In a year marked by uncertainty and the ongoing war in Lebanon, the LAU Career Fair stood as a powerful reminder that the university remains committed to providing a brighter future for its students. Held in person on April 15, 2026 at LAU’s Byblos campus, this year’s fair brought together students, alumni, and leading employers in a dynamic setting designed to foster connection, opportunity, and forward-looking dialogue.

In light of the prevailing circumstances, the university consolidated its traditional week-long events into a single, unified fair. Booths representing a wide range of industries lined the fountain area, offering students the chance to engage directly with recruiters, explore career paths, and discover internship and employment opportunities.

“Career fairs matter today more than ever, as they give students hope and opportunities to connect with the job market and truly understand its needs,” said Lead Director of Student Services on the Byblos campus Zeina Trad Barakat. She thanked all participating companies “for standing by our students and shaping their future.”

Director of Student Services on the Beirut campus Joseph Waked added that the decision to hold the event in person also involved arranging transportation from Beirut. “This reflects our continued commitment to connecting students and alumni with real opportunities, and their strong participation demonstrated resilience and motivation,” he said.

LAU’s commitment to student success extended beyond giving them a venue to network with employers. “The job fair introduces our students to a variety of companies whose representatives are encouraged to offer invaluable advice and mentorship in terms of providing feedback on resumés, articulating sought-after skills on the job market, and preparing students for real-world job interview questions,” said Interim Vice President for Student Development and Enrollment Management Raed Mohsen.

For students at different stages of their academic paths, the experience offered both immediate and long-term value. “This interaction will help senior students launch their careers and more junior students plan ahead and prepare for their professional life after university,” said Dean of Students on the Byblos campus Jad Abdallah. “This year’s career fair is really a beacon of hope in the middle of uncertainty, especially as we are approaching the end of the academic year and many students will be graduating soon.”

Alumni presence added another layer of meaning to the event, reflecting a strong sense of continuity within the LAU community. “We owe our students and graduates jobs that they worked so hard to deserve,” said Assistant Vice President for Alumni Relations Abdallah Al Khal. “We also have a fantastic participation of alumni employers who came back to campus to show commitment to their alma mater and support fellow LAUers despite all the challenges in the country.”

Among them was engineering alumnus Michel Barakat (BE ’16), who described the experience as both professional and personal. “It’s good to be back on campus scouting for ‘out-of-the-box’ thinkers and problem solvers,” he said.

Students, too, found the fair to be a meaningful step forward. Third-year graphic design student Rhea Assaf described it as rich in opportunities, noting that she benefited from constructive feedback on how to strengthen her senior-year project, build her portfolio, and explore internships.