Having been ranked 10th in the Times Higher Education (THE) list of top universities in the Arab World and shortly after a recent global ranking, LAU’s position has improved by one place from last year in the QS World University Rankings for the Arab Region, reaching 15 out of 131 institutions in the Arab World.

The QS World University Rankings for the Arab Region evaluate universities based on their performance using a number of metrics, including Academic Reputation, Employer Reputation, Faculty/Student Ratio, Citations per Paper, and Web Impact, among others.

LAU was ranked second in Lebanon overall with two high scores particularly standing out: its Employer Reputation, ranked 8th regionally, and the increased number of Citations per Paper. 

Among the indicators that carry heavy weighting, employer reputation is calculated based on a survey that collects views of employers from around the world, indicating which institutions provide them with the best professionals.

“We have actively joined forces with reputable companies nationally, regionally and globally, while our alumni have made strides and helped us paint the finest picture of LAU across industries,” noted LAU President Joseph G. Jabbra.

Another marker, Citations per Paper, which provides an estimate of the impact and quality of the scientific work done by universities, landed LAU in second place nationwide. LAU Director of Institutional Research and Assessment Diane Nauffal pointed out that Citations per Paper is “a quality indicator of the value, relevance and importance of the published results,” noting that LAU’s score on this criterion improved steadily over the years from 68 in 2016 to 90 in 2020.

This recent ranking attests to the university’s strides in implementing its strategic plan to enhance the build-up of intellectual capital, deploy an integrated program of pedagogical innovation, and position LAU as a university without borders. These pillars translate into bolstering basic and affiliated research, embracing innovative and powerful learning methods, and continuing to recruit and retain the best and brightest faculty, particularly in interdisciplinary areas.