The Faculty of Architectural Engineering Receives the International Validation Certificate From the Royal Institute of British Architects RIBA And Celebrates its Golden Jubilee

During its celebrations of its Golden Jubilee, held at the Hotel Phoenicia, the Faculty of Architectural Engineering at Beirut Arab University received the International Validation Certificate from the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).

The Validation will grant the faculty graduates priority in attaining architectural jobs all over the world, while attracting Lebanese and Arab students to pursue their higher studies at the Faculty.

RIBA, with currently 44000 members in 50 countries, is, ever since its establishment in 1834, one of the most prominent pioneering institutions symbolizing architectural excellence in the world. RIBA’s accreditation of any architectural school, whether inside England or abroad, depends on meticulous standards relevant to academic and research programs, the standard of academic staff, as well as the laboratories, buildings and green areas. 

The event was attended by the Minister of Higher Education, Prof. Hassan Diab, MP Ammar Houry, representing President Saad Hariri, MP Mohamed Al Hajjar, Egyptian Ambassador Ashraf Hamdy, Head of the Civil Services Council Khaled Kabbani, Head of the Press syndicate Mohamed Baalbaki, Head of the Hospital Owners Association Dr. Soleiman Haroun, Head of Tripoli’s Doctors Syndicate Fawaz Al Baba, presidents of universities, a crowd of architects, owners of architectural firms, as well as the graduates of the Faculty of Architectural Engineering from 1967 to 1985.

After presenting the President of Beirut Arab University, Prof. Dr. Amr Galal Al Adawi with the certificate, the RIBA Director of Education, Prof. David Gloster delivered a speech, pointing out that the Faculty of Architectural Engineering at BAU “is the first educational institution in the Middle East to attain accreditation”. He further explained the mechanism and effects resulting from such validation for both the Faculty and the students. Gloster also stated that the University is “worthy of such validation, since it considers architectural engineering to be a tradition and a heritage”. He then spoke of the Faculty’s long journey of fulfilling the required conditions and validation competitions, stressing the fact that the coinciding of the validation with the Golden Jubilee is but an indication of its success and excellence.

 

In turn, the President of BAU, Prof. Dr. Amr Galal Al Adawi considered “the celebration to be symbolic of the Faculty’s status and standard. It is at the forefront of validation, that course which all the faculties of the University are steering with steady steps”. He pointed out that the University “prides itself on its rich roster of graduates, both Lebanese and Arab, in particular from the Faculty of Architectural Engineering, who contribute to the development and construction movement in Lebanon and the area at large.”

The Dean of the Faculty of Architectural Engineering, Prof. Dr. Ahmed Atteya, attributed in his speech the attainment of validation to the efforts exerted by the Faculty and the University throughout the past 50 years, stressing the fact that the Faculty has acquired an international reputation and is interacting with universities worldwide.

The honorees speech was delivered by Architect Dr. Bassim  el Halabi, who traced the journey of achievements taken by the Faculty of Architectural Engineering, dedication the essence of the celebration to every teacher and educator at the Faculty, describing them as the true torchbearers. 

The event was presented by Engineer Rashad Al Sayed, who reiterated the role of the Faculty in providing the job market with distinguished graduates. He further hailed the progress made at the University since his graduation in the 1960s. 

During the event, honorary shields were presented to graduates of the Faculty of Architectural Engineering (1967 – 1985):

Aref Al Ariss

Mohamed Saeed Al Jazairi

Ahmed Mneimneh

Mesbah Tayara

Mohamed Helal Kabbani

Saad Khaled

Nabil Itani

Amir Abdel Wahid Shehab

Nabih Haddad

Sultan Shaashaa

Ossama Damashkeya

Azmy Fakhoury

Haydar Hashim

Abdel Hakim Lutfy

Mohamed Bassim Halabi

Osman Al Tabsh

Ossama Kabbani

The Faculty also presented shields of appreciation to a number of professors and administrators:

Ibtehal Bastawisy

Abdel Fatah Mosly

Mohsen Zahran

Salah Lamei Mostafa

Ahmed Anan

Hassan Abdel Salam

Shafiq Turk

Abdel Karim Fatal

Zulfukar Osman

Zoheir Al Alamy

Mohamed Hammoud, Deputy Secretary General For Students’ Affairs

On the occasion of its Golden Jubilee, the Faculty also presented shields of appreciation to: the President of BAU, Prof. Dr. Amr Galal El Adawi, BAU Secretary General, Mr. Issam Houri, and Head of Al Bir Wal Ihsan Board of Trustees, Mr. Tawfiq Houri. The President of the University also presented the Dean of Architectural Engineering with a shield in appreciation of his efforts with the academic and administrative staff at the Faculty.