Driven by a shared vision to strengthen Lebanon’s education sector, the Ministry of Education and Higher Education and the American University of Beirut (AUB), through its Government Engagement Platform (GEP), have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) establishing a strategic partnership to advance education reform, enhance institutional capacities, and strengthen the quality and governance of online and digital learning.
The signing ceremony was held at AUB and was attended by Dr. Fadlo Khuri, AUB president; Dr. Rima Karami, minister of education and higher education; Dr. Zaher Dawy, AUB provost; Dr. Imad Baalbaki, the university’s senior vice president for advancement and business development; senior administrators; academics; and senior representatives from both AUB and MEHE.
The MoU signed by the president of AUB and the minister of education and higher education lays the foundation for collaborative action to modernize the education sector, improve policymaking processes, and expand experiential learning opportunities for university students across public schools in Lebanon.
In his welcoming remarks, Dr
Fadi El-Jardali, managing director and co-lead of AUB’s Government Engagement Platform, highlighted the platform’s role in supporting public-sector innovation: “Through the Government Engagement Platform, we are proud to support the ministry’s reform and modernization agenda by bringing evidence, expertise, and innovation to the heart of policymaking. This MoU enables us to work collectively to strengthen governance, enhance quality assurance, advance digital transformation, and build the institutional capacities needed for sustainable and meaningful change across Lebanon’s education system.”
Dr. Fadlo Khuri, AUB president, reaffirmed the university’s commitment to the country’s education ecosystem: “Lebanon’s talent often looks abroad for opportunity, but our priority must be to build those opportunities here at home. Strengthening education requires deep structural work, work that builds capacity across the ministry and elevates both public and private education. When we invest in the system, we invest in Lebanon’s future and in the potential of its people.”
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Dr. Rima Karami, minister of education and higher education, emphasized the transformative potential of the partnership: “This MoU strengthens the ministry’s institutional capacity and embeds it within a framework of sustainable reform. It helps rebuild public trust by ensuring that data and expertise drive national impact. Stronger public institutions mean better learning outcomes and brighter futures for our students. This is why a strong academia–government relationship is essential. Education must once again become a source of national pride.”
The partnership between the Ministry of Education and Higher Education and the American University of Beirut will focus on five key areas. First, evidence-informed policy and research, with AUB supporting the ministry’s reform agenda through research and policy advisory services, including a flagship initiative to develop national quality assurance and accreditation standards for online higher education that align with international best practices. Second, capacity building for ministry personnel, where targeted training and knowledge-transfer programs, such as specialized AUB diploma programs, will strengthen technical, pedagogical, and assessment skills for online learning. Third, governance and management support, with AUB providing technical and advisory assistance to enhance governance systems across the ministry’s directorates. Fourth, digital transformation, supporting efforts to digitalize and automate operations for greater efficiency and transparency. Finally, experiential learning for AUB students, with a collaborative framework enabling student volunteers to support public schools through the Center for Community Engagement (CCE); students enrolled in the Phil 200B community-engaged learning course will complete 30 hours of fieldwork each semester, contributing to teaching, administrative tasks, and school activities.
This MoU marks a significant step toward modernizing Lebanon’s education sector by combining the expertise of AUB with the ministry’s commitment to reform. By strengthening governance, enhancing digital learning, building institutional capacities, and engaging students in hands-on community initiatives, this partnership sets the foundation for sustainable, evidence-based improvements that will benefit educators, students, and the broader Lebanese society for years to come.