On October 27, LAU ignited a nationwide STEM movement with the launch of VEX Robotics Lebanon in a strategic partnership with Middle East Technologies (METECH), the regional partner of VEX Robotics and the Robotics Education & Competition (REC) Foundation.

The event on the Byblos campus, which included the signing ceremony, brought together government officials, educators, industry representatives, and students in a celebration of science, creativity, and national renewal, reaffirming LAU’s role as a driving force for STEM education and technological advancement in Lebanon.

Opening the ceremony, Assistant Professor at LAU’s School of Engineering (SOE) Noel Maalouf described the collaboration as a turning point for the country’s education landscape and a “milestone in our mission to promote innovation, technology, and robotics education across Lebanon.” Through this partnership, he said, “LAU will pave the way for a new generation of critical thinkers, problem solvers, and future innovators.”

The agreement establishes Lebanon’s official VEX Robotics programs, creating pathways for student and faculty engagement while setting the stage for annual national competitions that will qualify teams to represent Lebanon at the VEX Robotics World Championship—recognized by Guinness World Records as the largest online robotics competition.

Beyond hosting the competition, LAU will serve as the country’s primary training and resource hub, providing coach and teacher preparation and involving faculty as mentors and judges during competitions.

In his address, LAU President Chaouki T. Abdallah reflected on his own background in robotics, linking it to the broader transformation of education through technology.

“This event combines some of my favorite topics: Robotics, innovation, and collaboration between academia and industry,” he said. “Robots have a unique power to capture the imagination of young people. By playing and working with these technologies, students develop curiosity for mathematics, engineering, and problem-solving skills that extend far beyond robotics itself.”

Dr. Abdallah also spoke about “physical AI,” the convergence of artificial intelligence and robotics, as the next frontier of global innovation. “You are in the right place at the right time,” he told the students. “The world is moving toward intelligent machines that augment human capabilities, and Lebanon must be part of that movement.”

Echoing this message, Minister for the Displaced and Minister of State for Technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) and LAU trustee Kamal Shehadi highlighted the initiative as a vital investment in Lebanon’s youth. “I do believe that we have an exceptionally talented, innovative population,” he said. “Every time I meet young men and women, they remind me why we do what we do, and it gives us hope for the future.”

On enhancing Lebanon’s global standing, he stressed that it was “not just a question of patriotism; we have faith and high expectations in our youth, and their achievements on the global stage prove it’s a reality.”

LAU alumnus Samer Rachid (BE ’11), who represented Middle East Technologies at the event, spoke passionately about the power of education to rebuild societies and inspire generations. “Today, we are not simply launching a robotics program; we are launching a dream of a Lebanon that dares to imagine, innovate, and rise again,” he said.

He urged educators to embrace robotics and reshape how Lebanon teaches its youth. “We are teaching mindsets, curiosity, collaboration, and courage,” he said. “Every robot you build is a declaration that Lebanon’s youth will not wait for the future—they will build it.”

Education through innovation is a pillar of LAU’s strategic plan, said Provost George E. Nasr, expressing his pride in the collaboration with Middle East Technologies and VEX Robotics, and particularly in seeing “our alumni leading these efforts.”

SOE Dean Michel Khoury added that the partnership builds on LAU’s longstanding investment in STEM outreach. For years, the school’s summer camps have trained students in AI and robotics, he said, and with this new partnership, “we will expand access nationwide, giving students the chance to design, build, fail, and try again. That process of experimentation is what truly drives creativity and critical thinking.”

Regional Director of VEX Robotics MENA Saleh Yassien then gave an overview of the programs soon to launch in Lebanon, noting that VEX offers tailored platforms for all age levels—from VEX IQ for ages 8–14, to VEX V5 for high-school students, and VEX U for universities—each designed to cultivate teamwork, coding, and design thinking.

VEX Robotics is not just a competition company, he noted, but “an education company that uses robotics as a tool to engage youth in learning computer science, AI, and innovation.” With this initiative, he added, the Lebanese teams will become part of a worldwide community of young inventors. “Our goal,” he said, “is to bring AI and computer science education to every student, everywhere.”

The event concluded with a live demonstration of the VEX IQ Robotics Competition: Mix & Match, led by Yassien, who also engaged the audience by answering their questions.