Lebanese University

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’s University participated. The movement included demonstrations and clashes with security forces that led the Council of Ministers to meet on 5 February of the same year.

Since there is no real independence for a country without an official national university that preserves its cultural and scientific heritage, the year 1951 witnessed the creation of the first unit of the Lebanese University with the establishment of the Higher Normal School and the Institute of Statistics under the direction of Dr. Khalil Al-Jurr.

Soon after, Decree No. 25 was issued on 26 February 1953, stipulating the establishment of a Center for Financial and Administrative Studies that was affiliated to the University and later renamed the "Institute of Management and Finance". The Decree also stipulated the renaming of the "Higher Normal School" with the "Higher Teachers Institution".

The Lebanese University constituted this unit until 1959, when decree No. 2883 was issued on 16 December 1959 concerning the organization of the University. The first article stipulated the following: "The Lebanese University is an institution that performs the functions of public higher education in its different branches and degrees ...". However, the Statutes and Ordinances for the organization of the University, which established its academic, administrative and financial autonomy, were issued on 26 December 1967 under law No. 75/67. Following that, the work of the University Teaching Staff was regulated under Law No. 6/70 dated 23 February 1970, and the financial system was established on 14 April 1970 under Decree No. 14246.

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

and it is headed by Dr. Fouad Hussein Ayoub[5] since 2016.

The University issued successive decrees since its inception, establishing faculties and institutes, which contributed to its expansion and development until reaching 16 faculties:[6]

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.

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, including:

Minister Fouad Boutros, Minister Ghassan Tueni, Minister Laila Solh Hamada, Former Head of Press Syndicate Mohamed Baalbaki, As-Safir's Editor-in-Chief Talal Salman, Governor of the Banque du Liban Riad Salamé, Archbishop Grégoire Haddad, writer and poet Salah Stétié, Architect Rahif Fayad, Professor Philip Salem, and artist Majida El Roumi.

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 through:

- Dissemination of knowledge and culture;

- Provision of scientifically qualified human resources;

- Community service through studies and continuous training to meet the needs of development;

- Scientific presence at the national, regional and global levels;

- Deepening social and national integration;

- Instilling human values in the heart of citizens.[10]

QS World University Rankings places the university at #701-750 overall, #551-600 in Medicine, #351-405 in Agriculture and Forestry worldwide.[11] Times Higher Education World University Rankings ranks 1001+th in the world.[12] 4 International Colleges & Universities ranks it the 5th in the country and 3893th worldwide.[13]

• Michel Suleiman, 11th President of Lebanon
• Marcel Ghanem, journalist
• Renée Hayek, writer and novelist
• Antoine Ghanem, Lebanese politician
• Jean Daoud, poet, playwright, philosopher
• Majida El Roumi, singer
• Serge Venturini (1979-1981), French poet
• Omar Karami, former Prime Minister of Lebanon
• Ahmed Nasri, President of Fahd bin Sultan University
• Ghada Owais, journalist
• Adnan Hussein, political scientist
• Mohamed Ali Yousfi, writer and translator
• Rana Hamadeh, artist
• Inaya Jaber, writer
• Jawad Fares, physician and scientist
• Doumouh Al Bakkar, football referee
• Vartine Ohanian, Lebanese politician and Minister of Youth and Sports

• (in Arabic) الموقع الرسمي
• (in French) Site officiel
• (in English) Official website
• On Facebook