What is the initiative and where is it implemented (city or country, for example)?
The American University of Beirut is a teaching-centred research university founded in 1866 in Beirut, Lebanon. Its approach is based on the American liberal arts model of higher education. With over 8000 students and 800 faculty members, the university not only promotes freedom of thought and expression, critical thinking and creative approach to problem solving, but also encourages lifelong learning in the community (AUB, n.d.b).
How was the initiative established? How was it implemented?
Since its establishment in 1866, the American University of Beirut has accommodated six faculties: Agricultural and Food Sciences, Arts and Sciences, Engineering and Architecture, Health Sciences, Medicine (which includes the School of Nursing) and the Suliman S. Olayan School of Business. AUB offers diverse programmes leading to bachelor’s, master’s, MD and PhD degrees. In 1922, the University became coeducational, its student body comprising 52% male and 48% female. In 2002, the Board of Trustees launched a fundraising campaign that lasted for five years. It resulted in a significant budget to cover the construction of several new facilities on campus, such as the Charles W. Hostler Student Center, featuring a 300-seat auditorium, an indoor swimming pool and other sports facilities. AUB’s Office of Regional External Programs (REP) provides the Middle East and North Africa with comprehensive training programmes and professional services covering the entire scope of expertise available at the University (AAICU, n.d.).
Which stakeholders are involved in the design and/or implementation of the initiative? Which sectors do they represent?
International and local stakeholders are involved in the functioning of the university, including the Education Department of the State of New York, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and the Office of Provost, which take an active part in the accreditation process of the university programmes. Academic staff involved in teaching and active research and students and alumni of the university play a pivotal role. Various institutions that promote lifelong learning and additional educational opportunities have branched off from the university (AUB, n.d.b).
What are the impacts of the initiative in terms of facilitating lifelong learning? Who does it benefit and how?
The AUB has a significant impact in terms of facilitating lifelong learning. Its initiatives benefit not only younger students but senior citizens as well. The University for Seniors (UfS), established at the AUB, is the first of its kind in Lebanon and the Middle East. It offers a wide variety of programmes to people over 50 years of age, shifting away from learning for learning’s sake to spread knowledge and develop skills that will help senior citizens engage actively in community life. The UfS had a positive impact in terms of facilitating lifelong learning and reintegrating senior citizens into society (Chahine and Sibai, 2019).
In 2008, the university established the Centre for Civic Engagement and Community Service (CCECS), which has played a tremendous role in transforming education to accommodate the needs of marginalized groups. Since 2015, almost 8,000 students have participated in CCECS activities, completing more than 75,000 volunteering hours. Over 700 non-governmental organizations have engaged in the activities. Over one thousand volunteering students organized and implemented diverse leadership development workshops, community-based internships and numerous community service projects.
More than 20,000 people in marginalized communities benefited directly from the programme. Moreover, the initiative induced operational research, with more than 60 university experts contributing to CCECS community development projects (AUB, n.d.a).
More recent impactful projects include the collaboration between The Asfari Institute for Civil Society and Citizenship and the Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs at AUB on a regional storytelling project promoting strong role models and supporting young women’s career choices in the Arab region (Active Arab Voices, n.d.).
The Environmental and Sustainable Development Unit of the Faculty of Agriculture conducts research to accelerate active development of sustainable agriculture (AUB, n.d.). In September 2016, AUB launched the AUB4Refugees initiative to address the impacts of the Syrian refugee crisis. The initiative addresses the impact of the refugee crisis by nurturing cooperation and building partnerships on campus and beyond. The objectives of the initiative include impactful research, community-based teaching and engaged practices.
In 2018, the AUB cooperated with the Global Confederation of Higher Education Associations for Agricultural and Life Sciences (GCHERA), EARTH University and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to launch a three-year-long project entitled Transforming Higher Education. The goal of the cooperation is to produce capable future leaders and promote prosperity and equity in society by implementing changes in the higher education system (AUB, n.d.b.).
The Continuing Education Centre at the AUB offers a wide range of non-certificate courses, intensive professional and corporate courses, customized soft-skills workshops and special programmes for people of all ages and educational and professional levels. The fields covered by the centre include business and management, cultural and humanitarian studies, education, fine arts, foreign languages, healthcare, media and communication, and science and technology (AUB, n.d.b).
References
AAICU (Association of American International Colleges and Universities). n.d. The American University of Beirut. [Online] Beirut, AUB. Available at: http://www.aaicu.org/the-american-university-of-beirut/ [Accessed 19 September 2021].
Active Arab Voices, n.d. The Asfari Institute at the American University of Beirut. [Online] Beirut, American University of Beirut (AUB). Available at: https://www.activearabvoices.org/ [Accessed 19 September 2021].
AUB (American University of Beirut). n.d.a. AUB4Refugees Initiative. [Online] Beirut, AUB. Available at: https://www.aub.edu.lb/4refugees/Pages/default.aspx [Accessed 19 September 2021].
AUB. n.d.b. Transforming higher education. [Online] Beirut, AUB. Available at: https://sites.aub.edu.lb/transforminghighereducation/ [Accessed 19 September 2021].
Chahine, M. A. and Sibai, A. M. 2019. The University of the Third Age in Lebanon: Challenges, opportunities and prospects. In: M. Formosa, ed. The University of the Third Age and Active Ageing. European and Asian-Pacific Perspectives. s.l., Springer, pp. 181-194.