The Public Relations and Communications Department at Beirut Arab University organized the 14th Modern Standard Arabic Recitation Competition at the university's campus in Beirut.
The event was attended by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Bir W Ihsan Waqf and Chairman of the University's Board of Trustees Dr. Ammar Houry, the President of the University Professor Wael Nabil Abdel Salam, H.E the Minister of Culture Dr. Ghassan Salameh represented by the Ministry's Director General Dr. Ali Al-Samad, the Ambassador of the State of Palestine to Lebanon H.E Mr. Mohammad Al-Asaad, represented by Senior Counselor Mr. Samir Abu Afash, the President of the Association of Businessmen for Support and Development (IRADA) Mr. Louay Malas; presidents of various associations; as well as the University’s Secretary General Dr. Omar Houri, deans, directors of departments and centers, the Director of Public Relations and Communications Mrs. Zina Ariss, and a large crowd of students, parents of the contestants, and interested guests.
This year’s competition was titled "Trivial Content Creators in the Age of Digital Platforms: A Renewal of Standards or a Decline in Awareness?" Nine contestants representing various Lebanese universities competed. This year’s judging panel consisted of actor Nkoula Daniel, news anchor Nadine Kfoury, and journalist Mounir Al-Hafi.
Following the Lebanese National Anthem, the University Anthem, and a report inspired by the occasion, the competition was introduced by Mrs. Rima Chehab, who remarked: "In this era, rising is no longer dependent on the idea, and influence is no longer dependent on knowledge; rather, it is about the number of views and the extent to which the mind can be emptied and taste can be drained. We live in a time where those who shout the loudest are rewarded, not those who understand the deepest; those who parade their lives, not those who build thought."
In turn, the President of the University Professor Wael Nabil Abdel Salam, stated: "Within the halls of Beirut Arab University and its inexhaustible platform of thought, we meet today to celebrate World Arabic Language Day not just as a historical memory, but as a moment for reflection and looking toward the future."
President Professor Abdel Salam continued: "We live in an age where the word has become a double edged sword. While technology has granted us platforms for communication, mindless content has crept through them to compete with depth. The urgent question has become: Do we leave our language and the awareness of our youth hostage to algorithms that only recognize numbers, or do we rise up to restore the prestige of the word and the value of content?"
After each student delivered their text orally within a time limit not exceeding three minutes, the University President distributed university medals to all contestants and presented monetary prizes to the winners as follows:
• First Prize ($1,000): Awarded to student Abeer Mourad from the Lebanese University.
• Second Prize ($600): Awarded to student Leen Al-Asmar from Antonine University.
• Third Prize ($300): Awarded jointly to student Haneen Faraj from Beirut Arab University and student Ali Kaddour from the University of Tripoli.
The University President also honored the judging panel by presenting them with the University Shield as a token of loyalty and appreciation for their achievements and contributions.
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