BAU Celebrates Its Institutional Accreditation By the FIBAA And Honors its Secretary General Mr Issam Houri

Beirut Arab University celebrated its institutional accreditation by the Foundation for International Business Administration Accreditation -FIBAA at Biel- on the 30th of May 2015. The event included the honoring of Mr. Issam Houri, BAU Secretary General, in appreciation of his 50 years of devotion for Beirut Arab University. The event was attended by a large crowd of politicians, diplomats, educators and media people, mainly Mr. Elias Bou Saab, Minister of Education and Higher Education, representing HE Prime Minister Tammam Salam; HE Fouad Seniora who was the Keynote Speaker of Mr. Houri’s Honoring; MP Dr. Ammar Houri, representing HE Saad Hariri; in addition to MPs Dr. Ahmad Fatfat, Jean Ogassapian, and Mohamed Kabbani; as well as heads of syndicates, ambassadors, university presidents, and BAU academic and non-academic staff-members.
After the National Anthem and the BAU Anthem were played, a documentary of BAU was screened to introduce its various faculties, departments and facilities. Ms. Zina Ariss, Director of the Public Relations Administration at BAU gave a speech in which she described the University as the beacon of the Arabs, which has lit the paths of difficult times. Attaining institutional accreditation is, thus, an achievement worthy of celebration, highlighting that Mr. Issam Houri has accompanied the University’s growth through 50 years.
Prof. Amr Galal El Adawi, President of BAU spoke next, praising the efforts exerted by all to bring about this achievement. Indeed, it affirms the University’s vision and its aim at preserving quality education. He added that Mr. Issam Houri had shared his dreams and success, and that the University has now attained world status.
Dr. Heinz Schmidt, representative of FIBAA, who presented the Prof. El Adawi with the Accreditation Certificate, pointed out that this achievement is a major cutting-edge for the University.
Dr. Ismail Seragelddin, Director of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, drew attention to the current state of the Arab World and the importance of the education and research in altering the situation.


This was followed by a screening of a documentary on Mr. Issam Houri, the honored Secretary General spoke, thanking all those who had accompanied him on his long journey of struggling for the survival of the University. Mr. Houri dedicated the honoring to all the successive presidents of BAU that he had worked with, to his family, and to all those who have supported him throughout. He also remembered HE Rafik Hariri as one of the most prominent graduates of BAU.
Mr. Houri was then presented with an eagle trophy as a token of appreciation in honor of 50 years of devotion to BAU. The eagle symbolized the determinism and the transparency of an administrator and an educator, who has upheld these values throughout his career. The BAU Alumni Club in Jordan also presented Houri with the Holly Quran as a thank you gesture.

After the Trophy’s presentation, HE Fouad Seniora, the Keynote Speaker of the celebration gave a speech in which he highlighted the conditions under which BAU was established, and how it developed despite various wars, until the present day when it hosts thousands of students on four campuses.
Seniora also spoke of the challenges of a rapidly growing sector in Lebanon, namely that of higher education. He emphasized the necessity to establish interactive educational programs that enhance academic research and keep abreast with all the scientific developments in the world. He also drew a comparison between the current state of Arab universities and universities abroad.