Lebanese University

The Lebanese University (LU; Arabic: الجامعة اللبنانية) is the only state-funded public university in Lebanon. It was established in 1951.

The university's main campus was originally located in Beirut, but a few satellite campuses were opened due to travel restrictions during the Lebanese Civil War. It has three main campuses: Rafic Hariri Campus, Fanar Campus and North Campus. The Roumieh campus, which features a faculty of engineering, is one of the satellite campuses.

The university currently enrolls thousands of students and is organized into 16 faculties. It offers a range of degree programs, include undergraduate, graduate and doctoral levels. The primary language of instruction is Arabic.

History

The creation of the Lebanese University was an idea first mentioned in the speech of the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hamid Frangieh, during the closing ceremony of the Third UNESCO Conference in Beirut held on 11 December 1948, during which he said: "Lebanon hopes to see the creation of a Lebanese university having the spirit of UNESCO."

The establishment of the Lebanese University came as a result of a popular and student mobilization initiated on 23 January 1951 with a general strike that lasted for a long period during which, secondary and university students, mostly from Saint Joseph University participated. The movement included demonstrations and clashes with security forces that lead the Council of Ministers to meet on 5 February of the same year.

University presidents

Since its inception, the Lebanese University has been headed by:

and it has been headed by Bassam Badran since 2021.

Faculties and campuses

The university issued successive decrees since its inception, establishing faculties and institutes, which contributed to its expansion and development until reaching 16 faculties:

In addition to three Doctoral Schools:

The university is also affiliated with the Institute of Applied Sciences and Economics (CNAM-ISAE), which operates in cooperation with CNAM in France.

Honorary doctorates

The university awarded honorary doctorates to a number of heads of state and officials, including in chronological order:

In 2009, the Lebanese University started awarding honorary doctorates to Lebanese personalities.

Mission

The Lebanese University is the only public institution in Lebanon carrying out the functions of the public higher education with its various majors and degrees, scientific research, and continuous training.

Rankings and reputation

In the 2024 QS World University Rankings, the Lebanese University ranks 577 worldwide, a record-high after being placed 701–750 in 2021.

Notable alumni

Doumouh Al Bakkar (born 1990), football referee
Nabih Berri, politician
Jean Daoud, poet, playwright, philosopher
Houssam Diab Lebanese lawyer and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Federal Republic of Nigeria
Hisham Zayn Al-Din, theater director and playwright
Elissa (singer), singer and artist
Jawad Fares, physician and scientist
Antoine Ghanem, Lebanese politician
Marcel Ghanem, journalist
Rana Hamadeh, artist
Renée Hayek, writer and novelist
Adnan Hussein, political scientist
Inaya Jaber (1958–2021), writer
Omar Karami, former prime minister of Lebanon
Ibrahim Mousawi (born 1965), journalist and Hezbollah spokesman
Ahmed Nasri, president of Fahd bin Sultan University
Vartine Ohanian, Lebanese politician and Minister of Youth and Sports
Ghada Owais, journalist
Naim Qassem (born 1953), cleric and Hezbollah deputy secretary-general
Mohammad Raad (born 1955), Hezbollah politician
Majida El Roumi, Lebanese-Egyptian singer
Najat A. Saliba, chemist and politician
Michel Suleiman, 11th president of Lebanon
Serge Venturini (1979–1981), French poet
Mohamed Ali Yousfi, Tunisian writer and translator
Abdallah Al Amin, Lebanese politician and former leader of the Ba’ath party in Lebanon