Student Life
In Brief
Top-Ranked University of Geneva Becomes an LAU Partner
LAU’s Office of International Services and Programs will be collaborating with the University of Geneva under a new agreement signed between the two universities, adding it to LAU’s long list of international partners. Students, faculty and staff will be able to engage in academic collaborations, exchanges and research endeavors. Founded in 1559, the University of Geneva ranks among the world’s top 100 universities.
LAU Student Named Finalist for the McCall MacBain Scholarship
Senior communications student Wala Al-Sadi has been shortlisted for the McCall MacBain Scholarship, Canada’s largest leadership-based scholarship for master’s and professional studies. Al-Sadi, who hails from Aden, Yemen and is a Middle East Partnership Initiative–Tomorrow’s Leaders undergraduate scholar at LAU, is one of only 36 international finalists, out of thousands of applicants, selected for their leadership potential, entrepreneurial spirit and intellectual curiosity, among other criteria.
Quebec Recognition for LAU Alumna
LAU Education graduate and McGill University PhD candidate Lana F. Zeaiter (MA ’16) has received Quebec’s prestigious Bourse aux doctorant.e.s en sciences de l’éducation, a scholarship that honors innovative research potential in educational sciences. Zeaiter’s research aims to identify more effective approaches to learning by focusing on “deconstructing and reframing the discourse surrounding teacher preparedness,” she said. This recognition enables her to present her findings globally and advance teacher education in Quebec and beyond.
Praise for AKSOB Student’s E-Marketing Project
Rima Sfaxi, a third-year marketing student at the Adnan Kassar School of Business, has been praised by Saber Industrial Corporation—a manufacturer of sealants and adhesive tapes—for her outstanding e-marketing project, a social media reel that perfectly captures Saber Industrial’s commitment to Lebanon’s reconstruction. In a thank-you letter, the company’s leadership said that her project was “a testament to the talent and dedication of AKSOB marketing students who are helping spread messages of optimism and resilience far and wide.”
A Tournament With a Purpose
In the spirit of bringing the engineering community together and enjoying a friendly competition for a greater cause, a mini-football tournament titled Engineering Cup: Playing with Purpose was held on Thursday, December 5, on the Byblos campus. Organized by the IEEE, ASME, IISE, SPE, ASCE, and DSC LAU chapters with the support of the School of Engineering, the event successfully raised donations to support displaced families and the community during these challenging times.
Students Repair, Renew and Donate
A drive organized by the Engineers Without Borders student club combined sustainability, volunteerism and practical skills to benefit Lebanon’s vulnerable communities. Throughout November, the LAU community on the Byblos campus donated used items such as batteries, doll houses, board games, kitchen appliances and laptops for engineering students to repair and clean up. While a few items had to be recycled, a large number of toys, electronics and appliances were donated to aid those in need.
In the Spirit of Giving
To help small businesses and raise vital funds for the displaced and families in need of support, the Office of the Deans of Students held a market on December 3 and 4 on the Byblos campus, aptly titled “In the Spirit of Giving.” The 15 booths selling Christmas ornaments, artisanal products, gifts and baked goods, among others, drew crowds of students and visitors eager to give back. The businesses and NGOs retained the sales revenues, while proceeds from booth donations went to philanthropic efforts.
“We Are Lebanon:” A Day of Unity and Hope
Marking Lebanon’s 81st Independence Day, LAU student clubs organized several activities that helped raise funds to benefit the displaced communities, including selling baked goods, flowers and candles. The Music Club partnered with the Ecole d’Art et de Musique and Layalina, who performed well-known patriotic songs. Their peers in the Public Speaking Club organized a public speaking competition themed around delivering messages of unity and hope for Lebanon.
Talk It Out: A Psychological Support Group
In the first of many psychological support groups, Dr. Joumana Haddad and Ms. Tala AlNoweisser of Counseling Services created a safe space for students to share their experiences of these challenging times. Talk It Out offered students a comforting and anonymous environment to voice their thoughts and feelings where they felt heard, understood and supported. Based on the participants’ experience, Dr. Haddad and Ms. AlNoweisser explored various strategies to help them manage their emotions.
Helping Students Cope with the Unexpected in Lebanon
A workshop for students by LAU Counselor on the Beirut campus Zeina Al-Chidiac, held on September 30, underscored coping strategies amid the current conflict in Lebanon. Attendees trained on using practical tools, such as cognitive restructuring, emotional regulation, mindfulness and building social support. LAU counselors have also prepared a brief workbook, Surviving and Thriving in War Time, which features practical tools for students to work through their feelings and reactions.
Latest Stories
New Student Members Share LAU Governance
Nutrition and Dietetics Graduates Transition into the “Classrooms of Life”
Introducing Launch X, an AI-Powered Startup Incubator at LAU
The LAU IEEE Student Branch Recognized as Exemplary on a Regional Scale
In Loving Memory of LAU Student Mohamad Nasrallah
Engineering Students’ Projects Secure Funding at the National Level
A Frontline Like No Other: Students Take Action
Students Invited to “Talk It Out”
When Learning Becomes Survival in the Shadow of Conflict
What Is It Like to Be a Doctor?
Salzburg Academy Tackles Belonging in an AI World
Leveraging AI for a Healthier, Smarter and More Sustainable Future