Supporting the Start-up of Financially and Socially Sustainable Businesses

Outreach and Civic Engagement - USP

• Under the leadership component of USP, every student is required to implement a community service project (CSP).
• The CSP aims towards:
  • Developing and testing the leadership skills gained through training in the field;
  • Personal development of scholars.
• CSPs help students gain:
• Team-building skills;
• Networking and communication skills;
• Project conceptualization and budgeting skills;
• Self-confidence and leadership skills;
• Better appreciation of diversity.
• Students must follow a certain process during the conceptualization, implementation, and evaluation post implementation

Volunteering Program (OCEVP)

OCE launched in Fall 2019 a volunteering program “Outreach & Civic Engagement Volunteering Program” (OCEVP), specifically for LAU students under the Higher Education Scholarship (HES) program.

Those allocating LAU HES volunteers should complete 4 hours of volunteer activities per month. Accordingly we will be sharing with you the list of assigned LAU HES volunteers on a monthly basis.

Individual Development Plans (IDPs)

Geared for scholars of the University Scholarship Program, the IDP is a live document that guides students throughout their years at LAU, and brings OCE up to speed on their interests and needs. It allows the scholars to explore their holistic potential and advance their soft skills, character development and career-readiness.

• During their first semester at LAU, the scholars set the general objectives pertaining to their personal development, including opportunities for leadership and civic engagement.
• Every semester, the scholars update the IDPs to identify internships, community development projects, and NGOs they wish to work with.

Outreach, Leadership & Empowerment (OLE)

The Outreach, Leadership & Empowerment (OLE) at LAU aims at fostering holistic student empowerment. Through specific leadership and outreach programs, OLE aims to equip students with essential skills, promoting resilience and inclusive leadership. It fosters a diverse and inclusive campus environment and provides opportunities for personal and professional growth. It encourages students to broaden their horizons both within and outside Lebanon through leadership training, skills development, and volunteering opportunities.

OLE prepares students for their future roles as global citizens and ethical leaders. Its main objective is to have students equipped with needed skills and tools to thrive both personally and professionally.

How will OLE transform my experience?

• You will be exposed to like-minded people in Lebanon and beyond.
• You will develop essential soft skills such as leadership, communication, conflict-resolution, team-work and resilience.
• You will grow your life-knowledge beyond academics, through volunteerism, local and international conferences, as well as seminars and training.
• You will benefit from OLE’s 10+ years of experience in offering unique programs and opportunities that will match your interests and challenge your givens

Community Service & Engagement (CSE)

The Community Service & Engagement (CSE) at LAU aims to provide LAU students and student recipients of USAID scholarship grants with the tools, opportunities, and guidance needed to not only excel academically but also become active, compassionate, and socially responsible leaders within their communities and the world at large.

CSE serves as the driving force behind fostering a culture of community engagement throughout the LAU community. We provide innovative and immersive programming that encourages LAU students to explore the diverse landscapes of their nation while contributing to meaningful causes. This experiential learning is not just an addendum; it’s a vital facet of the LAU academic journey.

Join us in shaping compassionate pioneers dedicated to making a profound impact in their communities. Discover how CSE at LAU transforms students into engaged citizens, equipping them with the skills and empathy needed to build a better tomorrow.

How will CSE transform my experience?

• Aptitude Development: Participating in CSE programs allows you to hone your core competencies through practical experiences, workshops, and interactions with mentors, empowering you to become a more effective and influential changemaker.
• Community Impact: CSE offers chances to engage in community service and public service initiatives, enabling you to make a positive impact on society and develop a sense of social responsibility that goes beyond the classroom.
• Personal Growth: Beyond academic excellence, CSE promotes personal growth by encouraging self-discovery, resilience, and adaptability, preparing you to face challenges and seize opportunities with confidence.

ACE Graduates a New Batch of Real Estate Professionals

Life-long learners from various age groups, education, and professional backgrounds advanced their legal, business, and marketing skills in real estate brokerage.

In the midst of the country’s economic crisis, the real estate sector stands as a reliable refuge for depositors seeking to protect their savings. This sector’s enduring strength is attributed not solely to the collaborative dedication of its professionals but also to the high-caliber skills and expertise they employ to facilitate transactions and preserve investments.

In line with imparting relevant and up-to-date knowledge and skills to the community, the Academy of Continuing Education (ACE) at LAU, in partnership with the Real Estate Syndicate of Lebanon (REAL), celebrated the graduation of its fourth cohort from the Professional Real Estate Brokerage program in a ceremony at Gulbenkian Theater, Beirut campus, on October 17.

Choosing LAU as their destination for personal and professional growth, 35 life-long learners from various age groups, education, and professional backgrounds advanced their legal, business, and marketing skills in real estate brokerage.

LAU President Michel E. Mawad commended the graduates’ decision to acquire a specialized certificate instead of plunging into the job market. “Your joining this sector at such a critical juncture will undoubtedly have its positive effect and contribute to its regaining its known level of vitality,” he said.

During the event, ACE Director George Obeid seized the opportunity to unveil an extensive real estate brokerage diploma program as an extension of the existing certificate, developed in partnership with REAL and under the sponsorship of the Minister of Economy and Trade Amin Salam.

The diploma will cover 135 effective teaching hours and will encompass the latest marketing techniques, including artificial intelligence (AI) and artificial and virtual reality (AR and VR), in addition to a comprehensive coverage of real estate building and construction laws, economics, valuation, and property management.

Students and brokers have the flexibility to choose between the certificate or diploma programs to match their individual needs and scheduling preferences, noting that membership in REAL is exclusively available to brokers who successfully complete the certificate program.

As a fundamental mission of ACE, Obeid emphasized the significance of ongoing education and “investment in education as key to the sustainable development of the economy.”

The program will be the first of its kind in the Middle East, and its importance, according to Walid Moussa, president of the International Real Estate Federation and of REAL, lies in the “need to improve real estate laws, regulate real estate professions, and protect consumers.” The certificate is intended for all people who want to work in the real estate sector in Lebanon and abroad and for employees of the private and public sectors.

Minister Salam praised the joint efforts of the syndicate and LAU in regulating frameworks of the real estate industry and highlighted the pivotal role they play “in unlocking the sector’s full potential and ensuring substantial investments.”

Commenting on his experience at LAU, Charbel Kallas, a fourth cohort graduate, member of REAL, and an owner of a real estate company, said: “This program has offered me the professional development and skill enhancement I have consistently pursued.”

Graduate Seroj Serop, a NIIAR Real Estate employee with eight years of experience expressed his profound appreciation for the program.

“While I had practical experience in the field, this program provided me with valuable knowledge needed to complement my hands-on expertise,” he said.