According to the United Nations, globally, 80% of university graduates in recent years are working in a field that is unrelated to what they majored in. This, stresses Itani, is one of the most prominent problems in the Lebanese job market.

"It's never too late to change your major if you have misgivings about your field of study," advised Itani. "It's wiser to transfer when you're still in university rather than end up working in a completely different field after you graduate."

Itani called on the participants to be wise when choosing a career path, and identify their own strengths and weaknesses before going on the hunt. "You can't succeed if you're not passionate about what you do," he said. "But you also have to be reasonable and practical: Are there ample career opportunities in the field you would like to work in?"

Itani capitalized on the importance of volunteering, the ability to create and pursue independent work projects, and establishing healthy connections with associates and coworkers in order to make way for a successful career. "You will realize once you start looking for a job that your interpersonal skills are as important as your professional skills, if not more," said Itani.

"Many of us are confused as to what to expect after graduating," said Sylvio Hleiss, a third year mechanical engineering student. "I attended this lecture because I was curious about where the Lebanese job market currently stands, especially since I'm graduating next year."

Career Guidance Officer Rana Sakr who coordinated the event hopes to bring the students one step closer to bridging the gap between education and professionalism. "We want to equip the students with the skills they need not only to meet the demands of the job market, but also to lead successful careers and distinguish themselves from their peers," she said.
 

While the primary purpose of the event is to promote library resources and services among the university’s student body, there is also an outreach component, according to Cendrella Habre, director of the Riyad Nassar library in Beirut.

While some browsed exhibitions set up by publishers and vendors, others gathered around game booths to try their hands at puzzles, memory games and the wheel of fortune.

“This is a smart way to attract students,” said Abdel Kareem Dagher, a second-year architecture student who won at the wheel of fortune. “It’s a playful approach, but we have learned a lot both in terms of general knowledge and about what the library has to offer,” he added.

Corporate presentations on the role of technology in education were also held throughout the day. Adkom, for example, a prominent firm in Lebanon’s computer industry, discussed the growing use of tablet computers such as iPads and Kindles.

In recent years, LAU’s libraries have turned increasingly to social media outlets such as Facebook and YouTube for promotional purposes. The approach has been effective, Habre says, drawing for example 2500 students daily to the Riyad Nassar library on the Beirut campus. The smaller library at LAU Byblos now sees such heavy use that it will be relocated to the new School of Medicine building for larger space.

This year’s open house was designed to continue in that vein. “We wanted to introduce library resources and services to students using their language, which is increasingly the language of social networking,” said Habre.

Under the heading “What’s UP@LAU Libraries” — a reference to the popular networking application What’s App — the event kicked off with a library treasure hunt on both campuses. Teams had to produce answers to questions using a variety of library search methods.

“I had forgotten what it is to actually use books,” Aseel Jalaleddine, a business and marketing major, sheepishly conceded. “My friends and I mainly use the library to study, and the internet for our research,” she said.

Prizes included iPads, iPods, USB bracelets, trips to Cyprus and various vouchers, all provided by the event’s 17 sponsors.

This year’s open house was timed to coincide with the OCLC Global Council’s first membership meeting in the MENA region. Habre was recently elected as a delegate representing the Middle East and India.

The meeting focused both on recruitment and the thorny issue of Arabic script.

“Very few libraries use Arabic script to enter their records,” said Habre. “But doing so could make the region’s resources more visible to the rest of the world.”

Janet Lees, OCLC EMEA Community Liaison, expressed her appreciation for the organization of the meeting. “I was totally impressed by the level of professionalism in the region and the excellent teamwork of LAU staff,” she said adding that OCLC team is going back with interesting thoughts and ideas to put into perspective.

“It was a successful day. One could really feel a greater interaction between the students and the library and its resources,” said Joseph Hage, director of the Byblos Library.

The festive event included music and performances, and was organized in collaboration with the embassies of many of the top study abroad destinations in the world, including France, Germany, Denmark, Czech Republic, Spain, the Netherlands, Russia, Australia, Brazil, Ecuador, China, Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Representatives from these countries set up informational booths showcasing cultural exchange and study abroad opportunities, and advised students, faculty and staff members on scholarships available to them. Interested members of the community were provided with flyers and brochures outlining the attractions and benefits of studying and working abroad.

At the opening ceremony LAU President Dr. Joseph G. Jabbra said that institutions of higher education helped examine ways to address our cultural differences.

“The question to ask therefore is not how can we secure a better place for ourselves, but rather, how can we secure a better place for others,” he added.

“The embassies introduced us to renowned universities that we could approach for international exchange agreements,” said Study Abroad & Program Coordinator Dina Abdul Rahman. “Faculty and student preferences are also essential in the selection of appropriate programs and universities abroad.”

According to Elie Samia, executive director of OCE, exhibitors answered hundreds of queries. Such enthusiasm he believes lies in the fact that “studying abroad widens students’ horizons as it exposes them to rich and diverse academic and cultural experiences offered by renowned universities around the world – a comparative advantage in the eye of prospective employers.” he says.

During the event several embassies provided musical and cultural entertainment. The Russian Cultural Center staged a Russian balalaika performance, and both the Brazilian and Mexican embassies organized performances highlighting their folk heritage.

Dr. Said Elfakhani, dean of the School of Business, and Dr. Elie Badr, interim dean of the School of Architecture and Design, spoke at the event, describing study-abroad opportunities available in their respective schools’ degree programs. Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences Dr. Philippe Frossard spoke of the experiential, “non-linear” aspects of education, emphasizing the importance of recognizing, retaining and refining what is integral to one’s personal and professional growth.

“We experience information in many different ways and it is difficult to select what’s important. But this is precisely what we’re trying to prepare our students to be able to do,” Frossard said at the opening ceremony.

Describing himself as not only a citizen of France but a citizen of the world, Frossard said encouraging students to think of themselves in similar terms is a key goal of LAU’s study abroad initiative. 

The day included an introduction to the SON undergraduate program’s faculty and interdisciplinary curriculum, as well as tours of the school’s state-of-the-art labs and other facilities. Prospective students had the chance to get hands-on practice with various nursing skills, as well as ask questions about the program’s multiple financial aid opportunities.

Students from various majors can join clubs that best fit their interests, from those related to humanitarian issues and social work, to those focused on leisure activities such as music, dance and sports.

Riman Jurdak, program coordinator at LAU Beirut, noted with satisfaction the clubs’ increased popularity.

“More students are signing up for clubs this year than last year,” she says.

Clubs are designed to enrich students' overall experience at LAU and facilitate their participation in the university’s dynamic student life.

“We organize yearly themed soirees in order to encourage socializing, and help students to mingle with one another,” says Paul Khawand president of LAU Byblos’ Cedars Club, adding that the number of new members this year was especially high.

The Red Cross Club at LAU Beirut also boasted a strong turnout.

Sahar Moukaddem, the club’s vice president, pointed out that not everyone who signs up automatically becomes a member.

"We have an interview process to make sure everyone is in line with the rules of both the Lebanese Red Cross and LAU,” she says. “Usually everyone is accepted but it helps us weed out people who might not be serious," she says.

The club’s public relations officer Nour Araji announced plans for HIV awareness and traffic safety campaigns for the upcoming year, as well as first aid training sessions.

These types of activities are what prompted Rezen Abdulaal, a third-year biology premed student, to join the Red Cross Club.

"I also signed up for the social aspect of the club, and to gain first aid experience that will help in my major,” she says, adding that she’s looking forward to helping people through the club’s activities.

Although he is a recent M.B.A. graduate, Peter Sleiman, signed up for the International Affairs Club at LAU Beirut as a guest, explaining that he’s keen to do volunteer work.

"I'm interested in international affairs, and this club is very active in terms of spreading awareness about important global issues,” says Sleiman, who graduated with a minor in political science and international affairs.

About 100 students registered for the Red Cross Club this year.

The Debate Club draws people from more diverse academic backgrounds,, united by a shared forte in public speaking.

“Students from various majors sign up for the club, but they have in common a great love of debate,” says the club’s president Omar Nahas, an International Affairs student. Nahas adds that new members receive training to enhance their debating skills.

According to Alan Kairouz, program coordinator at LAU Byblos, the university plans to introduce a new club, the Medical Student Association, later in the academic year.

“With the School of Medicine prospering, students are very excited to launch this association. It will be a forum for them to gather and share their interests,” Kairouz says.  

The gathering took place in an informal, friendly setting where faculty members introduced themselves to students and vice versa.

The event “set the spirit of the School of Medicine at LAU — we’re all one family,” says Dr. Zeinat Hijazi, LAU assistant dean for Medical Education.

First-year med student Serge Gabriel Geara agrees. “I like the human aspect of LAU, the kindness of the staff and faculty,” he says.

The gathering shed light on the School of Medicine’s innovative teaching approaches, which allow students to have early exposure to real patients in a clinical setting starting in their first year of study. More conventional programs delay the student–patient contact until the third and fourth years of study.

“This [early exposure] helps the students to better understand diseases because they get to examine their underlying causes, pathophysiology and symptoms at the same time,” explains Hijazi.

In addition to early clinical exposure, simulation training is also provided to all medical students so they can better understand the anatomy and physiological functions of the human body.

LAU’s School of Medicine focuses on small-group teaching and problem-based learning, where students are divided into groups for case discussions and exchange of ideas.

The new med class is “an exciting group of students who have a lot of talent. I hope they will learn quickly how to work together,” says Dr. Lynn Eckhert, interim dean of LAU’s School of Medicine.

At the same time, a lot of attention is given to each student individually, as they are also encouraged to think critically and come up with solutions on their own.

Continuous learning is also at the heart of medical education at LAU, according to Hijazi. “We want the young doctors who graduate to be lifelong learners,” she explains. “I believe that medical education starts at the medical school, but it doesn’t stop there. It’s for life.”

Eckhert says there will be a lot of focus on year-long community-based projects. First-year medical students will get the chance to visit a clinic in the Shatila Palestinian refugee camp, in order to increase their exposure to the impact of poor socio-economic conditions on patients and the development of their diseases.

“If you have diabetes, for example, and you’re wealthy, you probably have good insurance and can afford the medication and the equipment that goes with being a diabetic patient. If you live in poverty, managing diabetes is more challenging,” Eckhert explains.

In previous years, students could choose whether or not to volunteer in Shatila, but it has now become a crucial part of the curriculum that all students have to go through.

“They like the idea of giving back to the public,” says Eckhert, who hopes to engage students in more community work in the future, and to secure more simulation material.
 

Students receive responses to their posted questions within 24–48 hours.

“There isn’t an official place on campus where students can come physically and ask questions, so we’re doing it virtually on Facebook,” says Abdo Ghié, LAU assistant vice president for Enrollment Management.

“People aged 15 to 19 are using social media very actively, and we want to be more visible to this population group,” he says.

Over 1,850 people have already “liked” the Facebook page, which was launched last month by the Enrollment Management Office, and is logging an estimated 2,596 monthly users.

Students post questions about a wide range of issues, from dropping classes after the deadline to changing campuses, and a team of five administrators personally responds to the queries.

“It’s a virtual one-stop shop,” says Ghié, adding that the page is already expanding beyond enrollment management by posting awards announcements, and event coverage, such as a live stream of the graduation ceremonies.

Meghry Khoshian, executive assistant at LAU’s Enrollment Management Office who is one of the site administrators, stresses that the answers are never generic or vague. “We always send people direct links or extensions in response to their questions,” she says. “We want to keep our reputation as the best student service-oriented university in Lebanon,” she adds.

The new page, which is separate from the LAU Facebook page, falls in line with LAU’s mission to develop students through the offering of student-centered services, program development and co-curricular activities.

The page plans to eventually expand to include housing and athletic announcements, as well as information on civic engagement events and LAU-sponsored fairs.

“It can help professors make announcements to students outside of their classes,” says Ghié.

So far, the page has attracted attention mostly from LAU students as well as applicants who are living abroad. Using the Facebook page allows the latter to bypass the hassles of international phone calls, or different time zones.

“For them, it really is a faster way to communicate,” says Khoshian, adding that a few of the administrators are based in LAU’s New York Office, and can address questions with less lag time than those based in Beirut.

But Ghié expects more Lebanon-based students to use the page in fall, as incoming students become aware of the service and begin to rely on it for information.

“A whole new batch of students will be joining us in fall, and they will be curious, they’ll want to know everything about the university. We plan to promote the page as a way to get that information,” he says.
 

The selective five-day (May 1–5) seminar brings together top students of more than 70 nationalities from Europe, Middle East and Africa.

The students collaborate in “running” a multinational business (based on an actual business case study), while developing their management and financial skills through interaction with P&G executives.

Travel and accommodation expenses for all participants are paid by P&G, and competition for slots is intense. El Feghali was one of 250 Lebanese applicants this year. After several interviews, he was shortlisted, then finally selected.

“I feel very lucky — even overwhelmed — to have represented LAU in Geneva,” he says. “I never thought I’d be the only candidate selected among thousands of applicants from the region.”

The selection process included multiple stages. The initial screening was done through verbal and quantitative reasoning tests as well as an IQ test.

In subsequent interviews with P&G’s Financial Planning and Analysis Group manager, along with other P&G managers in the company’s Lebanese and Egyptian offices, El Feghali was asked to solve a number of case studies to demonstrate financial and analytical reasoning.

P&G has been hosting the European Financial Leadership Seminar annually since 1991.

The company gave a presentation on financial careers at LAU Byblos in mid-January, at which Yamen Fakhredinne, financial manager at P&G, encouraged LAU students to apply to participate in the spring seminar. The presentation was organized by the LAU Byblos Student Services (Career Guidance) Office, which assisted El Feghali throughout the application and selection process.

“LAU helped me a lot through its career guidance office in Byblos, led by Ms. Rana Sakr,” says El Feghali.

He will share his experiences with fellow students during a presentation on May 23, at 12:00 p.m., in the Frem Civic Center, Room 205, at LAU Byblos. The event will also include presentations by student Mabelle Abi Ramia who attended the P&G Academy in Lebanon last year, and LAU graduate Antoine Choueiry, who currently works at P&G.

To learn more about the event and to sign up, contact Rana Sakr, LAU Byblos guidance officer, at rana.sakr@lau.edu.lb or ext. 2350.

The most recent workshops organized by the Cooperative Learning Center at LAU’s School of Business trained business students, graduates and faculty members on communication and presentation skills (in April), and job interview techniques (May 11–12).

“The mission of the center is to contribute to LAU’s academic excellence by providing services that support both students and faculty in achieving their academic goals,” says Dr. Tarek Mikdashi, dean of LAU Beirut’s School of Business, who oversees the center.

Through the various services it provides free of charge, CLC serves as a cornerstone for the growing School of Business at LAU Beirut.

The center tutors students, proctors exams, provides assistance to business students with special needs, schedules rooms and courses, and coordinates the Executive Master of Business Administration program.

CLC also works to create market awareness of LAU’s role in the business community, participating in career fairs and other exhibitions where the center represents the School of Business.

Last month’s workshop on communication and presentation skills consisted of 12 hours of instruction, divided into four sessions. Attendees described the experience as fun, friendly and interactive.

Participants had the option of attending weekly sessions on Wednesdays or Saturdays.

Hisham Hashash, the CLC senior academic assistant, expressed delight with the success of the workshop, which follows on that of the enormously popular Microsoft Excel seminar.

“The number of attendees has been huge and the level of seriousness and cooperation high,” says Hashash. “There has been a longstanding need for workshops of this kind.”

Manhal Saleh, an M.B.A. graduate, was excited to participate in the training program.

“It was an exciting and beneficial experience,” Saleh says. “I advise everyone to enroll in these workshops.”

The workshops provide the technical expertise that business students are likely to require in current or future occupations, according to Vicken Bahlawanian, CLC graduate assistant.

“The sessions offer practical training as well as learning theories,” Bahlawanian says.

CLC continues to plan for future training programs. “The center has scheduled upcoming workshops in effective team building, time management and conflict resolution management,” Mikdashi says.
 

“But before setting any goals,” Zehil cautioned, “ask yourself: ‘Do I have the intense burning desire for this goal?’” If not, your goal will probably not succeed, he added.

The presentation, titled “New Thinking Patterns,” went beyond basic tips and tricks to improve your job outlook. In just over an hour, Zehil spread the feeling of assurance and confidence in his pronouncements, driven by conviction and supported by credible studies.

He told students to set goals that are both challenging and realistic, and perhaps most importantly, to write them down. “A goal that is not written down is merely a wish or a fantasy,” he said.

In order to achieve those goals, it is also critical to set measurements and deadlines. Finally, an individual must set goals in line with the seven pillars of life: peace of mind; health and energy; loving relationships; financial independence; personal desires; professional desires; and self-improvement.

He pleaded with students to invest in self-improvement, noting that a 1999 study conducted by Stanford University attributed 87 percent of success to character, and only 13 percent to technical skills.

“Your character is built in. You can’t change it, but you can fine-tune it,” he said.

Zehil challenged students to examine their characters through certain indicators, such as by checking how they deal with people in less fortunate circumstances or in lower social strata.

Those who disrespect their maids, for example, indicate a poor character whereas a high-ranking manager who can share a cigarette with a low-ranking employee indicates healthy character, Zehil said.

Other indicators of character include a person’s ability to see the good in every situation and person, and the ability to forgive.

The event marks the beginning of a new lecture series organized by the LAU Byblos Dean of Students Office (Career and Placement Services) with a special emphasis on professional development.

Recruitment presentations are a regular feature of the Byblos and Beirut Career and Placement Services offices, but the new series offers a higher-level of commitment and support.

“It’s not enough to help students find jobs,” says Rana Sakr, career guidance officer in Byblos. “We also need to do all we can to make sure they rise and succeed once they enter the job market.”

The next event of the series will take place on March 15 and will focus on non-verbal communication, followed by a presentation on interview skills and CV writing by the BLOM Bank Shabab Program on March 28, and another event on presentation skills by Procter & Gamble on April 19. More presentations may be scheduled in the future.
 

Yesterday, around 1,900 new students started classes at LAU Beirut and Byblos.

To prepare them for their first semester, LAU’s Guidance Offices organized daylong orientations on both campuses on September 16 and 17.

Byblos

A total of 418 new students attended the two orientation sessions in Byblos.

Freshmen and students enrolled in the schools of Arts and Sciences, and Business attended orientation on September 16. Orientation the following day was for students enrolled in the schools of Architecture and Design, Engineering, and Pharmacy. Nursing students had a special orientation session on September 20.

Throughout the two days, students listened to presentations from deans and department heads to learn about the university services and resources.

New students pick up their orientation packets outside the Selina Korban Theater where the presentations were held.

Booths set up throughout the campus were staffed by student groups encouraging newcomers to join in.

New students toured the campus and got acquainted with its facilities.

Beirut

Approximately 1,350 new students visited LAU Beirut for the two orientation sessions. The September 16 session was reserved for freshmen and students enrolled in the schools of Arts and Sciences, Engineering, Nursing, and Pharmacy. Non-freshmen students from the School of Architecture and Design and the School of Business attended orientation on September 17.
 

New students were offered guided campus tours.

They were introduced to their school deans and department heads. There were also presentations about financial aid, as well as an online presentation about advising and registration. Here, students learn how to register for courses online inside a computer lab.

Near the end of the orientation, parents of new students were invited to listen to a presentation, given a campus tour, and then honored with a reception in the Irwin Hall Faculty Lounge.

Dozens of booths were set up and staffed by members of LAU Beirut’s student and cultural clubs, as well as LAU offices and departments including Human Resources, Guidance, Financial Aid, Alumni Relations, and the Libraries.

New and current students dance dabke together. Live bands performed during the lunch break.
 

Students were introduced to key members of the university and learned about different services, before being guided on a campus tour.

“We want you to think of LAU as a place to learn rather than a place to teach. Everything here will be supporting you to learn,” Dr. Abdallah Sfeir, LAU provost, told the incoming M.D. students.

“You have everything put at your disposal. The only thing we require from you is passion, time and love for what you do,” he added.

During the campus tour, the students got to peek at the site of their new medical school building currently under construction. For the time being, the students will make use of the temporary facilities inside the Dorms A Building.

Student training will also take place at University Medical Center – Rizk Hospital, and other hospitals with which LAU has clinical affiliations.

The medical school, which opened its doors to its founding class of 25 students last year, has a stated mission to “educate and train a new physician, one superbly trained in the art and science of medicine and who believes deeply that a physician is, above all, a merciful healer.”

The students were reminded of this mission, as the ethical and moral responsibilities of physicians were emphasized at the orientation.

Elie Samia, director of the Guidance Office in Byblos, told the students that LAU is a center for “diplomacy, conflict resolution, intellectual yearning, and emotional development.”

“Experience has taught us that the best way to unleash the potential of our students is to give them responsibility and authority,” Samia said, who informed them of the different avenues they were free to take as they enter the university, but encouraging them to follow a path toward “creative excitement.”

Co-organized by LAU’s Alumni Relations and Guidance offices, the event served as an informal venue for graduates to meet with company representatives, swap business cards and discuss job markets and career opportunities.

Most of the companies represented at the reception were also present during the career fairs at LAU’s Byblos and Beirut campuses on May 10 and 12, respectively.

“The reception was partly held to thank them for participating in our career fairs,” says Abdallah Al Khal, director of the Alumni Relations Office.

“Many of our graduates got job offers during this reception although it’s not meant to be a recruitment event,” Al Khal adds.

Vahe Bernardi, senior project manager at Al Jaber Energy Services, was one of the many company representatives who used the cocktail gathering as an occasion to scout for potential recruits.

“We are looking to encourage fresh graduates in engineering, both civil and mechanical, to come and join us,” he said.

Khaled Chehab, a 1995 LAU computer science graduate who later earned an M.B.A. from the University of Bradford in the U.K., took advantage of the event to meet employers after being forced to leave his work in Dubai due to the financial crisis.

“This is the first time I attend [the reception], and it’s very promising,” Chehab said. “I am planning to stay here [in Lebanon] and hopefully revamp my career.”

LAU President Dr. Joseph Jabbra addressed the crowd where he spoke about recent LAU achievements, while assuring company reps that they can be confident when hiring LAU graduates.

The recruitment, training and development manager of Farouk, Maamoun Tamer & Co, Samer Touma, an LAU alumnus, spoke about how the Guidance Office helped him get recruited as a fresh grad and how now he, in turn, has the pleasure of recruiting LAU graduates.

Rana Sakr, career guidance officer on the Byblos campus, said, “This event is a great way to show some of our appreciation to the companies who have been supporting our students and graduates over the years.”

“It’s a very joyful event,” said Dr. Tarek Na’was, Dean of Students at LAU Beirut. “It’s a chance not only to see the old alumni and the companies that we cooperate with, but it’s a very nice thing to see everybody so happy, meeting each other and communicating freely. ... It’s becoming more successful every year.”

Dozens of high-profile local and international companies filled the booths set up across the Byblos and Beirut campuses during the annual career fairs on May 10 and 12, respectively. Byblos hosted 74 companies while Beirut saw a whopping 113, significantly more than in previous years. The companies represented various business sectors in the country, including media, advertising, hospitality, banking, and included some NGOs as well.
 

Byblos

Tents to accommodate all the companies in Byblos stretched across the campus from the Selina Korban Auditorium to the cafeteria.

With their CVs in hand, students made rounds throughout the campus meeting with the employers.

“It’s an opportunity for graduating students to meet directly with employers rather than just anonymously submitting their CVs online,” says Rana Sakr, career guidance officer in Byblos who organized the fair. “It also helps juniors secure internships.”
 

“The quality of the companies we host is very important,” Sakr says, explaining how her office reached out to reputable companies.

Students appeared excited and optimistic during the event as they applied for positions with some of the top companies in the region.

There were also two recruitment presentations during the career fair by Bank Audi and Credit Libanais.

Beirut

The 113 companies that participated in this year’s career fair in Beirut represented a 35 percent increase over the 81 companies that were hosted in 2009. According to Aya Mir, career guidance officer in Beirut over the past six years, the number of participating companies in Beirut has hovered around 80 until this year.

There was barely enough space to accommodate all the booths, forcing organizers to scour for room in front of the Business Building, Safadi Fine Arts Building, Irwin Hall, Upper Gate, and along the pathway leading from Nicol Hall toward the Orme Gray Hall.

 “Lebanon was not impacted as severely as the Gulf by the financial crisis which caused a lot of companies to move over here,” Mir says, as she lists some possible reasons why LAU witnessed such a high turnout of companies this year.

Mir says preparations for the event have been ongoing over the last several months.

“The job fair allows students to communicate directly with the companies,” Mir says. “It’s much better than using email to meet with employers.”

The event included one presentation by a recruitment officer representing a leading international advertising agency, JWT.
 

The LAU Libraries in Beirut and Byblos organized a day full of events to promote library services through video games during the second annual Library Open House on May 4. Throughout the day, students were invited to attend presentations by top companies in the video gaming industry such as Microsoft and Apple. Outside the libraries, stands were set up with games, information and activities to attract passers-by.
 

Beirut

Library staff members set up this stand outside Beirut’s Riyad Nassar Library where they distributed information to LAU community members about the wide range of resources and services often overlooked at the library.

A series of presentations by representatives from the gaming industry headlined the events on both campuses.
 

Several stands were also set up outside the Safadi Fine Arts Building where library staff and representatives from the gaming industry met with students. Here, a representative from Apple shows off the company’s new iPad.

According to Cendrella Habre (2nd from left), director of the Riyad Nassar Library, gaming was chosen as the theme of this year’s open house in order to shed light on its multi-billion dollar industry. “We should have a major in gaming,” Habre says. “The industry is always looking for young people.”

Students dance inside the normally quiet library. “We wanted to show that the library is also a place to have fun,” Habre says.
 

The Beirut library staff pose outside the Business Building.

Byblos

The event in Byblos was nearly identical to the one in Beirut. Here, high schoolers on campus for You@LAU, an activity that coincided with the Library Open House, learn about the services offered at the library while passing through the stands. 

Grace Edde, administrative assistant at the Byblos Library, says the gaming theme was also chosen to highlight technology. “Everything is becoming electronic,” she says, noting the libraries’ vast collection of electronic books.
 

Hundreds of students passed by the booths where they tested the hottest new shooting games.
 

The library staff handed out pens, candy and other freebies throughout the day to passers-by. There were also raffles in Beirut and Byblos where students were eligible to win prizes including a Sony eBook reader, digital frame, Logitech wireless mouse, computer desk, desk set, and iPod.
 

Like in Beirut, the Byblos library dressed up one of its staff members in fortune-teller garment to attract and entertain students.
 

Dr. Mars Semaan (3rd from left), Dean of Students in Byblos, and Joseph Hage (4th from left), director of the Byblos Library, with library staff during the open house. 

Over 800 high schoolers from 34 schools in Lebanon participated in various competitions during the 12th annual Science and Arts Fair, held at LAU Byblos from May 6–7.

The event included a science-knowledge competition, exhibition of science projects, solar-powered remote-controlled car races, as well as solar-powered vehicle design, testing and display.

Students more interested in arts showcased their skills in photography, painting, sculpture, graphic design, dance, theater and filmmaking. Others took part in the writing competition (held in late March), presenting short stories, essays and poems in Arabic, French and English. The prizes were announced on May 7.

Dr. Mars Semaan, Dean of Students in Byblos, oversees a solar-powered car race, held as part of the event.

The students presented a wide range of creative science project ideas. Here, one of the teams displays an electronically controlled crane.

Students Marwa Traboulsi and Lara Feghaly from Eastwood College in Mansourieh demonstrate how electricity can be generated using a pump, floats, and weights. “Lebanon can develop tremendously with a device like this,” Traboulsi said.

A team of students from Sagesse High School in Ain Saade built a “perfect city” which uses solar and wind technologies to create energy, and has a biofuel crop to power its hybrid cars.

Students from Saint Joseph School in Cornet Chehwan explain the cloning process.

Students develop a formula to prevent pumpkins from decomposing over long periods of time.

A team of students built an all-purpose comfort chair retrofitted with all kinds of gadgets.

Dozens of photographs, paintings and sculptures made by the students decorated the Rima Hourani Exhibition Room.

A series of dance and theater performances were held in the Selina Korban Theater on May 7. Here, students from Tripoli’s Evangelical School perform a play. There were also dance performances from Jesus and Mary School, Lycee Amchit, Montana International College, and the National Orthodox School in Akkar.

Students from the National Orthodox School in Akkar sing and dance. Following the performances, Dr. Semaan announced the winners of the “School of the Year” competition. Saint Joseph School won the Arts Award, and Notre Dame Jamhour won the Science Award. “In my opinion, every school was the school of the year,” Semaan said. The principals from the winning schools will each choose one student to study at LAU at half cost.  

Following the success of last year’s first annual You@LAU event, the Admissions Offices at both the Byblos and Beirut campuses followed up this year with new activities, and a more attractive sales pitch to recruit the thousands of high school students who visited the campuses over a one-week timespan. The event lasted May 3–7 in Byblos and May 3–11 in Beirut.

BEIRUT CAMPUS

“This is a great opportunity for the high school students to see the campus in action,” said Nada Badran, director of the Admissions Office in Beirut.

Each morning a new batch of high school students were invited to Irwin Hall Theatre for a series of short presentations introducing them to the university.

The high schoolers, mostly from the 11th grade, had the opportunity to meet with LAU students, faculty and staff to learn more about programs, services and campus life. Here, Dr. Nancy Hoffart, founding dean of the new Nursing School, encourages them to consider a career in nursing.
 

Following the early morning presentations, the high schoolers were led by LAU student guides on campus tours that included this stop at a computer lab.
 

Once they reached the Business School, Georges Tamer, hospitality lab supervisor, took the high school students on a detailed tour through the facilities. Here, the students pass through the hospitality management lab.

In total, 1,780 high school students attended the event in Beirut.
 

The high school students marveled at LAU’s well-equipped sports facilities, including the 20-by-12-meter heated swimming pool at the basement of Beirut’s gymnasium.

Guides took the students on a tour through the Riyad Nassar Library’s wide selection of books and other publications.

BYBLOS CAMPUS

Like in Beirut, You@LAU in Byblos kicked off each morning with a series of short presentations in the Selina Korban Theater.

Michel Najjar (here with some visiting high schoolers), director of the Byblos Admissions Office, described this year’s event a “huge success” and said many students showed interest in applying to LAU.

Booths were set up each day for students to ask questions and receive information about LAU.

Computers were set up at the booths to all students to join the You@LAU Facebook group.

Jamal Maalouf (right), senior admissions officer in Byblos, played an instrumental role in the organization of the event.

Admissions Office staff and student guides pose together at a booth in Byblos.

About 1,600 students from 26 schools visited the Byblos campus over the week. Here, students from the Evangelical School in Rabieh sitting near the fountain during a campus tour.

The weeklong event in Byblos coincided with many other activities occurring on campus that week, including the Library Open House, the Design and Manufacturing Day, and the Science and Arts Fair. Here, high school students observe a project built by LAU engineering students during the Design and Manufacturing Day on May 5.

Led by LAU business instructor Nabil Salman, the lecture explained the foundations of resumé writing, beginning by distinguishing a resumé from a CV, before explaining how to tailor each resumé in order to catch the eye of potential employers.

“You can imagine how many people are going to be competing for jobs, so [ask yourself] what makes you different from anyone else?” Salman asked the students before beginning the presentation.

Companies today are more frequently using electronic systems to search through online databases of resumés for potential candidates. In order to be considered, Salman said, the resumé should include keywords that match the description of the desired work.

He also advised students submitting resumés by email to paste the text directly into the email body rather than sending the resumé as an attachment in order to avoid having the email get caught in a spam filter.

As for the use of language, Salman advised students to use “action verbs” when starting a resumé to catch the attention of the reader, and distributed a handout of action verbs found online.

“Nouns are dead,” Salman said. “Action verbs give life to your engine.”

One of the most critical elements to consider when applying for a job — something that is completely ignored in Lebanon — Salman pointed out, is the use of the cover letter. It enables applicants to introduce themselves and highlight the key points of the resumé in a few short paragraphs.

“Writing the cover letter is much more personal than the resumé,” Salman said. “This is where you ask for the job — it’s a selling letter.”

A number of aspects must be considered when writing a cover letter, he said, such as keeping in mind what the employer is looking for, then crafting the letter to be consistent with the company’s needs.

The event was organized by the Byblos-campus Career Guidance Office. In addition to offering services to meet the individual needs of students, the office frequently organizes events to help students prepare for their futures.

“Ensuring our students leave the university prepared to take advantage of the opportunities around them, in order to lead successful careers, remains our top priority,” says Rana Sakr, career guidance officer in Byblos.

The office has launched a series of presentations this semester by well-known companies in Lebanon that are actively looking to recruit. “It all starts with knowing how to write a winning resumé,” Sakr says.

Students who need more information about career guidance services can contact Rana Sakr (Byblos campus) at: rana.sakr@lau.edu.lb, or Aya Mir (Beirut campus) at: aya.mir@lau.edu.lb.

Overall, around 250 students from more than 15 Lebanese high schools attended the two events, to learn about LAU's new School of Nursing, its undergraduate program, and its multiple financial-aid opportunities.

The school's founding dean, Dr. Nancy Hoffart, and faculty informed the students about the benefits of studying nursing at LAU, including an interdisciplinary curriculum -- the first in the Middle East -- that will give nursing students the opportunity to study with medical and pharmacy students, and practice in state-of-the-art labs and other facilities. The school is also offering incoming students a special financial-aid package, with reduced tuition fees and a high financial-aid rate.

Hundreds of high school students from around the country participated in the Nursing Day at LAU Beirut on March 17, and learned about the opportunities offered to the incoming students of LAU's new Alice Ramez Chagoury School of Nursing.

Dr. Nancy Hoffart, founding dean of LAU's Nursing School, demonstrates CPR techniques to high schoolers participating in the Nursing Day in Beirut. Hoffart comes to LAU with 18 years of experience in the United States. Learn more about the founding dean.
 

Posted March 12, 2010--

Dozens of high schoolers from around the country attended the Nursing Day on the Byblos campus, March 10.

The students had the opportunity to check out the site where the Medical and Nursing facility is being constructed, during a Byblos-campus tour.

View all seven photos of the Byblos Nursing Day.

LAU's highly anticipated Alice Ramez Chagoury School of Nursing, which will open its doors in fall 2010, invited high school students to learn more about its B.S. in Nursing program, during the "Nursing Day" held on the Byblos March 10, which will be followed by a similar activity in Beirut next week.

During a two-hour session at the Selina Korban Auditorium, students had the opportunity to listen to and meet the school's faculty as well as nurses from LAU's University Medical Center - Rizk Hospital.

"Our purpose here is to teach you about the role and responsibilities of nursing in today's society," said Dr. Nancy Hoffart, the school's founding dean, while welcoming the students.

"But really our biggest goal is to recruit you to our program," she added. "We want bright young men and women in our program like I'm sure all of you represent."

The program's curriculum will integrate interdisciplinary material while allowing students to train alongside their peers from the Pharmacy and Medical schools in labs and at the medical center.

"LAU is the only institution in the Middle East that offers this kind of interdisciplinary course," said Rita Doumit, a nursing faculty member.

"Nursing students will share classes with medical, pharmacy and nutrition students where they will have the opportunity and privilege to build up the confidence and skills to work as a member of a health care team," Doumit added.

All students accepted to the nursing program will automatically have 50 percent of their tuition covered by the university, while those who cannot afford to pay the other half will be eligible for financial aid that could cover a portion or the rest of their tuition based on their financial situation.

"LAU, from the president on down, is committed to making this program a success," Hoffart said.

Donors have begun making commitments to the new school. One donor has offered to pay the tuition of four students, and another promised to cover an additional two students.

"Not only are these donors concerned about the students' financial needs," Hoffart explained, "but they also want to make a difference for the nursing profession by improving the status and stature of nursing here in Lebanon."

After the presentations, students were invited outside to learn basic techniques of CPR and blood pressure testing.

On March 17, the team from the nursing school will hold a similar event at LAU Beirut's Irwin Hall Auditorium.

For more information on the undergraduate nursing program, please email the Nursing School.

Rizk, an engagement partner and head of data center engineering services at the company, offered an overview of Edarat Group's role throughout the region with ICT, while reminding the audience that technology never sits still.

"Technology is changing rapidly," said Rizk. "You have to keep abreast of the latest technology in your area of expertise. Today, you have to run faster just to stay in the same place."

Through decades of technological evolution that have brought us software, the personal computer, internet, audio and video networking, and today, complete data centers, Rizk explained how we have moved from the massive IBM mainframes of the 1950s.

Rizk, also an LAU graduate, spent a good portion of his presentation detailing the five main layers of ICT: user interface, application, database, technology infrastructure, and physical infrastructure -- all of which are critical to allow businesses and organizations to function properly.

"Technology is not an option," he said. "It is important today to have a strategy and a technology infrastructure in place to suit the organization and improve the performance of its business."

Rizk encouraged students to continue studying for years after receiving their undergraduate degrees and advised them to seek jobs where they will gain the most experience -- even if that means accepting a job with a lower salary because, as Rizk assured, it will pay off in the long run.

"You need to continue to learn for maybe 10 more years after you graduate [to succeed]," he said. "That's how competitive the job market is."

Responding to a question from the audience, Rizk said that students interested in applying for internships with Edarat Group can contact them through the company website.

The event was the first of a 12-part series organized by the Byblos Guidance Office for the spring semester to help students get an insider's view of the career options available to them after graduation.

"Edarat often contacts our office with job opportunities, so we decided to invite them," said Rana Sakr, career guidance officer in Byblos.

The Guidance Office has 11 more presentations from various companies scheduled for the coming weeks including from Bank Audi, Credit Libanais, AMIDEAST, and Procter & Gamble.

For more information about the upcoming presentations, contact Rana Sakr from the LAU Byblos Guidance Office, at: rana.sakr@lau.edu.lb.

The new test “is used to guide students’ paths and identify their interests,” says Aya Mir, career guidance officer in Beirut, who discovered the assessment tool and brought it to LAU this year.

The test is part of a package of tools called Strong Interest Inventory, which is developed by CPP, a firm in the United States that offers products and services related to business management and assessment.

According to CPP, 70 percent of U.S. colleges and universities use Strong Interest Inventory.

Students spend roughly 30–40 minutes completing the assessment by answering questions about their general interests and occupational preferences.

After the results are printed, Mir, who received CPP certification to manage the Strong Interest Inventory test last year, sits down with students to elaborate on the details and make recommendations.

Mir says the feedback of the students who have already taken the test — all in their first or second years at LAU — has been overwhelmingly positive.

“I’ve noticed that the assessment has switched on a light for them which wasn’t there before,” says Mir.

Dr. Tarek Na’was, Dean of Students in Beirut, explains that the assessment is needed to help a number of students get oriented toward choosing a future.

“As to our knowledge, LAU is the only university in Lebanon that provides such a service to its students,” Na’was says. “But this would not be a first for us, as LAU, through its care and ‘student centeredness,’ has always strived to provide its students with all kinds of support to ensure their future success.”

But the test may not be right for everyone, Mir cautions, explaining that students who are going through traumatic episodes or suffering from depression will receive skewed results.

However, Mir is convinced that the assessment remains a wise option for students who have already thought long and hard about their futures, but still find themselves lost.

“Ultimately we should help them find the right career paths,” she says. “And it starts with picking a major.”

A similar helpful service in Byblos

For the past five years, the Byblos Guidance Office has been offering a similar assessment tool, called Missouri Occupational Card Sort.

Like Strong Interest Inventory in Beirut, the Byblos service allows students to gauge what majors and careers may be best fit for them through the MOCS assessment test.

“We are trying to guide the students in choosing the right major so that they can enjoy the process and at a later stage excel in their future careers,” says Rana Sakr, career guidance officer in Byblos.

Students who are interested in taking a career assessment test can contact Aya Mir in Beirut at: aya.mir@lau.edu.lb, or Rana Sakr in Byblos at: rana.sakr@lau.edu.lb.

Hundreds of newly accepted students visited LAU Beirut and Byblos last week to familiarize themselves with the campuses, services and procedures before their spring classes start. Beirut’s orientation took place on February 8 and 10, while the Byblos orientation on February 8. Students included freshmen as well as transfers who have already racked up enough credits to be considered sophomores. The orientations, which take place each semester to welcome new students, were organized by the guidance offices of the respective campuses.

Beirut

Freshman students in Beirut began the orientation program with several presentations in Irwin Hall Auditorium.

Following the presentations, the students were taken on a tour of the campus which included this stop at the Riyad Nassar Library.

The tour lasted about two hours, including a picnic.

Students were given the opportunity to visit several stands and learn about student and alumni activities.

Several campus offices set up stands to inform students about their services.

A handful of student groups encouraged the students to join.

 Students enjoyed lunch outside the Safadi Fine Arts Building during their campus tour.

 Byblos

Dr. Mars Semaan, Dean of Students in Byblos, welcomed the newcomers during a morning presentation.

Elie Samia, director of the Guidance Office in Byblos, highlighted the importance of academic advising for students to stay on track with their studies.

Joseph Kanaan, program coordinator at the Byblos Guidance Office, encouraged students to join one of the many clubs on campus.

Rana Sakr, career guidance officer in Byblos, introduced students to the types of services offered and events organized through her office.

Like in Beirut, the Byblos campus offices and student clubs set up tables and stands for students to explore.

The newcomers marched through the Byblos Student Lounge during a campus tour.

"The orientation today informed me of college procedures and made me become acquainted with other students," said Jad Jaroudi, a civil engineering sophomore. "I am looking forward to meeting my advisor tomorrow to complete my registration," he said.

Kareem al-Shamaa came from Saudi Arabia to join LAU's hospitality management program. "The environment and the people at LAU are great," he said. "I am sure that I'll be receiving the best education here."

Dima Jammal, a freshman student, said the orientation session was very helpful. "I was informed about everything concerning registration and tuition. Now I know how to register online."

"I joined LAU because it has a nice social life and a very good reputation," said Reem Karneeb, a freshman student. "The orientation today was very clear and systematic."

"Though very crowded, the orientation is very well-planned and extremely well-organized," remarked Rachid Hajchahine, a civil engineering sophomore. He chose to study at LAU because "LAU gives its learners a chance to achieve success and attain excellence."

Candice Khoury, a business sophomore student, was attracted to join LAU because of the university's financial aid program, which covers 25% of her tuition, and the variety of majors it offers.

"I am sure that at LAU I will reach my fullest potentials and achieve all my academic goals," said communication arts (journalism) major Maria Farraj, who is on a full merit scholarship.

"If you have a degree from LAU, you will definitely ensure a better future for yourself," said Sibil Layous, a graphic design merit scholar. "The campus life here is great. I am sure I will enjoy the whole experience of being here," she added.

Representatives of local, regional and international companies from diverse industries, such as insurance, banking, auditing, finance, commerce, hospitality management, advertising and branding, education, interior design, pharmaceutics, information technology and engineering, presented their brochures, posters, and photos in special booths set up by the organizers. "It is this variety that propels students from all majors to explore their chances," said Randa Zein, the coordinator of the Byblos fair.

The objective of the event is to help students "overcome obstacles and increase ...[their] employment opportunities," according to Director of Guidance in Beirut Janine Zakka. Zein explained that the fair can "expose students to various industries and introduce the companies to LAU students and alumni." Aya Mir, her counterpart in Beirut, agreed that it is a "mutually beneficial" event, since "companies seek physical exposure" and students receive placement services.

The number of the participating companies has increased this year on both campuses; 84 and 58 companies were present in Beirut and Byblos respectively, compared to last year's 74 and 52. Zein said that they paid attention to "the enhancement of the quality and quantity of the participating companies" and tried to deal "directly with the corporations without any assistance...from the recruiting agencies."

Several students expressed their satisfaction; this year's career fair "was almost perfectly organized," said George Melhem, an M.A. student from Byblos. Romy Raad, a communication arts undergrad who is graduating this semester, said that the fair has enlarged her horizons through giving her a chance to interact with job recruiters and build contacts for future reference.

The preparations for the event, which started about four months ago, included sending invitations to companies, getting their confirmation, taking care of logistics, and informing students and alumni. The organizers also prepared and distributed brochures on the day of the fairs with short summaries and contact information of the participating companies, so that students can follow up on networks developed during the event.

The career fairs are just one node in a spiral of career placement events and services that the Guidance Offices offer throughout the year to current LAU students, graduates and alumni. Some of these activities include organizing recruitment presentations by companies; notifying, by email, qualified students and alumni of various job openings; following up with employers on the progress of already recruited students or alumni; and scheduling student interviews on LAU premises for companies, especially those based in other countries.

The HIC was created to provide the LAU community (students, faculty and staff) easy and direct access to information on various health issues.

The HIC is supervised by Najib Nimah, M.D. and operated by members of LAU's Lebanese Red Cross Club. The volunteers will be trained and qualified to answer questions from the community.

The center is set up in a way to facilitate the flow of data and information. Students can pick up any of the brochures in the info stand or get help from their proficient peers manning the office at any time.

Materials are currently available on topics such as infectious diseases, HIV, general health and dieting, preventive medicine, home safety tips, smoking and environmental protection. The HIC will constantly be updated with new data as it becomes available. The aim is to provide continuous, diverse and conclusive information to meet the needs of LAU students.

The motto of the HIC is to conquer weakness through information. The HIC will hopefully be a humble first step in that direction.

The center is located in Nicol Hall Ground Floor.