2021- 2022).
• Graduate Program Scholarships: A substantial investment of $1 million in Graduate Program Scholarships has yielded remarkable results, leading to an almost threefold increase in research output of graduate students and a remarkable 150% surge in publications in Tier 1 journals. This investment has not only enhanced scholarly contributions but also nurtured a culture of research excellence. A Strategic Approach to Boosting Graduate Student Enrollment was commissioned to serve as a compass to guiding LAU toward attracting and enrolling exceptional graduate students.
• Student Research Awards: LAU’s dedication to student engagement and recognition is evident through the continued allocation of yearly student research awards, including Outstanding Researcher and Young Researcher awards distributed during the annual LAU Research Day. These awards not only promote research involvement among students but also highlight and celebrate outstanding contributions.

Goal 3: Foster collaborative research and partnerships

• Collaborative Research Initiatives: LAU has facilitated collaboration among faculty members through various initiatives, including the Non-Resident (NR) Collaboration Incentive and short-term visits by accomplished international scholars. Three directors of Research Collaboration & Partnerships have been recruited to help establish collaborative projects among full time and non-resident faculty. These efforts help create a platform for cross-disciplinary interactions, fostering a vibrant research community. In Spring 2024, following the discontinuation of the Non-Resident program, the University is developing a strategy to expand partnerships and collaborations with various universities in the region, in Europe, and in North America.

Goal 4: Develop and offer strategic PhD programs

• Research Infrastructure: LAU has achieved significant progress in expanding its PhD program offerings. This is evident in the number of Ph.D. program proposals including seven programs in: Business Administration, Biology Sciences, Computer Science, Education, International Affairs, Computer Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering. The proposals are ate different stages of acquiring the needed approvals before they are launched.

Goal 5: Enhance research infrastructure.

• The institution’s commitment to enhancing research infrastructure is evident through the operationalization of a new Animal Facility and the establishment of an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). These developments underscore LAU’s commitment to providing essential resources for impactful research.

Pillar 2: Educate for Impact

News Articles

A New Study by AKSOB Faculty on Ways to Resource Hope During Protracted Displacement Navigating Work Stress in Uncertain Times Students Invited to “Talk It Out” The LAU Mobile Clinics Deliver Healthcare and Renewed Hope to Lebanon’s Displaced When Learning Becomes Survival in the Shadow of Conflict Talk It Out: A Psychological Support Group

Goal 1: Attract global talent

• Global Diversity & Recruitment: Our international recruitment initiatives have been revitalized, resulting in successful visits to key countries in the MENA region, the Arab Golf, and sub-Saharan Africa. The University’s commitment to fostering a diverse student body is further demonstrated through the organization of many yearly outreach events and initiatives (including International Education Week, summer camps, school orientation events, high school student competitions) and plans for future international visits to enhance global representation and inclusivity.

Goal 2: Faculty

• Innovative Programs for Impactful Learning: Our commitment to impactful learning is reflected in the introduction of innovative online programs and high-impact experiences through practical simulations, flipped classrooms, active learning and share-and-compare approaches. By merging theoretical knowledge with real-world projects, we provide our students with transformative opportunities to develop critical skills and holistic growth. Also, by providing them with opportunities to conduct internships in 280+ local, regional, and international industry partners, we allow our students to apply their knowledge in real-world scenarios, gaining invaluable practical experience while interacting with and learning from top professionals in their fields.

Goal 3: Internationalization

• Expanding International Reach: Our unwavering focus on global engagement has yielded a robust international network, including more than 50 student exchange agreements with international partners from 40+ countries, enrolling around 70 students/year (exchange + MEPI UG+GR). The University is actively seeking to further expand its international partnerships, in order to foster more cross-cultural collaborations and further enrich global perspectives.
• Fostering Alumni Engagement & Expertise: Leveraging the invaluable expertise of our alumni, we have established a robust framework for alumni engagement, including 35+ alumni chapters spread across the globe. The service of notable alumni in many of the schools’ advisory boards is a testimony to their integral role in the University’s mission, reinforcing a culture of excellence and success, offering vital professional advice and career support to our students, and helping expand the University’s partnerships and collaborations.

Goal 4: Innovation for Entrepreneurship

• Enhanced Employability & Co-Curricular: The establishment of a successful annual career fair has fortified our ties with industries, with more than 50 companies participating every year, to facilitate invaluable networking opportunities for our students. Our proactive career advisors have engaged with employers, catalyzing students’ access to a spectrum of co-curricular experiences that seamlessly bridge academia and practical skills.

Goal 5: Academic Systems as Facilitators

• Improving Advising & Registration: LAU and its constituent schools have gone a long way in streamlining advising and registration processes. Both onsite and online advising are commonly practiced, allowing for a personalized student experience. Registration is done online in close coordination with registration officers and program chairs, ensuring a more seamless academic journey.

Pillar 3: Innovate to Inspire

News Articles

LAU Faculty Recognized Regionally for Teaching Innovation Dr. Rula Diab: A Passion-Driven Career and Growth at LAU LAU Inspires Next-Gen in AI and Medicine Dr. Maroun Karam Publishes New Findings on Parathyroid Imaging Modalities LAU’s Theater Festival Returns SOE Joins Engineering Schools Network for Sustainability

Goal 1: Establish a culture of Innovation

• Collaborative Transformation: LAU’s commitment to innovative education is highlighted through the integration of XR technology across university curricula, introducing XR to classrooms, designing new learning spaces, and performing yearly faculty trainings and workshops covering the usage of state of the art digital, XR, and AI-enabled tools. Also, the launching of the new MS in Applied Artificial Intelligence program in Fall 2023, enrolling approximately 35+ students, and the introduction of a new stackable graduate certificate program on Fundamentals of Applied AI, promise a new experience of advanced learning.
• Embracing Technology: The establishment of an XR Taskforce has led to the successful integration of XR technology, providing students with immersive and transformative learning experiences.

Goal 2: Promote student engagement for impactful learning

• Enriching Learning Experiences: Incorporating active learning in many courses and introducing engaging activities such as flipped classrooms, curiosity-based learning, simulation case studies, and forum discussions, alongside updated syllabi, enriches the student experience and enhances the quality of education.

Goal 3: Ensure teacher preparedness to engage in valiant and innovative education

• Faculty Mentoring and Exchanges: Faculty training and the successful implementation of virtual exchange initiatives with partner universities in the USA help promote global perspectives and cross-cultural understanding, while CIL’s involvement in LAU’s International Education Week extends the reach of innovative learning.
• Enriching Learning Outcomes: Most schools are actively revising and enriching the learning outcomes of many of their courses, and introducing new courses to provide more impactful curricular and co-curricular experiences to foster students’ scientific curiosity, entrepreneurial skills, and communication skills, including Vertically Integrated Project (VIP) courses, tech fairs, workshops, seminar series, and webinars.

Goal 4: Secure institutional support to enable advance pedagogical innovation

• Creating Innovative Learning Spaces: Proposed classroom upgrades, peer-to-peer learning spaces in the LAU libraries, and the upcoming launch of the Beirut Creative Space in Fall 2024 promise to create dynamic and cutting-edge learning environments, fostering creativity and innovation.
• Transforming Teaching Methodologies: Incorporating interactive curiosity-based learning initiatives, including flipped classroom, project and simulation driven modalities into course syllabi, empowers students with critical thinking skills and enhances their engagement with course content.
• Innovative Course Evaluation: LAU is committed to systematically reviewing course evaluations, providing detailed feedback to faculty, and ensuring continuous improvement in teaching quality. This comprehensive approach includes developing robust review processes, offering mentoring and support, incorporating feedback from evaluations, conducting comprehensive PT evaluations, and ensuring that feedback is effectively implemented to enhance overall course content and delivery.

Pillar 4: Advance and Educate Beyond Boundaries

News Articles

The LAU Mobile Clinics Deliver Healthcare and Renewed Hope to Lebanon’s Displaced In Aid of the Displaced Weekly Online Counseling for the LAU Community Talk It Out: A Psychological Support Group Centennial Healthcare on the Go The Anthem that Commemorates a Century

Goal 1: Establish physical presence in different countries in the MENA region and restructure the LAU NYC

• Strategic Campus Establishment: On March 12, 2024, the Board of Regents in New York granted approval for both our charter and master plan amendments, allowing LAU New York to transition into a Branch Campus of LAU. The University is exploring the feasibility to obtain the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) status, and establishing a database of instructors around NYC

Goal 2: Expand the consulting services of LAU in Higher Education, Healthcare, and Businesses.

• Global Affairs Service Center (GASC): GASC’s inception signifies a significant achievement, aligning academic expertise with market needs through strategic partnerships. GASC has made it to the first consultancy contract in Saudi Arabia that realized high institutional visibility, revenue, and faculty professional development and income.

Goal 3: Establish an Industrial Hub at LAU that fosters innovation, industry-university collaboration to advance use-inspired R&D with the aim to produce sellable products and services.

• Support for Startup and Incubation: FMIC launched the Spark program allowing student-led faculty-supervised startups to win prizes of up to 10,000 USD. Over 100 startup applications were received from which 29 are in incubation and 3 are in acceleration programs. Startup culture is also promoted through the Vertically Integrated Project (VIP) program, allowing students from multiple fields and ranks to work on collaborative projects co-supervised by industry partners. 18+ projects are currently running, with 40+ faculty and industry partners, and 80+ students involved in collaborate industry and research work.

Goal 4: Expand the Academy of Continuing Education (ACE) arm to cater for a wider public locally and internationally with innovative programs/certificates and courses.

• ACE Transformation: ACE’s comprehensive restructuring, coupled with digital outreach and NGO collaborations, elevates the impact of education, fostering relevance and accessibility. ACE is launching more than 10 new programs, ranging from Commercial design and Business Intelligence, to Deep Learning, and AI Solutions, and is recently offering dual certifications with international partners including NYIF, Holberton, Compass, and Viktor Frankil Institute.

Goal 5: Improve internship and job placement opportunities of LAU students through enhancing local and international relationships and cooperation agreements with relevant entities.

• Establish and sustain collaborations: The University has made significant advancements in establishing partnerships and agreements to enhance educational experiences and research opportunities. Each school has taken steps to further collaborative efforts and expand academic opportunities. Many schools have actively sought active civic engagement through specially designed training programs, summer camps, and para-curricular activities designed to serve the community.           

Goal 6: Establish and expand LAU’s hybrid and online programs through strategic offerings, marketing strategies and university/corporate partnerships.

• Inclusive Learning Environment: The camp’s reach extended beyond borders, attracting participants from Lebanon and abroad, fostering a diverse and inclusive learning community. LAU introduced two new online degree programs: the MS in Applied Artificial Intelligence and the MBA in Healthcare Management, as well as a new stackable graduate certificate program: Fundamentals of Applied AI.