Taking LAU expertise beyond the classroom
In line with its commitment to advancing education beyond the campus walls, LAU recently signed a one-year agreement with executive education training company Universal Training (UT). Under the agreement, faculty from LAU’s School of Business will offer tailored programs to middle and upper management professionals across the region, particularly in North Africa.
Speaking at the agreement signing ceremony on January 28, LAU President Dr. Joseph G. Jabbra hailed the partnership as a “golden opportunity to advance the university’s mission to give back to society.”
LAU will provide customized education and training programs based on UT’s client needs. Much of the training will be given to Libyan companies, universities or government bodies. The “watershed” deal is expected to usher in a number of similar agreements with the private sector, said Provost Dr. George K. Najjar.
Universal Training is “thrilled at the new partnership,” said company representative Naji Bejjani. “LAU is one of the most prestigious academic names in the region. This collaboration will create a powerful synergy and allow us to promote executive training services to a wide client base.”
The agreement is proof of the esteem in which LAU is held across the region, says Dr. Said Elfakhani, dean of the School of Business. “Our university is a renowned institution with a proud history of business education. As UT’s clients seek first-rate, university-backed programs, partnering with us allows them to access some of the region’s best business education practitioners.”
The school’s interaction with the business world will benefit faculty and students alike as part of its mission is to engage with the regional business community. “Such exchanges bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical experience,” says Elfakhani.
“When an LAU professor delivers a training program within a particular industry, he or she brings back experiences that enrich and strengthen LAU’s pool of expertise and knowledge. Bringing back real-life, industrial experience enhances pedagogy in the classroom as well.”
LAU’s exposure in new markets could also result in increased employment opportunities for LAU students, he notes.