In Brief
LAU Athletes Shine at 2025 FISU World University Games
After a 20-year hiatus, Lebanon made a triumphant return to the 2025 FISU World University Games, with LAU athletes at the heart of the action. The Men’s Universities Basketball National Team, featuring LAUers Abbas Chouman, Jad Nasr, Aldo Kouba, Anthony Naba, Elios Saad, Abbas Atwi, and Bryan Mansour, clinched 9th place worldwide with a 4-2 record under LAU’s Director of Athletics Joe Moujaes. In taekwondo, LAU’s Laetitia Aoun came close to a historic medal, reaching the quarterfinals.
Dr. Mohammad Mroueh to Serve on the Cannabis Regulatory Authority
LAU has welcomed the Lebanese Council of Ministers’ decision to form a Cannabis Regulatory Authority during its session on July 17, 2025, and the selection of Professor and Chair of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the School of Pharmacy Mohammad Mroueh as a member. Dr. Mroueh, whose research has long been focused on the medicinal and pharmaceutical benefits of cannabis, particularly in cancer treatment, spearheaded the establishment of the Medicinal Cannabis Research Center at LAU in 2018.
Dr. Marc Haddad Appointed to the Civil Aviation Authority Board
The Council of Ministers, during its session on July 17, 2025, approved the appointment of Dr. Marc Haddad, associate professor in the Department of Industrial and Mechanical Engineering, to the Board of Directors of the Civil Aviation Authority. Dr. Haddad brings to the role over 25 years of experience in aerospace and transportation systems engineering and technology policy. This appointment is part of the ongoing effort to strengthen institutional oversight and enhance the strategic direction of the civil aviation sector.
Residency Programs Earn ACGME-I Accreditation
Following its institutional accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education–International (ACGME-I) this March, the LAU Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine has obtained accreditation for six residencies. This achievement, said Dean Sola Aoun Bahous, represents a defining milestone for the school and medical centers. “It places us among the few institutions in the region that meet ACGME-I’s rigorous standards, enhances our global visibility, and reinforces the high-quality education and clinical training we provide our residents,” she added.
Marketing Faculty Nominated for the Prestigious THE Awards Arab World 2025
Two LAU marketing faculty have made the shortlist for the Times Higher Education Awards for the Arab World 2025, surpassing more than 700 submissions to the top eight. For the second year running, Associate Professor Zahy Ramadan was nominated for the Most Innovative Teacher of the Year Award. Additionally, Assistant Professor Lara Khabbaz’s co-authored paper on rural women’s entrepreneurship was shortlisted for the Research Project of the Year in the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences category.
LAU and LMAC Partner on Humanitarian Mine Action Training
On July 15, LAU and the Lebanon Mine Action Center (LMAC), under the Ministry of National Defense, signed an MOU to launch professional training programs in Humanitarian Mine Action Management. Offered through the LAU Academy of Continuing Education (ACE), the courses will be delivered online and on campus, and at the Regional School for Humanitarian Demining in Lebanon (RSHDL). This collaboration aims to build local leadership in mine action, support career growth, and help protect communities from explosive remnants of war.
Exciting Pitch Approaches for Entrepreneurs
On July 10, the LAU Fouad Makhzoumi Innovation Center held a pitch simulation for the fifth cohort of the LAU Innovate Spark Program. This year, out of about 100 applicant startups, 36 were handpicked for a five-month incubation program, guided by the center’s leadership and industry professionals. On July 29 and 30, the 24 semi-finalists who had pitched their ideas for feedback will present their finished concepts to an investment committee, with each of the winning teams receiving $10,000 to develop their innovative ideas into viable businesses.
Introducing AI to Military Cadets
Cadets at the Lebanese Military Academy received an introductory artificial intelligence workshop from Dr. Samar Aad, assistant professor of management, focusing on core principles and their applications to national security and leadership. She was joined by Dr. Joe Tekli, assistant provost and associate professor at the School of Engineering, who offered technical insights on the evolution from static to intelligent web systems. This collaboration highlights LAU’s role in advancing innovation, social impact, and knowledge exchange with partner institutions.
Tomooh Scholarship Students Spotlighted at LAU
Recipients of PepsiCo’s Tomooh Scholarship, in partnership with Ajialouna Organization, (L to R) Sahar Moussaoui (BS ’24) and Noha Sidani (BS ’25) were spotlighted on the Beirut campus for their outstanding academic achievements. The initiative underscores the collaboration between the university and key philanthropic and corporate partners to empower deserving, financially challenged students and advance higher education in Lebanon. PepsiCo’s Tomooh scholarship program was launched in 2006 and has supported more than 4,600 students to date.
Global Recognition for LAU Alumnus Simon Abboud
LAU alumnus Simon Abboud (BArch ’15) has won the prestigious European Talent Award at the 2025 Urban Land Institute (ULI) European Leadership Awards, recognizing his exceptional contributions and professional, personal, and civic commitment to the real estate industry as a young talent under 35. The award is part of a program that annually honors three leaders in the built environment who exemplify ULI’s mission across Europe and marks another milestone in Abboud’s career following his 2020 IE EPIC Award in the Young and Ambitious Minds category.
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