On June 3, 2026, LAU signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Michel Daher Social Foundation (MDSF) to establish a framework for collaboration through the School of Arts and Sciences (SoAS).

A non-profit organization based in Ferzol, Bekaa, the MDSF will cooperate with LAU in the areas of education, research, and community development, and aims to generate measurable community impact in the Bekaa region and beyond.

The partnership will open internship and experiential learning opportunities for LAU students within MDSF programs, including field training, as well as conduct research in education, psychology, nutrition, and public health. The two parties will also pursue joint awareness-building initiatives and outreach activities, organize seminars, workshops, and evidence-based interventions focused on community impact.

At the signing ceremony held on the Beirut campus, LAU Provost George Nasr and SoAS Dean Haidar Harmanani welcomed MDSF Founder and President Marleine Daher and COO Mira Sidnawy to LAU.

Highlighting the significance of the partnership, Dr. Nasr described it as the coming together of two institutions that share a common mission: “to make a difference in people’s lives.” He emphasized the importance of such collaborations in shaping a stronger future for the country through meaningful educational and outreach initiatives. Mrs. Daher expressed her high expectations for the association with LAU, which she said would “forge a lasting bond between LAU and the Bekaa.”