Beirut Arab University Celebrates its 55th Anniversary
05 November 2014
Beirut Arab University celebrated its 55th Anniversary on the 5th of November, 2014 at Hilton Habtoor Hotel as part of a celebration of its new five-year strategy and of the International Academic Accreditation of a number of its programs. The event was attended by a large crowd of officials, politicians, diplomats and media people upon the invitation of Prof. Dr. Amr Galal El Adawi and under the patronage of Mr. Toufic Houri, the Chairman of the Wakf el Bir Wal Ihsan Society. In addition to Mr. Houri, the event was also attended by BAU Secretary General Mr. Issam Houri, the Deans of Faculties, the Advisory Committees of the Faculties, Academic Staff-Members, BAU Directors, and a crowd of Alumni. The evening was accompanied by the music of Guy Manoukian who performed a number of musical pieces.
The event was attended by MP Dr. Ammar Houri, representing HE Mr. Saad El Hariri and HE Mr. Fouad Sanioura, as well as Ministers Dr. Hussein El Haj Hassan, Mr. Mohamed El Mashnouk and Mr. Jibran Basil, represented by Mr. Elie Salem; MPs Mr. Robert Ghanem, Mr. Jean Augassapian, Mr. Mohamed Kabbani, Dr. Mohamed El Hajjar, Dr. Ameen Wahbe and Dr. Khaled Zahraman, Dr. Khaled Kabbani. The event was also attended by Egyptian Ambassador Mohamed Badr Eddine Zayed, represented by Mr. Amr Hamza, Ambassador of Palestine Mr.Ashraf Dabbour represented by Mr. Maher Mshaiel in addition to the Sudanese Ambassador Mr. Ahmed Hassan Ahmed Mohamed. Further, the event was attended by university presidents and representatives, as well as various representatives of Syndicates and Social and Economic Bodies.
The event opened with the Lebanese National Anthem and the BAU Anthem. Ms. Zina Ariss, the Director of Public Relations Administration, gave a welcoming word in which she described the University as a young giant with deep roots in both the father-land and the hearts of those loyal to her. She expressed gratitude to the administrative and academic apparatuses as well as everyone who contributed to the University’s journey.
In his speech, Prof. Dr. Amr Galal El Adawi, President of BAU, evoked his early memories at the University. He pointed out that the University seeks to promote its status at the International Level by attaining Academic Accreditation for its programs. This would create a new dimension to the University’s place among educational and research institutions.
El Adawi enumerated the University’s latest achievements, starting with the International Accreditation of the Architectural Engineering and the Communications and Electronics Programs, the Computer Sciences program at the Faculty of Science, and the progress made by the Faculties of Dentistry and Pharmacy towards accreditation. In addition, the FIBAA concluded its successful visit to the University, and Prof. El Adawi expressed his belief that the University will attain this accreditation.
In turn, BAU Secretary General, Mr. Issam Houri, delivered a speech in which he returned to the early beginnings and establishment of the University. He highlighted that the University carried the name of Beirut, and thus became an image of it, and lived up to the responsibility. He recalled the historical role of Beirut as a hospital, a bank, a resort and a university for the Arabs, describing it as the city that embraced everyone, receiving the oppressor and the oppressed, the rake and the trader, yet it never fell nor changed its colors.
The event also included a show of documentaries that compared the University today, through the photos from a large archive, with the time of its establishment in 1960. At the end of the event the President presented Guy Manoukian with the BAU shield of appreciation.