Open Events to the Public

LAU frequently hosts events open to the general public. These events include public lectures, workshops, conferences, art exhibitions, and cultural performances. These initiatives foster intellectual exchange, community engagement, and cultural enrichment, making LAU a vibrant hub for learning and creativity.

As a middle-school or high-school student, you will find in these programs a launchpad to build leadership, research, debate, public speaking, problem-solving, and writing skills — all essential tools to help them succeed academically and professionally. Through these programs, and since 2005, the university has helped empower a generation of youth leaders.

The Impact Since 2004

300 Participating high schools

15,765 LAU student leaders

62,905 High school student leaders

By Students, for Students

All five LAU Simulation Models are entirely student-led and organized. The training content is prepared, delivered and managed by LAU students – themselves a large, diverse group of motivated youth who are majoring in different disciplines but united in their vision and mission to promote youth leadership. They meticulously manage school relations, prepare the training content that they deliver, provide technical support, organize special events within the programs, and ensure that the work runs seamlessly. 

Many LAU student leaders are selected to participate in the annual Global Classrooms International Model United Nations Program in New York City, which brings together middle school and high school students from all over the world to role-play and train as ambassadors.

Through the Simulation Programs, You…

Step into the shoes of ambassadors

You learn how international diplomacy works.

Get hands-on training

For a few months, you come to LAU to get training in research and interpretation, rules of procedure, writing position papers, public speaking, role playing, conflict resolution, negotiations, caucusing, and more.

Learn technical skills

You’ll have fun and learn about procedures, institutions, functions, human rights, and inter-cultural dialogues.

Turn theory into practice

It ends with a big conference where you take the role of an ambassador from a country and get involved in a current issue or situation.

Two-minute tour of LAU simulation programs

A preview of the middle and high schoolers’ experiences across the LAU Youth Leadership Simulation Programs.

Why Take Part in LAU’s Simulation Programs?

You will immerse yourself in the culture of the United Nations, Arab League, European Union, African Union and Good Governance. You will come out of the programs stronger at: 

Art of Public Speaking

Dynamics of Debate

Tactics of Role-Play

Process of Conflict Resolution

Essence of Research

Your doorway to a scholarship

In line with its vision to seek and reward talented students, LAU allocates 50 and 25 percent scholarships every year to middle and high schoolers who show exceptional skills in the simulation programs.

Our Flagship Programs

Ever year thousands of middle and high schoolers flock to both LAU campuses to take part in the simulation programs. Find out more and choose the program that is right for you:

This program empowers our LAU students by entrusting them to manage, assess, and modify huge educational and leadership events for maximum impact.  Our students become administrators, teachers, IT experts, accountants, mentors, public speakers … In brief, they become confident, inspirational leaders.  The skills they practice will be with them their entire lives, so it’s no surprise that they land top jobs, get into leading universities and are the recipients of global awards.

Dr. Elise Salem, Vice President for Student Development and Enrollment Management

Contact Us

ole@lau.edu.lb

Academy of Continuing Education

https://ace.lau.edu.lb/

Mission & Vision

The Lebanese American University Academy of Continuing Education (LAU ACE) marshals LAU by encompassing all schools in reaching out to communities for the purpose of adult education, professional enhancement, applied research and impact creativity. Through LAU ACE, LAU as an institution of higher learning is committed to community engagement on the broadest scale, in the interest of sustainable knowledge driven by socio-economic developments.

LAU ACE aims to improve the quality of professional and personal lives by promoting knowledge, skills, and educational opportunities through the delivery of impactful lifelong learning for individuals, companies, and communities.

Through building and constantly nourishing links with multiple communities of practice, LAU ACE’s mission complements LAU’s by providing state-of-the-art academic and technical training for lifelong learners in the form of courses, workshops, diplomas, and professional certifications, leading to the betterment of employment opportunities or improvement of job performance, reflected in both personal and professional growth, across Lebanon and the region.

Educational Excellence: in tandem with LAU’s vision, we provide a superior educational experience to our learners in terms of faculty selectivity, content quality, and service excellence.
Flexibility and Adaptability: we regularly update our offerings to reflect socio-economical changes in the marketplace. Additionally, we provide flexible solutions, schedules, and locations to cater to our learners’ needs.
Learner Centricity: we put our students first; we provide them with all the support needed, we listen to them and take their feedback seriously with the aim of enhancing the overall learning experience.
Innovation: we encourage innovation and creativity. We anticipate changing demands that might reflect on our courses in order to provide the most innovative learning solutions.
Social Responsibility: we collaborate with different NGO’s and organizations on many levels as part of our contribution to corporate social responsibility initiatives.
 

Summer and Boot Camps

Your opportunity to secure a scholarship of up to 30% toward your chosen major at LAU!

Welcome to the School of Arts and Sciences Summer and Boot Camps 2024!

Our School will be holding three boot camps and five summer camps in July 2024.

• All Summer Camps will be open for registration to high school students who are still in grades 10 and 11. At the end of each summer camp, students will be assessed with regard to the content covered in the camps, and scholarships will be offered to the top five candidates in each camp, ranging between 10% to 30%.
• Running a period of two weeks, the XR Boot Camp will be open for registration to high school students, university students as well as more senior members of the community. At the end of the camp, participants will receive a certificate of completion. Scholarships will be offered to the winning candidates in the camp, ranging between 10% to 30%.
• Similar to the summer camps, the Pre-medical Boot Camp will be open for registration to high school students who are still in grades 10 and 11. The camp will run for a period of six days.
• The AI Boot Camp will also be open for registration to high school students who are still in grades 10 and 11, running for a period of two weeks. At the end of the camp, scholarships ranging between 10% and 30% will be offered to the winners.

Once registered, you will receive a notification voucher via email relaying that you need to proceed to settle your registration fees at any OMT or BOB Finance branch. You will have up to seven days from the registration confirmation to settle your payment otherwise your registration will be cancelled.

Note that spots are limited for each camp.

International Dance Day Festival in Lebanon

“We are a group of people (Dancers, Dance enthusiasts, Supports of the Arts, Educators and so on) who are concerned with Dance and its situation in Lebanon and its exposure to dance abroad. Our goal is to see the Lebanese dance field grow and expand its roots nationally and internationally as well.”

Founder and Director: Dr. Nadra Assaf

Previous Events

International Dance Day Festival in Lebanon 2020: Lockdown edition

International Dance Day Festival in Lebanon 2019

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International Dance Day Festival in Lebanon 2018

International Dance Day Festival in Lebanon 2017

Gender in Development and Humanitarian Assistance (GDHA) Certificate

In collaboration with The Arab Institute for Women (AIW) at the Lebanese American University (LAU), the Gender in Development and Humanitarian Assistance (GDHA) Certificate is a continuing education program designed for students, practitioners, and policymakers. The program addresses gender issues in development and humanitarian settings. GDHA innovatively incorporates academic knowledge with high-level expertise to create a new standard in gender education for development and humanitarian professionals. The standards are in-line with internationally-recognized practices. Moreover, the program builds local capacity to address local issues, building a cadre of motivated professionals in the Arab region.

The program involves an active learning approach with practical workshops. It also emphasizes reflective and collaborative learning. Participants may choose to take individual courses or to complete the full set. Upon completion of all ten courses, participants receive a certificate.

• Address the full range of gender issues in development and humanitarian contexts
• Build Arab capacity to address Arab development and humanitarian challenges
• Provide technical, marketable skills in gender programming to address gender inequalities
• Establish foundational knowledge in global and regional best practices on gender equality and women’s rights

Email: joanna.fayad@lau.edu.lb

Phone: +961 1 786 456, ext. 1106

News and Events:

Events

Free Webinars and Events Archive

2023

An Encounter With Raoul Verney, The Man, The Architect, The Educator Conferences & Symposia LAU Beirut Campus, Gezairi Building, Chafica Balaa Lecture Hall 403

Managing Stress in Uncertain Times Webinars Webex

Talk to the Experts: Workshop to Help You Cope Workshops & Seminars LAU Byblos campus, Frem 505

Talk to the Experts: Workshop to Help You Cope Workshops & Seminars LAU Beirut campus, WKSC 201

Teaching Graphic Design History in/of the Arab World: Narratives and Practices (Postponed)Conferences & Symposia Online

Open Days, Open Doors Fairs & Expos LAU Byblos Campus

Open Days, Open Doors Fairs & Expos LAU Beirut Campus

Graduate Fashion Show: Real Time Exhibits Gezairi Building Rooftop, Beirut Campus

Institute of Art in the Arab World Inaugural Event Talks Gezairy Building 403 Lecture Hall

Celebrating Niemeyer’s Tripoli World Fair Fairs & Expos Beirut Campus, AKSOB 0904

Arabic Comics and Conflicts: Ideological Indoctrination vs Individual Need for Change Talks LAU Beirut Campus, Gezairi Building 403

2022

ROOTING: A Solo Exhibition by Alumna Rana Raouda Exhibits LAU Beirut Campus - Safadi Fine Arts Building - Sheikh Zayed Exhibition Hall

Poetics of Structure Webinars Online via Webex

Open Days…Open Doors Fairs & Expos LAU Beirut Campus

X-Tended Reality Competition - Dare to C Competitions Online

BioFashion Factory ExhibitionExhibits600A, Gezairi Building, Beirut Campus

Graduate Fashion Show: Ignite Ceremonies Level 7 - Ground Floor, Gezairi Building, Beirut Campus

Graphic Design ExhibitionExhibits605, Gezairi Building, Beirut Campus

Zero Waste Fashion: An Eco-Design Marathon Workshops & Seminars Beirut Campus

DESIGN TO CARE? Webinars Online

A History of Arab Graphic Design: Q&A with Haytham Nawar Webinars Online

Hidden Portraits & the Pertinence of Individuality Webinars Online

On How Things Meet: A Career Introspection Webinars Online

Architecture in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: An Introduction to AI for Architects Webinars Online

Majoring in Architecture | Graphic Design | Interior Design | Fashion Design | Fine Arts: What You Need to Know Online

Interpretations, Reinterpretations Webinars Online

2021

Carrying Images - Thoughts on Graphic Design Webinars Online

International Workshop Beirut - SynErgy in the City - On DIY Mobility and Energy Infrastructure Conferences & Symposia IUA ALBA, Sin el Fil

Infrastructural Webinars Online

Counter Mapping & Identity Representation Webinars Online Via Webex

How to Look at Architecture? Webinars Online

Triggering the Empirical Space Webinars Online Via Webex

Neoliberalism, Globalization, and the Ecological Crisis Conferences & Symposia Online Via Webex

SUrF Webinars Online Via Webex

Dialogues in Time: Light, Time and Architecture in Art Webinars Online Via Webex

Art and Architectural Education in Times of Pandemic Webinars Online Via Webex

“Rise” Exhibits Online

A Different Kind of Climate Change Webinars Online

Digital Fashion Webinars Online Via Webex

Architectural Paths Webinars Online

Photography as Storytelling Webinars Online

Beyond Campus Gates: Redefining the Role of Universities Webinars Online

Real Virtuality and Immersive Storytelling Webinars Online

Bits to Atoms Webinars Online

The Wonderful World of Rana Salam Webinars Online

RE: WORK Webinars Online

Relevance v/s Difference Webinars Online

Flirting with Middle Eastern Modernity Webinars Online

OMA / AMO in the Middle East Webinars Online

Critical Imaginations Webinars Online

Fallen Fashion Webinars Online

Beirut-Rotterdam: Complex Urban Recoveries Webinars Online via WebEx

Anthony Caro: The Onward of Art Webinars Online

Panser la Ville Naturelle Webinars Online

Giancarlo Floridi Webinars Online

Second Hand Webinars Online

SARD Events:

The School of Architecture and Design at LAU hosts several events at the university that are open to the general public with the majority of such events being lectures. Throughout the academic year 2021–2022 such lectures were held as open-to-the-public online webinars as follows:

1. “Art and Architectural Education in Times of Pandemic” Online Webinar — Sept. 9, 2021

2. “Dialogues in Time: Light, Time and Architecture in Art” Online Webinar — Sept. 16, 2021

3. “SurF” Online Webinar — Sept. 22, 2021

4. “Triggering the Empirical Space” Online Webinar — Oct. 13, 2021

5. “How to Look at Architecture?” Online Webinar — Oct. 20 2021

6. “Counter Mapping & Identity Representation” Online Webinar — Oct. 27, 2021

7. “Infrastructural” Online Webinar — Nov. 3, 2021

8. “Carrying Images: Thoughts on Graphic Design” Online Webinar — Nov. 24, 2021

9. “Interpretations, Reinterpretations” Online Webinar — Jan. 1, 2022

10. “Architecture in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: An Introduction to AI for ArchitectsWebinarsOnline Feb. 2, 2022

11. “On How Things Meet: A Career Introspection” Online Webinar — Feb. 23, 2022

12. “Hidden Portraits & the Pertinence of Individuality” Online Webinar — Mar. 11, 2022

13. “A History of Arab Graphic Design: Q&A with Haytham Nawar” Online Webinar — Mar. 17, 2022

14. “Design to Care?” Online Webinar — Mar. 24, 2022

The LAU Simulation models are programs that serve as a launchpad to build leadership, research, debate, public speaking, problem-solving, and writing skills — all essential tools to help middle school and high school students coming from more than 200 schools from all over Lebanon, to succeed academically and professionally. Through these programs, and since 2005, the university has helped empower a generation of youth leaders.

The physics program and its associated clubs, the LAU Physics Club and LAU Astronomy Club, has organized several events, including public lectures, stargazing, movie screenings, and interactive discussions, all accessible to the public.

Faculty Personal and Professional Development

Professional Development Committee

The Professional Development Committee is composed of representatives of School administrators, full-time and adjunct Faculty and staff. Its main duties are to identify the professional development needs of faculty and preceptors, and coordinate the delivery of continuing education and professional advancement activities.

School-Sponsored Professional Development Seminars and Workshops

†Held at the Annual Preceptors Appreciation Event.

Professional Development Resources

Faculty Mentoring

The School of Pharmacy values and supports the continuing professional development and career advancement of its Faculty. In order to achieve these goals, annual funds are allocated to support individual full-time faculty members in further developing their skills and abilities in the areas of teaching, research, service and leadership. Furthermore, faculty members especially junior faculty who have identified needs for professional development are assigned a senior faculty mentor who will provide formative mentoring and guidance on career development in accordance to a formal Individual Faculty Mentoring and Development Plan document.

The Arab Institute for Women
 

The Food for Thought series at LAU’s Arab Institute for Women (AIW) is a monthly event designed to spark critical thinking and dialogue on various topics related to gender, women’s rights, and social justice. These sessions typically feature guest speakers, panel discussions, and open forums, providing a platform for diverse perspectives and engaging conversations.  

The topics covered in the Food for Thought series are wide-ranging and often address pressing social issues. Some past topics have included:

Webinar: “Gender and the Environment” (24/02/2023)

Webinar: “Call to Action: Women’s Leadership in Lebanon’s Crisis and Recovery” (07/12/2022)

Webinar: Personal Status Laws: Amending the Codes (05/07/2022)

Webinar: Stand Up Against Street Harassment (05/07/2022)

Why Gender Justice Matters (09/11/2021)

Sexuality Matters (09/06/2021)

Work That Breaks Gender Barriers (29/04/2021)

Gender Discrimination: Legal, Political and Economic Implications (05/01/2021)

The Pandemic, The Blast and Their Effects on Gender Rights (02/12/2020)

Women in Decision Making (01/10/2019)

Taking Up Space! (01/05/2019)

Women’s Empowerment Challenges (14/02/2019)

Safety is Bold, Guard Yourself! (04/02/2019)

Fighting Stigma and Discrimination (30/11/2018)

From Spring to Autumn (01/10/2018)

The Arab Institute for Women (AIW) at the Lebanese American University (LAU) is dedicated to advancing gender equality and empowering women in the Arab world. To achieve this mission, AIW focuses on several key thematic areas:

Advocating for Equality in Legislation

Engaging Women in Peace & Security

Preventing Gender-Based Violence

Promoting Women’s Political Participation

Providing Life-Skills Support

Reaching Marginalized Groups

As part of The AiW’s continuing dedication to promoting rigorous intellectual and academic work on the issues of gender equality and women’s rights, the Institute organizes its annual Dr. Suad Joseph Distinguished Lecture Series. The aim of the series is twofold; first, to bring speakers who highlight important topics or themes in the field of gender and women’s studies globally, with the aim to contextualize this to the Arab region and second, to provide graduate students from across the university and specifically, from the MA in Interdisciplinary Gender Studies the opportunity to liaise directly with such high-level academics and researchers. https://aiw.lau.edu.lb/news-events/suad-joseph-lectures/

* The AiW organizes an informal speaking series entitled Food 4 Thought (F4T), a discussion space focused on students but open to the entire LAU community to address current topics related to gender. These discussions are facilitated by different speakers for each session and have included grassroots activists, visiting scholars, media professionals, and others. https://aiw.lau.edu.lb/news-events/food4thought/

2023 events included:

- Panel discussion “Sextarianism” book https://aiw.lau.edu.lb/news-events/activities/panel-discussion-sextarianism.php

- Regional workshop: “Women’s Political Participation in the Arab Region” https://aiw.lau.edu.lb/news-events/activities/regional-workshop-womens-politic.php

- Panel discussion: “Gender Equality and Technology: Women’s Inclusion in the Digital World” https://aiw.lau.edu.lb/news-events/activities/international-womens-day-gender-.php

- Panel discussion: “Innovation, Change, and Education for Women in the Digital Age” https://aiw.lau.edu.lb/news-events/activities/athena40-5th-global-conversation.php

- Panel discussion: “Lebanon: Understanding Anti-Feminist Backlash” https://aiw.lau.edu.lb/news-events/activities/paper-launching-lebanon-understa.php

- Launching event and panel discussion: “Routledge Handbook on Women in the Middle East” https://aiw.lau.edu.lb/news-events/activities/book-launching-routledge-handboo.php

- Launching event and panel discussion: “Gendering Civil War: Francophone Women’s Writing in Lebanon” https://aiw.lau.edu.lb/news-events/activities/book-launching-gendering-civil-w.php

- Launching event and panel discussion: “Frontiers of Gender Equality: Transnational Legal Perspectives” https://aiw.lau.edu.lb/news-events/activities/panel-discussion-frontiers-of-ge.php

- Panel discussion: “International Humanitarian Law and the Gendered Implications of Conflict”

LAU Simulation Models

LAU Simulation Models are entirely student-led and organized. The training content is prepared, delivered and managed by LAU students – themselves a large, diverse group of motivated youth who are majoring in different disciplines but united in their vision and mission to promote youth leadership. They meticulously manage school relations, prepare the training content that they deliver, provide technical support, organize special events within the programs, and ensure that the work runs seamlessly. These programs target more than 3,000 school students from all over Lebanon on a yearly basis.

The physics program organizes summer camps for high school students (Grade 11), offering them a unique opportunity to explore captivating subjects such as electromagnetism, Einstein’s theory of relativity, and quantum physics. Moreover, the camp delves into a wide range of energy resources and technologies, encompassing fossil fuels, nuclear power, hydropower, geothermal energy, wind power, and solar energy. The camp is designed to provide an immersive learning experience through interactive lectures, experiments, and documentaries. In addition, students conduct a residential energy audit, uncovering best practices for reducing their carbon footprint

Design Culture Day — Fall 2022

Several of the workshops served as design interventions. For example, Elie Baroud mentored a group of students in the creation of a proposal to transform an unused area, the sidewalk outside the building, into a functional, inclusive, and lively space. On the other hand, Elie Mouhanna guided students in making renovations to the student lounge. George Hanna worked with students in proposing plans to improve building’s cafeteria while, students in Cedric Jacquemyn’s workshop examined the design possibilities of the building’s rooftop, a space that was still incomplete.

However, not all the workshops intervened on specific spaces. For instance, Mabelle Sawan’s workshop addressed the building more comprehensively through environmental graphic design and wayfinding. Mayda Freije’s workshop “If Vision Was Not an Option” took a different approach as students were guided through a series of exercises that considered the perceptions of visually impaired individuals. Lastly, Carla Hage and Melissa Plourde Khoury worked with a group of students to collectively write a manifesto representing their expectations of the Gezairi Building. Click here to read the Manifesto

Summer Camps: Enhancing High Schoolers’ Learning Experience

The School of Arts and Sciences offers 11th graders university-level online courses and partial scholarships.

LAU’s School of Arts and Sciences (SoAS) held the ninth edition of its summer camps online, attracting enthusiastic students from across Lebanon to learn about their favorite subjects in a stimulating and interactive environment.  

The camps are among the school’s social engagement and outreach activities that aim to inform Grade 11 students about education opportunities during a week of university-level courses offered in subjects of their interest.

The free camps spanned translation, English creative and speech writing, computing, nutrition and food science, chemistry and the newly added mathematics.

By the end of the week, up to six students from each camp won partial scholarships to LAU for their final projects. 

The high schoolers’ attendance, despite the deteriorating situation and constant power cuts, was commended by SoAS Dean Cathia Jenainati.

“There are many reasons why many of you could have dropped out of the camp. There are many reasons why this could not go on,” she said during the online closing ceremony. “But despite all of this, here you were. You enjoyed the camps and our dedicated instructors as usual turned up to run them.”

It is the young people’s “strong spirit,” added Dr. Jenainati, that enriches education. “We are feeding on your spirit, your enthusiasm, your hope and your dedication and all of that energy that you bring to us.”

Thanking them for their participation, Dr. Jenainati pointed out that the camps reflected “one percent of the kind of fun and intellectual engagement you will have at LAU were you to join us in the future.”

Assistant Dean Samer Habre reaffirmed the school’s commitment to the summer camps regardless of the dire conditions in the country, hoping they would be “a learning curve for the students and also a rewarding experience in terms of the knowledge they gain and in terms of the scholarships they win.”

Each camp introduced the participants to principles of the subject they are studying.

In chemistry, campers discovered diverse experimental procedures, virtually isolated natural products and synthesized medicinal active ingredients. In the nutrition and food science camp, modules included macro and micronutrients, energy balance and weight regulation, nutrition-related diseases, physical activity, eating disorders and food safety.

“I was so surprised,” said Emma Sleiman, a chemistry camper. “Who would have thought that during only five days, you, professors [Elie] Akoury and [Brigette] Wex, have succeeded in giving us the vision, and that vision is seeing ourselves as chemists.”

A student in the nutrition and food science camp, Rasha Saad, expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to take part in the course, describing it as organized and informative.

“The information I learned from this was not just applied; it was one that I could talk to other people about, as nutrition is a part of our lives,” she said, adding that the camp was also an opportunity to share a class with students from across the country.

Instructors from the Department of Computer Science and Mathematics introduced students to Python – one of the most commonly used programming languages – and in Logic and Proofs covered the rules of logic in distinguishing between valid and invalid mathematical arguments.

“This experience with LAU was very engaging, intensive and very challenging,” said computing student Ghassan Abboud. “There was some advantage to it being online because we were able to start coding right away and better understand the concepts involved.”

What he liked most about the camp, he added, was the fact that “not only did it teach you how to code in Python, but also how to learn Python on your own, how to figure out the resources.” Experimenting with the actual process of developing an idea, designing the code and fixing any bugs left him with a sense of achievement.

In the newly introduced mathematics camps, Riham Al Bayaa said that despite the poor internet connection, instructors always provided a solution through recorded sessions.

The English speech writing camp trained campers to communicate with better clarity and impact, while the English creative writing sessions were designed to foster an appreciation of literary works and help students refine their creative writing skills.

“I loved the activities, how they challenged you on the spot and how they kept everything on blackboard so that you could always go back to them anytime. Our instructors were more like friends,” said camper Nancy Slim. “I felt I really belonged here, with the groups of amazing students and teachers.”

Last but not least, the translation summer camp familiarized students with a rich array of texts, including journalistic, legal, scientific, technical and business, in addition to some approaches in translation.

“This program introduced us to LAU and the translation camp educated us in different fields and topics, such as coronavirus, fake news and more. It was also a chance to make new friends. It was fun and helpful; I would recommend others to enroll next year,” said camper Roumi El Helou. 

The summer camps have proven to be an excellent tool to attract high-achieving students and to provide education opportunities through scholarships.

“Summer camp students who later join LAU, especially the ones who win scholarships, are a sample of the student population we are seeking to expand,” said Dr. Habre.

“Campers have shown since the inception of the camps nine years ago that they rank among the best, earning high GPAs, winning best capstone awards, and being academically engaged in their fields. Many of them have pursued graduate degrees, which attests to their academic excellence,” he added.

International Conference: Women, Religion, & Human Rights

On June 27 and 28, 2022, The AiW and the Department of Social & Education Sciences, co-organized with Adyan Foundation, and Danmission an International Conference on: “Women, Religion and Human Rights” at the Lebanese American University (LAU). The conference convened scholars and different religious figures to discuss the stance of women in the interpretations of biblical and qur’anic texts and in personal status codes in Lebanon, the Arab World, and South Asia (particularly Hinduism).

On June 27, the first panel titled “Reading and Reinterpreting Scriptures”, considered the possibilities of re-interpreting the scriptures of holy books to deconstruct the patriarchal understandings of biblical and qur’anic texts. Then, the second panel titled “Unreading Patriarchy and Producing Feminist Knowledge” discussed, in an attempt to uplift the status of women in religion, possible alternative feminist interpretations of traditional and conservative exegeses. Building on the rereading of holy texts, the third panel titled “Negotiating with the Discourse and the Perception of Women” assessed the social and legal statuses of women in religious texts with respect to the private and public spheres. Finally, the fourth panel titled “Different Stakeholders in Conversation: Religion, State, CSOs and International Documents” discussed the work of different organizations, of which are religious institutions, in developing strategies to accommodate and safeguard women’s rights in religion, yet through an acknowledgment of equality standards and human rights.

On the second day, on June 28, the first panel titled “Between Theory and Practice: Personal Status Laws in Lebanon” ushered an in-depth discussion of women’s rights in marriage, divorce, and custody in Muslim and Christian courts. This discussion set the ground for the second and third panels titled “Reforms in Personal Status Laws: Examples and Best Practices” and “Possible Reforms in Personal Status Laws and their Challenges” which addressed the challenges to instate an absolute recognition of women’s rights in personal status codes. Finally, the last panel titled “Raising Awareness and Advocating for Change” presented prospects for legal reforms and for countering misunderstandings and patriarchal interpretations of holy texts.

On a final note, the conference organizers shed light on some of the most important ideas shared, presented their concluding remarks and agreed to produce future publications on the topics discussed. They further reiterated the importance of pursuing collaborative work between Adyan and LAU.

Zero Waste Fashion: An Eco-Design Marathon

The Fashion Design Program is holding a workshop in collaboration with the United Nations.

The training aims to motivate the future decision makers to think and plan their designs in a sustainable zero waste approach.

The event will feature lecturers and experts on the topic, as well as hands on activities, to offer to the students an innovative, inspiring, and immersive experience.

A History of Arab Graphic Design: Q&A with Haytham Nawar

Haytham Nawar is a practicing artist and designer, as well as a scholar in the fields of art and design. He has built his professional and academic career over the past two decades simultaneously fulfilling the different roles. While Nawar’s extensive experience spans continents, in 2014, he pursued his academic career as an Assistant Professor of Design at the American University in Cairo (AUC), where he served as Director of the Graphic Design Program from 2016 to 2019 before holding the post of Chair of the Department of the Arts at AUC since 2019. Nawar is a two-time Fulbright Grantee. Besides his academic career, Nawar is the founding director of Cairotronica, Cairo International Electronic and New Media Arts Festival, Egypt. Cairotronica is a biannual festival that takes place in Cairo since 2016. He is also the author of Language of Tomorrow and the co-author, with Bahia Shehab, of A History of Arab Graphic Design. 

Panel Discussion - Healthy Eating and Weight Management Mythbusting by Experts

The Alumni Relations Office in collaboration with the Nutrition Program at the Department of Natural Sciences, School of Arts and Sciences, organized a panel discussion on the Beirut campus on June 23, 2022.

The event started out with dietitians who are LAU alumni, and who were available for individual consultations on proper diet programs. Followed by a panel discussion, which featured:

Dr. Nadine Zeeni, Associate Professor of Nutrition at LAU, Dr. Myriam El Khoury Malhame, Assistant Professor and Program Lead of Psychology at LAU and Dr. George El Khoury, Clinical Assistant Professor, Division of Minimally Invasive and Bariatric Surgery, LAU Medical Center - Rizk Hospital. The panel was moderated by Dr. Hussein Hassan, Director of Academic Compliance, Provost’s Office and Associate Professor of Food Science and Technology.

KEEP LEARNING Alumni Lecture: The Future of Marketing

KEEP LEARNING alumni lecture: The Future of Marketing by Dr. Zahy Ramadan & Dr. Maya F. Farah

Keep Learning Alumni Webinar: Resilience in Extreme Contexts by Leadership and Business Advisor: Rabee Fares

International award-winning leadership coach Rabee Fares offered an eye-opening session that was of great benefit to all those in executive  or leadership positions across industries.

Rabee spoke about extreme events and extreme contexts, adapting to extreme contexts and how to bring out your best and the best of others in extreme contexts.

Silicon Valley Tech Learning at LAU

Holberton software engineering school brings its capacity-building programs to Lebanon in partnership with the university.

In its latest move to enhance the career prospects of Lebanese youth in a globally competitive job market, LAU has signed an agreement with Holberton, a software engineering school founded in Silicon Valley with 27 campuses in five continents. The partnership was made possible by Lebanese businessman Alexandre Harkous who gifted LAU the Holberton Lebanon license he held through his fintech company StartechEUS.

With student employability at the heart of Holberton’s approach, its graduates have landed jobs in software engineering across all industries and at top tech companies such as Google, Apple, Facebook, LinkedIn, IBM, Tesla and the like.

The Holberton learning method provides Silicon Valley-level training for software development jobs. Based on the premise that computer engineering involves a mix of technical and soft skills, the school offers a collaborative project-based environment where students work with their peers across campuses. Students also have access to the Holberton network and alumni community.

The courses are practical and are not taught by teachers. Instead, much like a real-job tech setup, students are given increasingly difficult tasks to solve. Guided by experts or faculty members, they draw on their soft skills – such as problem-solving, critical thinking, communication and teamwork – and rely on peer collaboration across campuses. In the process, they are continually upscaling their skillset.

Classes are intensive and held daily. The admission process, like the learning methodology, consists of a series of mini-challenges that the student must complete to qualify.

By opening a Holberton school in Lebanon, one of the best capacity-building and training programs in computer engineering, LAU would be “empowering Lebanese technology-driven students, and giving them the opportunity to grow, thrive and realize their potential by equipping them with the required skills to compete in the local, regional and international markets,” said Dr. Elie Badr, vice president for Business Development and Global Affairs.

In the current situation in the country, he added, “we believe that the impact of Holberton school programs will provide a positive role in the Lebanese economy.”

The programs will be housed at LAU’s Academy of Continuing Education, based on the Beirut campus, where a dedicated team of faculty and staff will provide support from a local perspective to software engineering issues, onboarding assistance during the first week, monitoring and guidance during Peer Learning Days, and mock interviews.

The Holberton specialization programs, all based on three-month modules, are Machine Learning & AI (artificial intelligence), AR/VR (augmented and virtual reality), Web React, Blockchain & Cryptocurrency, Front-End Web Development and Back-End Web Development.

As students gain deep knowledge in computer science, they will be able to build web servers or websites, implement a blockchain, create a mobile app or CRM dashboard, configure a bot or a chatbot, devise facial recognition and object detection codes, create video games, build marketplaces, create VR / standing VR experiences, and more.

LAU-ACE is offering the programs at a more affordable price than any other Holberton campus around the world, and the university is working on securing full scholarships from different foundations to help Lebanese tech students enroll.

Launched in July 2020, Holberton Middle East has so far trained more than 90 students enrolled in different specialization programs. The first upcoming cohort at LAU-ACE will be starting with Blockchain as of March 6, 2023.

At the signing ceremony on December 20, Provost George E. Nasr, representing LAU President Michel E. Mawad who was called away on a trip, conveyed the president’s delight in the university’s association with Mr. Harkous and in this collaborative agreement “which is aligned with the university’s mission to help the workforce of tomorrow and meet the requirements of the new generation.”

Mr. Harkous, who left Lebanon in 1985 for Paris and worked as a computer engineer in Europe and the US, returned to Lebanon in 2019, when he decided to purchase the Holberton Middle East license through his company StartechEUS. His reasons for doing so, he said, were because he “wanted to give back to his country and the Lebanese youth, secondly because nothing happens without technology nowadays, and thirdly because one had to be surrounded by the best people to deliver.”

Holberton, he added, is a sustainable school that is growing, and he was “more than happy to give it to LAU because we trust you to make sure that it helps the next generation.”

While Holberton Lebanon was Mr. Harkous’ gift-in-kind to LAU, thanks to him and his team the university has also signed an agreement to operate Holberton New York on LAU’s academic center in Manhattan as of June 5.

Commenting on these new venues, the CEO of the Holberton School Network Florian Bucher recently said: “We are very proud of this partnership with a great organization and great people at LAU. With these two new openings In Lebanon and New York, I really want to establish a strong partnership with LAU to join our strengths. We have more than 10 years’ experience training great software engineers in Silicon Valley, Europe and Latin America, and LAU has a very strong network and a great community of students in the Middle East.”

Online Learning “Media and Palestine”

From LAU’s first course for Open, Online Learning “Media and Palestine”.

We are glad to announce that the “Media and Palestine” fully online, 30 hours, free of cost Course, currently has 81 participants from #Lebanon, #Jordan, #Morrocco, #Palestine, #Syria and other #countries, registered for the Fall 2023 semester.

To all aspiring journalists and Palestinian studies enthusiasts, the course will be available again in the Fall 2024 semester!

The Readers’ Club Engages Youth in Local Communities

In pursuit of its mission to grow its national outreach and empower readers, the LAU Libraries Readers’ Club partnered with the Institute of Management and Services to host a roundtable book discussion for young girls in Maad village, Byblos. In line with the LAU Libraries’ strategic goal to promote social responsibility, the club anticipates sparking further intellectual dialogues and building connections within rural communities around the country.

Roundtable Discussion Spotlights Corporate Social Responsibility

Faculty and students from the Adnan Kassar School of Business examined sustainability and development initiatives in Lebanon and the region together with industry stakeholders.

Academics, consultants, business executives and students joined a roundtable discussion at the Adnan Kassar School of Business (AKSOB) on sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives in the Lebanese market and opportunities for further collaboration.

Underlining the university’s firm belief in CSR, Dean Wassim Shahin spoke about how it has been “embedded in raising responsible leaders,” as LAU remains committed to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and to building robust collaborations with key players in the industry to help achieve those goals.

Sharing the global perspective, Chair of the Marketing Department and Associate Professor Maya Farah touched on how businesses have been integrating CSR activities in operational and strategic work plans. “While the MENA region is keeping up faster than expected, CSR undertakings in Lebanon unfortunately remain sporadic,” added Dr. Farah.

The roundtable discussion was attended by representatives from Egypt-based firm, Aspire, and Dubai-based agency, Blue Green Consultancy, who expanded on how their organizations have been fostering sustainability and development ideas. 

From Lebanon, CEO of Cedar Environmental Park Ziad Abi Chaker explained how they had revived the glass-blowing craft to minimize waste, empower craftspeople and build sustainable solutions to address the garbage crisis in the country.

CSR Manager at Fattal Group Ghida Ibrahim shared multiple initiatives by the company that are geared toward building awareness, educating youth and empowering people to adopt sustainable solutions.

Similarly, L’Oréal empowers different communities in unique ways by linking beauty to sustainability and social responsibility, said the company’s Corporate Affairs and Engagement Director Samira Franjieh. Worldwide, the multinational company had contributed to reducing carbon emissions by 48 percent by adopting proper plans in their freight carriers and shipments.

Several LAU staff, faculty and students highlighted the different efforts exerted by the university, especially through campus life initiatives by student clubs.  Assistant to the President for Special Projects Saad El Zein further discussed the various community health activities that LAU’s medical centers have led, including PCR testing and vaccination campaigns, and the pioneering LAU Mobile Clinic.

Associate Professor Grace Dagher also explained how AKSOB embraces a CSR approach across both its academic and non-academic programs.

At the school, added Assistant Professor of Practice Dunia Harajli, “social responsibility is integrated into the curriculum through a mandatory civic engagement course for all LAU students to help build a better future for the country.”

Dr. Abi-Gerges Presents Research on Diabetes and Cardiovascular Diseases

A research project conducted by Assistant Professor of Physiology at the Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine Aniella Abi-Gerges has been selected for an oral presentation at the French-Lebanese Day for Research organized by the French Embassy. Funded by the Partenariat Hubert Curien Cèdre, Dr. Abi-Gerges’ research focuses on how cardiac phosphodiesterases are differentially increased in diabetic cardiomyopathy.

Sustainability at the Academy of Continuing Education

The LAU Academy of Continuing Education (ACE) contributes to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through the content and outcomes of its diverse programs. It offers more than 65 courses in various modalities: remote, in-person, hybrid and asynchronous. Through these offerings, the academy contributes to SDG 4: Quality Education as they are presented to the public and the community beyond the university’s student body. They also address SDG 17; Partnership for the Goals as they tackle and promote the SDGs.

Two of the academy’s offerings stand out as having demonstrated a far-reaching impact in Lebanon. The Crafts, Arts and Vocational programs have, for two years now, encouraged women to develop their own enterprises in partnership with artisans and entrepreneurs. A similar program, the Women Entrepreneurship Diploma Program, advocates for gender inclusivity in the Lebanese labor market, by offering women in rural and peri-urban areas the opportunity to build their skills and identify their business niche. Each of these programs has reached more than 200 women across the country, contributing to SDG4: Quality Education and SDG5: Gender Equality.

Increased power cuts in Lebanon over recent years due to the economic and financial crises have led to a demand for alternative power sources, particularly solar power. In the context of an unorganized market and a shortage of trained professionals, ACE developed a training program to build the capacities of photovoltaic (PV) technicians in the solar energy market. The program encompasses around 100 hours of training on design and engineering, installation and safety, commercial and legal aspects, and work ethics, addressing SDG7: Affordable and Clean Energy.

On the inclusivity front, ACE has established a number of programs to help build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions across the board. A couple of programs stand out.

The second is a specially designed teacher-training program for every cohort of Teach for Lebanon fellows, namely fresh graduates who go on to teach in underserved schools across the country. Through this, the academy serves SDG1: No Poverty and SDG10: Reduced Inequalities as the program seeks to improve access to basic services for all. Both programs also attest to the academy’s contribution to SDG16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.

A wide array of other courses, certificates, diplomas and training programs at ACE also attest to SDG3: Good Health and Well-Being, such as the Food Safety Program, offered to industry professionals in collaboration with the ministries of Industry and Agriculture. Other programs promote fitness, mental health and risk management, and are offered to healthcare professionals, health coaches and psychologists.