When Marianne Ghoch, a psychology major at LAU, landed in Finland last fall for her semester abroad, she was overcome with nervous anticipation.

Navigating a different education system, using public transportation and missing home, especially as news of the war in Lebanon started to sink in, were challenging for a first-time traveler. But she soon discovered that many of her peers at the University of Helsinki were also exchange students who were eager to make friends.

Ghoch, an Erasmus+ exchange student, had volunteered with the Erasmus Student Network (ESN) at the University of Helsinki, a decision that brought her in contact with a wider group of students, allowing her to learn more about Finnish and other cultures. Together, they organized potlucks, outings, museum visits, hikes and regional trips.

From an academic perspective, she noted how “class discussions were engaging, interactive, and prioritized meaningful learning over strict information delivery.”  She felt “seen and welcome, able to better understand and celebrate my own identity.”

Ghoch left Helsinki with the sense that she “had found a second home, one that I chose and would want to go back to again.”

Coming back to Lebanon this semester, she connected with another LAU student and former Erasmus+ exchange student, Elise Nasrallah.  The two joined forces to establish the Beirut Erasmus International Club (BEIC), in partnership with Sarah Karam and Johnny Hajj, both part of the ESN network abroad, and LAU student Elena Aboujaoude.

For Nasrallah, the initiative was a way of “recreating the richness of my experience abroad for exchange students at LAU.” The BEIC is a community where like-minded Lebanese and international students connect, share cultural exchanges and are part of an inclusive international network, she explained, adding: “We are incredibly excited for what the future holds.”

In the same spirit, LAU Senior Director of International Services and Programs (ISP) Dina Abdul Rahman is a staunch advocate for study abroad as an invaluable tool for students to boost their academic and professional profiles.

“These programs are not just about travel, but also about cultivating global citizens who are ready to lead in a changing world. Each opportunity, whether it’s a semester abroad, a faculty-led trip, or a short-term program, is an act of hope and a chance for our youth to reimagine a better future,” she said.

The many options available at LAU are rich in depth and breadth, with a wide network of international partners comprising universities, institutions and organizations that actively seek out exchange students and applicants for graduate studies from Lebanon and the region.

“Even amid crises and especially in the wake of the recent conflict,” added Abdul Rahman, “we are reminded that education must remain a bridge to foster understanding, resilience and peace.”

In a colorful show of commitment to sustaining those bridges, the ISP hosted representatives of the EU Delegation, the National Erasmus Office and the embassies of Brazil, Colombia, Estonia, France, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Spain and Switzerland for International Days from April 15 to 17, 2025.

Held on both campuses over three days, the event featured hybrid information sessions, exhibitions and roundtable discussions where students and local and international partners engaged in eye-opening exchanges.

In one of those events, the ISP rallied representatives of similar departments from other universities in Lebanon to address common challenges. Colleagues from the American University of Beirut, Notre Dame University, Beirut Arab University and Université Saint-Esprit de Kaslik shared valuable insights and spoke candidly about the challenges they continue to face and ways to overcome them.

“At LAU, we strive for a true sense of collaboration,” stressed Vice President for Student Development and Enrollment Management Elise Salem. “Bringing together sister universities for a common goal is the start of what can become a strong force to support student mobility on a national scale,” she added.