Qatar Scholarship – Education Above All Program at AUB Graduation and Closing Ceremony
The American University of Beirut (AUB) cordially invites media representatives to attend the graduation and closing ceremony of the Qatar Scholarship – Education Above All (EAA) Program, celebrating the achievements of our graduating scholars and marking the conclusion of this impactful program.
The ceremony will be attended by His Excellency the Ambassador of the State of Qatar to Lebanon Saud bin Abdul Rahman Al-Thani, representatives from the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) and the Education Above All Foundation, as well as Dr. Fadlo Khuri, AUB president, and members of the AUB administration, faculty, students, and their families.
The Qatar Scholarship – Education Above All Program, in collaboration with the Education Above All foundation and support from the Qatar Fund for Development, offers scholarships to 316 Lebanese, Palestinian, and Syrian students in pursuit of an undergraduate degree, providing access to quality education, student support services, and civic engagement opportunities as well as extramural events.?
Event details:
Date: May 26, 2025
Time: 07:00 p.m.
Location: Issam Fares Lecture Hall, Saab Medical Library Plaza, facing AUBMC
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Web Release
16 hours ago
- Web Release
AUB Press Hosts Charles Al Hayek at the 66th Beirut Arab International Book Fair: 'How Do We Return History to the Public?'
As part of its participation in the 66th Beirut Arab International Book Fair, AUB Press hosted a compelling discussion titled 'How Do We Return History to the Public?', featuring renowned public historian Charles Al Hayek in conversation with Dr. Bilal Orfali. The event was supported by the Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Chair and organized in collaboration with the Center for Arts and Humanities at the American University of Beirut (AUB). Charles Al Hayek is a Lebanese historian, founder of the Heritage and Roots platform, a researcher at AUB, and the creator and host of Lebanon with a Story, a popular history program broadcast on LBCI. The event attracted a diverse audience of established historians, university students, and history enthusiasts. Dr. Bilal Orfali opened the discussion by addressing the widespread perception of history as a 'dry' subject in schools—often disconnected from the lived experiences of the people it seeks to represent. Al Hayek expanded on this by noting that while Lebanon's history textbooks were last updated in the 1990s, these changes affected content, not pedagogical approach. The result, he argued, is a non-critical engagement with history. He also emphasized the overlooked value of oral histories—stories, poems, zajjal, and other cultural expressions—as vital sources for understanding the past. 'Public history,' Al Hayek explained, 'aims to create accessible knowledge that helps people remember where they come from and better understand the present.' This approach not only informs the public about historical events but encourages critical thinking and the asking of difficult questions. The conversation then turned to the importance of individual and collective memory in enriching historical narratives. Al Hayek highlighted the need to bring an emotional dimension back into history, arguing that when emotions are present, they are often exploited to serve political ideologies. Conversely, emotionless history risks being alienating and unrelatable. A more humanized approach would highlight not only political milestones and conflicts but also the everyday lives of people living through these events. When asked about the relationship between general and specific historical narratives, Al Hayek emphasized the power of storytelling as a tool for bridging the gap. Narration, he noted, can transform traditional archives into stories that resonate with broader audiences. However, he cautioned that storytelling can also be manipulated when used to support ideological agendas. Dr. Orfali raised the issue of how digital platforms are reshaping the way younger generations engage with history. While short-form content on social media increases accessibility and democratizes knowledge, Al Hayek warned that it also opens the door for misinformation, especially when content creators lack a background in historical research. He proposed the use of serialized content to maintain depth while retaining audience interest. The discussion concluded with a lively Q&A session, where attendees raised questions about contested historical narratives and how best to navigate them. Visit 'AUB Press' on Youtube to watch the full discussion.
Web Release
3 days ago
- Web Release
AUB Alumni Reunion 2025: Honoring Legacy, Celebrating Community
American University of Beirut (AUB) alumni, along with families and friends, came together to celebrate the AUB Alumni Reunion 2025 through a series of meaningful events held between June 19 and 21. While the annual reunion is a cherished tradition for AUB graduates, it holds special significance for alumni celebrating their 25th, 50th, or more-than-55-year anniversaries. These milestone classes are formally honored during a ceremony at AUB Assembly Hall, which marks the official launch of a three-day reunion celebration. During the Honoring Ceremony, Associate Vice President for Development, Alumni Relations, and University Events Salma Dannawi Oueida welcomed the guests with moving remarks. 'This bond between you and AUB isn't tied to a graduation year; it's something deeper. It's the quiet pride you feel when you hear of a student breaking barriers. It's the comfort of seeing old classmates and knowing that this place still feels like home. As we look around this room, we see more than alumni. We see torchbearers. Bridge builders. Guardians of a legacy,' she said. In his keynote address, AUB President Fadlo Khuri reflected on the university's enduring mission and future direction: 'We're proud of the impactful AUB education that we provide—and our extraordinary alumni—but it's not enough. Our university must do more for the communities beyond our walls. And that is what we are doing. We are transforming, introducing new programs—even new faculties—while holding tight to the values that have made this institution great.' Khuri also shared updates from campus and affirmed the essential role of alumni: 'There have been some changes at your alma mater. But some things do not change. At the top of that list is the importance of our alumni—of all of you: You lead, you inspire, you innovate, and you give back—so that others may have life and have it more abundantly. You have stepped up time and time again in support of our abiding mission: to serve the peoples of Lebanon, the Middle East, and beyond to the greatest of our abilities. Thank you.' Keynote speaker Hussein Ammar, representing alumni celebrating their 50th year graduation anniversaries, delivered a poignant reflection. A 1975 graduate with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering, Ammar built a successful career managing construction companies in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. A founding member of the AUB Alumni Chapter in Jeddah, he has remained closely connected to the university as a mentor to graduates and a loyal, generous donor. 'We celebrate today our graduation from 50 years ago; and it would be remiss not to reflect on how those years affected our beloved Lebanon,' he said. 'We endured a civil war, wars of others on our land, and external control that has gripped our country and regressed it to levels unimaginable. None of us graduating in 1975 could have anticipated what ensued. We were pioneers and we have fallen far behind.' He continued by highlighting AUB's enduring role through decades of turmoil: 'While all this transpired, AUB has persevered, affirming its noble mission. AUB has continued to be a beacon of learning and open thought in Lebanon, in the Arab world, and beyond. It has stood as a moral compass and safe haven in the face of unimaginable adversity. It has continued to bring Lebanese and Arab students from all walks of life, all religions and all political affinities into one common space—a space for debate, for listening, for learning, for growth. AUB is a microcosm of what Lebanon could be.' Class of 2000 keynote speaker Dana Hussein Ammar (BBA '00) represented alumni marking their 25th graduation anniversary. A strategic business and brand consultant, she also runs a motherhood mentorship platform and has over 20 years of experience spanning global corporations, social impact ventures, and food retail startups. She comes from a distinguished multi-generational AUB family and is the daughter of Class of 1975 speaker Hussein Ammar. 'To think that my father, mother, and I sat under the same trees and walked the same steps on this campus, gives all the more meaning and exemplifies the longstanding legacy and sacredness of our alma mater,' she said. Looking to the future, she pointed to the power of alumni to make a difference: 'Having shared precious years and memories on this campus, we now have the privileged position to impact and give back. Some will aid students financially, others through mentorships, grants, opportunity building, and the like—the bravest even get into politics. All of it is vastly appreciated by the communities we support.' The Honoring Ceremony featured the distribution of medals to members of the celebrated senior classes. It concluded with a group photo of the iconic AUB Main Gate stairs and a lively reception at the Assembly Hall Plaza. Festivities continued on campus with the annual Alumni Party featuring Alecco and his band, where hundreds of alumni, joined by their families and friends, enjoyed a vibrant atmosphere and high-energy evening. On the following evening, more than 2,000 attendees gathered at the AUB Green Oval for an unforgettable evening under the stars. The atmosphere was electric as Lebanese superstar Nancy Ajram lit up the stage with her timeless hits, and the crowd sang along in pure joy. The concert was a beautiful mix of nostalgia, energy, and pride—bringing together alumni, students, families, and friends for a magical night that perfectly captured the spirit of AUB Reunion. All proceeds from the concert will go toward supporting the class reunion scholarship fund, reinforcing the event's mission of giving back and empowering future generations. The reunion weekend concluded on a warm and joyful note with a family day trip, where alumni explored Lebanon's natural beauty and created new memories with loved ones.
Web Release
22-06-2025
- Web Release
AUB Press Hosts Dr. Ramzi Baalbaki at the 66th Beirut Arab International Book Fair: 'The Arabic Language: Its History, Present, and Future'
As part of its participation in the 66th Beirut Arab International Book Fair, AUB Press hosted a discussion titled 'The Arabic language: Its History, Present, and Future' featuring renowned Arabic Language professor Ramzi Baalbaki in conversation with Malek Chaker and Amina Sleiman. The event was supported by the Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Chair and organized in collaboration with the Center for Arts and Humanities at the American University of Beirut (AUB). The discussion touched upon various topics related to the Arabic language. Baalbaki spoke about the history of Arabic and its emergence before the revelation of the Qur'an, highlighting its presence in Arabic poetry and popular proverbs (ahadith). He explained how, by the time of the Qur'an's revelation, the Arabic corpus had become rich and well-established, with its collection largely ceasing by the end of the second Hijri century. Linguists then engaged with this corpus, bringing to light its morphological and syntactic features—particularly its patterns (awz?n). In this context, Baalbaki pointed out the distinctive differences that set Arabic apart from its sister Semitic languages as well as from foreign languages. Baalbaki also spoke about his new book Mukawimat al-Nazariyah al-Lughawwiya al-Arabiyya, in which he demonstrated the coherence of the linguistic theory and the comprehensiveness of its components. This, he argued, highlights the uniqueness of the Arabic language and the elements of wisdom embedded in its structures and morphological patterns. He compared this theory with scientific theories—specifically, the theory of dimensions in physics—to affirm the validity of the linguistic framework established by early grammarians. Through this, they provided explanations for every structure, and thus the term ghar?b (the obscure or unusual) in the language emerged. The discussion also touched on the relationship between Classical Arabic and the various colloquial dialects. Baalbaki emphasized the strong connection between them, refuting any notion of conflict or hostility, as each borrows certain words and structures from the other. The conversation addressed the current state of the Arabic language and its place among its native speakers. Baalbaki pointed to the number of Arabic speakers and the language's presence on social media, expressing concern over the weakening use of Arabic among its speakers and their tendency to resort to foreign languages to express their ideas. Therefore, he offered some advice on how to preserve the language—especially within academia. The event was attended by political and social figures, as well as a number of linguists and scholars of the humanities from various Arab countries. The discussion was rich and full of insights that inspire a love for the Arabic language and reveal the depths of its genius and its ability to convey meaning with remarkable precision through carefully chosen words. It also showcased a range of syntactic structures that are unique to Arabic. Visit AUB Press on YouTube to watch the full discussion.
