Lebanese University
The Lebanese University (LU) (French: Université Libanaise, Arabic: الجامعة اللبنانية) is the only state-funded public university in Lebanon. Established in 1951, the Lebanese University has played a major role in expanding general education in Lebanon.
الجامعة اللبنانية | |
Type | Public |
---|---|
Established | 1951 |
Endowment | 386,596,272,000 LBP (2018) |
President | Bassam Badran |
Academic staff | 5,465 |
Administrative staff | 2,834 |
Students | 80,874 (2018–2019) |
Location | Lebanon |
Campus | Main Campus in Hadath, Baabda District, Urban, 705,000 m²[1] |
Accreditations | Hcéres |
Colors |
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Website | www |
It has three geographically distributed campuses: Rafic Hariri Campus, Fanar Campus and North Campus.[2]
History
The creation of the Lebanese University was an idea first mentioned in the speech of the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hamid Frangieh, during the closing ceremony of the Third UNESCO Conference in Beirut held on 11 December 1948, during which he said: "Lebanon hopes to see the creation of a Lebanese university having the spirit of UNESCO."
The establishment of the Lebanese University came as a result of a popular and student mobilization initiated on 23 January 1951 with a general strike that lasted for a long period during which, secondary and university students, mostly from Saint Joseph University participated. The movement included demonstrations and clashes with security forces that lead the Council of Ministers to meet on 5 February of the same year.[3]
University presidents
Since its inception, the Lebanese University has been headed by:
- Dr. Khalil Al-Jurr | (1951–1953) |
- Dr. Fouad Afram al-Bustani | (1953–1970) |
- Dr. Edmond Naim | (1970–1976) |
- Dr. Boutros Dib | (1977–1980) |
- Dr. Georges Tohme | (1980–1988) |
- Dr. Michel Assi | (1988–1990 by delegation) |
- Dr. Hashem Haidar | (1990–1992 by commission) |
- Dr. Asaad Diab | (1993–2000) |
- Dr. Ibrahim Qubaisi | (2001–2006) |
- Dr. Zuhair Shukr | (2006–2011) |
- Dr. Adnan Al Sayed Hussein | (2011–2016) |
- Dr. Fouad Hussein Ayoub | (2016–2021) |
and it is headed by Dr. Bassam Badran[4] since 2021.
Faculties and campuses
The university issued successive decrees since its inception, establishing faculties and institutes, which contributed to its expansion and development until reaching 16 faculties:[5]
-Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences |
-Faculty of Law and Political and Administrative Sciences |
-Faculty of Sciences |
-Institute of Social Science |
-Faculty of Fine Arts and Architecture |
-Faculty of Pedagogy (which replaced the Higher Teachers Institution) |
-Faculty of Information |
-Faculty of Economics and Business Administration |
-Faculty of Engineering |
-Faculty of Agronomy |
-Faculty of Public Health |
-Faculty of Medical Sciences |
-Faculty of Dental Medicine |
-Faculty of Pharmacy |
-Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management |
-Faculty of Technology, in cooperation with the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation in France |
In addition to three Doctoral Schools:
-Doctoral School of Literature, Humanities & Social Sciences |
-Doctoral School of Law, Political, Administrative and Economic Sciences |
-Doctoral School of Science and Technology |
The university is also affiliated with the Institute of Applied Sciences and Economics (CNAM-ISAE), which operates in cooperation with CNAM in France.
Honorary doctorates
The university awarded honorary doctorates to a number of heads of state and officials, including in chronological order:
- The Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi | (1957) |
- The King of Morocco, Mohammed V | (1960) |
- The Tunisian President, Habib Bourguiba | (1965) |
- The Senegalese President, Leopold Senghor | (1966) |
- The Emperor of Ethiopia, Haile Selassie | (1967) |
- The Romanian President, Nikolai Ceausescu | (1972) |
– The Armenian President, Robert Kocharian[6] | (1999) |
- The Iranian President, Seyed [[Mohammad Khatami]] | (2003) |
- The Saudi Minister of Interior, Nayef bin Abdulaziz Al Saud | (2009) |
– The Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad[7] | (2010) |
– Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan | (2013) |
– The German President, Frank-Walter Steinmeier[8] | (2018) |
In 2009, the Lebanese University started awarding honorary doctorates to Lebanese personalities, including:
Minister Fouad Boutros, Minister Ghassan Tueni, Minister Laila Solh Hamada, Former Head of Press Syndicate Mohamed Baalbaki, As-Safir's Editor-in-Chief Talal Salman, Governor of the Banque du Liban Riad Salamé, Archbishop Grégoire Haddad, writer and poet Salah Stétié, Architect Rahif Fayad, Professor Philip Salem, and artist Majida El Roumi.
Mission
The Lebanese University is the only public institution in Lebanon carrying out the functions of the public higher education with its various majors and degrees, scientific research, and continuous training.[9]
Rankings and reputation
University rankings | |
---|---|
Global – Overall | |
QS World[10] | 577 (2024) |
THE World[11] | 1001-1200 (2023) |
In the 2024 QS World University Rankings, the Lebanese University ranks 577 worldwide, a record-high after being placed 701-750 in 2021.[12]
Notable alumni
- Michel Suleiman, 11th president of Lebanon
- Najat A. Saliba, chemist and politician
- Renée Hayek, writer and novelist
- Antoine Ghanem, Lebanese politician
- Jean Daoud, poet, playwright, philosopher
- Majida El Roumi, singer
- Serge Venturini (1979–1981), French poet
- Omar Karami, former prime minister of Lebanon
- Ahmed Nasri, president of Fahd bin Sultan University
- Ghada Owais, journalist
- Adnan Hussein, political scientist
- Mohamed Ali Yousfi, writer and translator
- Rana Hamadeh, artist
- Inaya Jaber, writer
- Jawad Fares, physician and scientist
- Marcel Ghanem, journalist
- Doumouh Al Bakkar, football referee
- Vartine Ohanian, Lebanese politician and Minister of Youth and Sports
- Houssam Diab Lebanese lawyer and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Federal Republic of Nigeria
- Elissa (singer), Lebanese Singer and Artist
References
- "Archinect". Aechinect. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
- "QS World University Ranking 2021".
- "Lebanese University". www.ul.edu.lb. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
- "Fouad Ayoub nommé recteur de l'Université libanaise". L'Orient-Le Jour (in French). 6 October 2016. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
- "Lebanese University". www.ul.edu.lb. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
- "Armenian President Robert Kocharian received an honorary doctorate from the Lebanese University". www.dailystar.com.lb. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
- "Iranian president receives honorary doctorate in Lebanon". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
- Agency, National News. "German President visits Lebanese University, receives honorary doctorate". National News Agency. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
- "Lebanese University". www.ul.edu.lb. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
- "QS World Rankings Lebanese University". 11 July 2023.
- "THE Rankings Lebanese University". 11 July 2023.
- "Lebanese University".
External links
- (in Arabic) الموقع الرسمي
- (in French) Site officiel
- (in English) Official website