Beirut Arab University International Collaboration and SDG Best Practice

SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals

THE Impact Rankings indicator 17.2.4 | Beirut Arab University, Lebanon

Question: Does the university as a body, through international collaboration and research, review comparative approaches and develop international best practice on tackling the SDGs?

Response to the indicator

Yes. Beirut Arab University (BAU) contributes through multinational research projects, joint curriculum development, international teaching resources and published research. The strongest evidence connects a named BAU role with an explicit comparison and a usable output. These outputs include urban recovery proposals, training methods, reviewed curricula and an internationally available course featuring BAU’s Urban Lab.

Principal evidence

This report prioritises activity and publication evidence from 2021 to 2026, checked on 17 October 2026. Older standing agreements and policies may support institutional context without a date cutoff. SDG mappings for technical projects are based on their documented subjects. Published recommendations and project plans are identified separately from demonstrated implementation.

Comparative research for urban recovery

Multinational Urban Acupuncture project from 2023 to 2025

The University of Kassel confirms BAU’s institutional participation in the DAAD Ta’ziz research project Urban Acupuncture A Strategy of Catalytic Interventions, running from March 2023 to December 2025. Partners include Kassel in Germany, Alexandria University in Egypt and the University of Babylon in Iraq. The research examines how small interventions and residents’ participation can support urban regeneration in different national settings. Its stated outputs include a strategic framework comparing approaches in partner countries and an online learning platform. These are documented project objectives; the completed outputs below provide the stronger evidence of delivery.

Evidence: Kassel original research project description (duration, partners, comparative framework and intended outputs)

Urban Acupuncture: A Strategy of Catalytic Interventions

Within the framework of the DAAD Ta’ziz Partnership – Scientific Cooperations, the Department of Urban Renewal and Planning Theory – University of Kassel – Germany in cooperation with the Department of Fine Arts – Department of Architecture – Egypt, Department of Architecture – Babylon University – Iraq and Department of Architecture - Design and Built Environment – Beirut Arab University – Lebanon have initiated the project “UA – Urban Acupuncture: A Strategy of Catalytic Interventions”. The project runs from March 2023 till the end of 2025 and is concerned with deepening cooperation with partner universities through the organization and implementation of various forms of academic and student exchanges.

Urban Acupuncture (UA) was first introduced in 1983 as a data collection, analytical, and design method. With the help of its eight strategies, it offers prompt spatial solutions by pinpointing interventions for quotidian pressure points in small urban spaces that in turn create a positive ripple effect. This project involves several activities that will incorporate all the partner universities which aim to bridge the gap between academic education and practice. This will take place through evaluating to what extent UA theory enhances locals’ contributions to solving the problems of urban life in their cities through a comprehensive urban regeneration discussion. Thus, UA aims to have an impact on every potential space in the city. It can be applied through art sometimes; it is called the ‘true art of our urban context’. That is why it is different from the large urban renewal strategies that have been previously used. It is a localized, small-scale intervention method. Since this approach should be influenced by the local inhabitants which have a limited budget as well as limited resources, it must be raised from the smallest scale urban city development.

The expected outputs of this project revolve around implementing UA as a strategy of selected catalytic interventions in Lebanon, Iraq, Germany, and Egypt, suggesting a comprehensive proposal for a strategic framework for the UA different approaches in the partner countries, and establishing an online platform to set up Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) in the UA field. This will in turn strengthen the boundaries between the three fields of action, namely teaching, research, and practice, which will consolidate and complement each other towards progressive development. Eventually, the physical implementation of the outputs will evaluate the challenges, efficiency, and opportunities of Urban Acupuncture (UA) theory in each partner country as a claimed quick and effective tool that can help in the renewal and recovery of the partners’ cities besides achieving maximum results with minimal effort in the most critical places.

Published comparison informing recovery in Beirut in 2024

Aya Dikmak, Baher Farahat and Hiba Mohsen published Urban Acupuncture as Recovery Approach to Improving the Liveability of Neighbourhoods Affected by Beirut Port Explosion in 2024. The study compares Jan’s Garden in Amsterdam with Kodak Passage in Cairo, using tables to examine their principles and implementation. It combines these lessons with site analysis, residents’ discussions and a survey in Rmeil, Beirut, proposing six interventions and ten actions. Author biographies connect Dikmak and Mohsen with the DAAD partnership. The paper therefore links international collaboration with comparative research and a locally adapted recovery approach. The interventions are proposals, and the authors identify a need to investigate longer-term outcomes. This supports SDG 11 through inclusive neighbourhood recovery and community participation.

Evidence: Original open access urban recovery paper (PDF pages 6 and 7, comparison; page 16, research affiliations)

Urban Insights: A Space Syntax Exploration Workshop

Shared analytical methods and public learning resources

The partnership’s March 2024 Space Syntax workshop programme describes a reproducible workflow: prepare spatial models in QGIS, analyse a case, test design alternatives against criteria and present findings for discussion. The project published workshop recordings on 3 April 2025, making the analytical teaching resource available beyond the original sessions. This provides a concrete route for transferring methods between partner institutions and other learners.

Evidence: Space Syntax workshop analytical programme (12 to 23 March 2024)

Evidence: Published Space Syntax workshop recordings (3 April 2025)

BAU also reports that its president and architecture representatives participated in the DAAD closing conference in Tunis on 6 to 8 October 2025, discussing the joint research with contributors from Germany and the region. The report additionally identifies the University of Duhok among the contributing institutions.

Evidence: BAU DAAD conference and research partnership record (6 to 8 October 2025)

Beirut Arab University participated in the Closing Conference of the Taziz Partnerships Program

Beirut Arab University participated in the Closing Conference of the “Taziz Partnerships” Program, titled “Achievements, Lessons Learned, and Future Perspectives” organized by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), that was held in Tunis, Tunisia, from 6 to 8 October 2025, bringing together academics and university professors from Germany, Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and Iraq.

Prof. Wael Nabil Abdelsalam, BAU President, Prof. Hassan Abdel-Salam, Dean of the Faculty of Architecture – Design and Built Environment, and Dr. Hiba Mohsen participated Assistant Dean took part in the event which highlighted the strong international collaboration, innovative ideas, community development and knowledge exchange, all promoted through the program.

This participation took place following the completion of the joint research project “UA – Urban Acupuncture: A Strategy of Catalytic Interventions”, conducted under the DAAD Taziz Partnerships, bringing together contributions from Kassel University, Beirut Arab University, Alexandria University, Babylon University, and Duhok University.

The conference was honored by the presence of Mr. Kai Sicks, Secretary General of DAAD, H.E. Elisabeth Wolbers, German Ambassador to Tunisia, H.E. Mondher Belaid, Tunisian Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and Ms. Anke Reiffenstuel, Representative of the German Federal Foreign Office.

International development of Healthy Urban Systems

BAU coordinates an international course module

The University of Lausanne’s Institute of Geography and Sustainability lists BAU’s Ibtihal El-Bastawissi as a researcher in its Healthy Urban Systems MOOC project and identifies her as Module 1 coordinator in the 2021 development structure. The project brings together researchers and practitioners associated with the International Science Council’s urban health programme, the International Society for Urban Health and WHO, among others. Lausanne coordinates production. Its research record describes a systems approach connecting urban conditions, health, environmental factors and participation across scales. Intended learners include urban planners, health professionals, government officials and postgraduate learners.

Evidence: Lausanne original research project and coordinator record (researchers, 2021 module structure and intended audiences)

Joint design workshop in Lausanne in November 2021

BAU’s original report confirms that the Faculty of Architecture participated in course preparation and that its dean attended the Lausanne workshop from 16 to 20 November 2021 as a module coordinator. Participants coordinated contributions, discussed video scripts and undertook trial filming. This establishes an active university contribution to developing the teaching material with international partners. The activity began before the 2022 date used in some later summaries.

Evidence: BAU original course development workshop record (reported 29 November 2021)

MOOC Healthy Urban Systems At BAU

“The Faculty of Architecture - Design and Built Environment at BAU is participating in preparing a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) entitled “Healthy Urban Systems” with the International Science Council (ISC), International Society for Urban Health (ISUH), World Health Organization (WHO) and about 25 other people and organizations. Supported by University of Lausanne (UNIL) on “Coursera”, this MOOC project seeks to develop a system approach for urban health for a long live training (or Master & PhDs) for medical and urbanism professions.

Being the coordinator of one of the MOOC Modules, Prof. Ibtihal Youssef El- Bastawissi, the Dean of the Faculty, was invited to participate in a workshop in Lausanne, Switzerland hosted by University of Lausanne (UNIL), and organized by Prof. Celine Rozenblat, Professor of Urban Geography at UNIL and President of the urban commission of the International geographical Union (IGU), from 16th to 20th of November 2021. The workshop focused on developing the progress of the MOOC project through coordinating ideas and interventions, elaborating and discussing scripts of the videos, as well as shooting trials.

Additional information about the MOOC project and the workshop are posted on the following webpage: https://wp.unil.ch/citadyne-news/mooc-healthy-urban-systems-hus/

Delivered course includes the BAU Urban Lab case

The currently published University of Lausanne course on Coursera includes a lesson using BAU’s Urban Lab to illustrate a systems approach to urban health in developing countries. The syllabus places this case alongside multidisciplinary frameworks, urban health observations, risk governance and housing and climate change. Learners apply ideas to a real city through assessed exercises, including a systems flow chart. This is direct evidence that BAU’s experience has become an internationally accessible learning resource. The original sources verify development in 2021 and present course availability; they do not establish a precise launch date, learner total or universal free certification.

Evidence: Live course syllabus with the BAU Urban Lab lesson (Week 1 Module 1 A, lesson 1.2.3; course assignments)

HEALTHY URBAN SYSTEMS - PART 1

The wider three-course series extends the approach to modelling tools, design and policy. Its value for this indicator is the conversion of international expertise and a BAU case into structured methods that other professionals can study and apply. The subjects connect SDG 3 with sustainable urban planning under SDG 11, supported by SDG 4 through continuing education.

Evidence: University of Lausanne three course series (concepts and observations, models and tools, design and policies)

MORALE comparisons for NGO education

BAU coordinates a European and Middle Eastern partnership

The University of Alicante identifies BAU as coordinator of MORALE, an Erasmus+ capacity-building project addressing NGO management education and refugee inclusion in Lebanon and Syria. European partners include Alicante, Oldenburg, Bologna and Four Elements in Greece. Its work packages connect needs analysis with staff training, curriculum enhancement and lifelong learning courses. The evidence below documents activity within 2021 to 2023, including the later final conference.

Evidence: Alicante institutional project and work package record (coordinator, international partners and educational development process)

Capacity building for curricula modernization of Syrian and Lebanese HEIs and lifelong learning provision: towards sustainable NGOs management and operation with special focus on refugees

Social impact assessment methods tested in May 2021

Alicante delivered Social Impact Assessment training on 18 to 20 May 2021 for representatives of seven Lebanese and Syrian higher education institutions and more than 50 NGO professionals. Participants examined assessment methods, applied them to NGO projects from their own contexts and presented simulations for feedback. The partner record explains how lessons would inform curriculum enhancement and lifelong learning. This shows a shared international method being reviewed and adapted through practical cases under a BAU-coordinated project.

Evidence: Alicante original social impact assessment training record (18 to 20 May 2021)

2nd Online MORALE Training on Social Impact Assessment

European study visits inform course revisions in 2023

At Alicante on 17 to 19 January 2023, partners reviewed social development programmes, fundraising, volunteer management and Spanish refugee-support services. They agreed to incorporate the Alicante and Oldenburg visits into the needs-analysis reports, finalise capacity-building reports and revise lifelong learning courses. In May 2023, the Oldenburg visit examined refugee integration, sustainability and teaching methods. Its concluding session evaluated enhanced courses, their implementation and the lifelong learning provision. The sequence demonstrates comparison, feedback and revision within the partnership.

Evidence: BAU original Alicante consortium and study visit record (17 to 19 January 2023, decisions on reports and course revisions)

Evidence: BAU original Oldenburg study visit record (May 2023, partner presentations and course evaluation)

MORALE Consortium Meeting and Study Visit University of Alicante Alicante Spain

598318-EPP-1-2018-1-LB-EPPKA2-CBHE-JP “Capacity building for curricula modernization of Syrian and Lebanese HEIs and lifelong learning provision: towards sustainable NGOs management and operation with special focus on refugees/Morale.” Hosted by University of Alicante in Spain

The MORALE Consortium Meeting and Study Visit at the University of Alicante, took place from 17th to 19th January 2023. The meeting was held from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm and attended by representatives from partner institutions, including BAU, MUBS, LU, DU, AIU, IUST, BAUK, ARA, UOL and UA.

Naima Benaicha Ziani, professor at University of Alicante, and Dr. Sobhi Abou Chahine, grant coordinator from Beirut Arab University, welcomed all participants and introduced each member and their related institutions.

During the meeting, Dr. Sobhi presented an overview of the project, including the objectives, progress, and next plans. He discussed the achievements and challenges faced by the project and the consortium fixed the dates to visit Oldenburg in May 2023 and to hold Beirut Final Conference in July 2023.

The partners agreed to integrate the outcomes of the Alicante and Oldenburg visits into the WP2 reports, finalize the WP3 reports, and revise the LLL courses.

Dr. Daniel La Parra Casado, Professor Sociology II at University of Alicante, presented the Master programs at the Interuniversity Institute for Social Development and Peace.

Carolina Madeleine, Head of Institutional Project Office /UA, talked about fundraising for humanitarian or development projects, and Ester Maria Kalogeroudi from Four Elements discussed about fundraising and human resources/volunteer management

Lawyer Marina Galli presented a report about the refugees in Spain and Europe.

The Spanish Red Cross presented their refugee & immigration programs at the local and regional level. Three representatives spoke about their respective departments for legal assistance, employment insertion, and social inclusion. They discussed the figures and statistics related to international protection applicants and beneficiaries, the Spanish resettlement program, and workshops for refugees.

The consortium discussed the feedback received on curricular enhancement.

A meeting was held with the external quality expert, Mr David Alpera Green, He congratulates the consortium for the achievements of the project and advised the consortium to focus on sustainability measures.

A Visit was organized to Spanish Red Cross, the employees showed a film about their activities and the services offered by the Red Cross to take care of the refugees and immigrants. The visit is ended by going around different facilities in the Red Cross building.

MORALE Consortium Meeting and Study Visit University of Oldenburg Germany

MORALE Consortium Meeting and Study Visit University of Oldenburg, Germany, 15 -17 May 2023

Hosted by University of Oldenburg, Germany

The MORALE Consortium Meeting and Study Visit at the University of Oldenburg, took place from 15th to 17th May 2023. The meeting was held from 9:30 am to 17:00 pm and attended by representatives from partner institutions; including BAU, MUBS, LU, DU, AIU, IUST, BAUK, University of Alicante, University of Oldenburg, ARA, University of Bologna (online), and Four Elements

During the meeting, participants from all partner institutions engaged in fruitful discussions on various topics. The event commenced with a presentation on the progress of the MORALE project over the past few years, with researchers made on areas like sustainability, volunteering, cooperation, teaching, transfer activities, governance, online teaching, and international programs.

A prominent focus of the presentations was on addressing the increased number of refugees in Germany, particularly after the Ukraine Crisis. The attendees shared their efforts in supporting refugees and migrants, helping them adapt to everyday life, integrate into the culture and society, and explore opportunities for higher education through degree programs.

Each partner institution made a presentation, outlining their main goals and contributions to the project:

• Prof. Dr. Sobhi Abou Chahine provided an overview of the MORALE project and its primary objectives.

• Prof. Karsten Speck emphasized sustainability, volunteering, cooperation, and related aspects.

• Ms. Katja discussed the program's funding through the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research DAAD.

• Tim Zentner highlighted online teaching and International Programs, including internships, program duration, credit requirements, and admission criteria.

• The COAST team focused on research, teaching, transfer activities, and governance.

• Feilka Hawijah shared insights into the German-Syrian Society's efforts in supporting refugees and migrants.

• Hilger Konig and Omar Kaissi discussed their focus on enhancing integration into society.

• Dr. Julia Michaelis presented new teaching concepts, emphasizing cooperative, multidisciplinary, and competence-oriented approaches.

• Prof. Dr. Sebastian Lehnhoff discussed OFFIS's main focus on energy systems, robotics, sustainability, and the utilization of AI, as well as their collaborations with NGOs.

Subsequently, the participants visited the Youth Migration Services. The visit centered around the organization's long-term, individual support for young migrants in their educational and professional journeys. Discussions covered social-cultural projects, mental and emotional health education, and the importance of program sustainability.

Additionally, Franz Josef Franke presented Diakonia's migration advice services in Oldenburg. The services aimed to support activities and collaboration with the evangelical church community while addressing housing assistance and equal opportunities.

The final session revolved around discussing the project's results and achievements, including the project team, enhanced courses, their implementation, and the development and execution of lifelong learning (LLL) courses. The participants also evaluated outcomes, impact, and their overall experience with the project.

Results and recommendations disseminated in July 2023

The project’s final conference record is dated 12 July 2023. BAU’s account describes dissemination of NGO labour-market qualifications, developed courses and proposed policy recommendations for Lebanon and Syria, with the two countries’ teams sharing outcomes. On 13 July, MORALE’s coordinator and European representatives also shared achievements at MEDID 2023. These outputs support SDG 4 through relevant learning and SDGs 10 and 16 through refugee inclusion and stronger civil society capacity. Proposed recommendations are evidence of development and dissemination, without implying government adoption.

Evidence: BAU MORALE project event archive (12 July 2023 final conference record)

Evidence: BAU account of courses and policy recommendations (final conference content; project archive provides July chronology)

Evidence: BAU MORALE dissemination day record (13 July 2023)

Erasmus+ MORALE At Beirut Arab University

Beirut Arab university hosted the Erasmus + MORALE conference entitled "Capacity building for curricula modernization of Syrian and Lebanese HEIs and lifelong learning provision”. It was held at BAU- Beirut Campus in the presence Dr. Ammar Houry, President of the Board of Trustees, and members of the academic and administrative staff, representatives of partner institutions, staff and volunteers of non-governmental organizations, and representatives from universities.

The conference aimed to gather academics, researchers, university students and NGO staff to disseminate the results of the MORALE project on:

- Qualifications required for the NGO labour market.

- Improved curricula and preparing and presenting relevant courses of lifelong education (LLL courses).

- Policies and recommendations on NGOs in Syria and Lebanon.

- Impact, achievements and sustainability of the MORALE project.

Opening speeches were given by: The president of Beirut Arab University Prof Amr ElAdawi, represented by Prof. Sobhi Abou Chahine, Dean of Student Affairs (BAU), Coordinator of MORALE project, Prof. Aref Al Soufi, Coordinator for the National Erasmus+ Office in Lebanon, Mrs. Orla Colclough Project Officer at the Delegation of the European Union -Lebanon and Dr. Mazen Al Khatib, Acting Director General of Higher Education in Lebanon.

The Dean of the Faculty of Business Administration at the Arab International University in Syria, Dr. Moaz Al Sherfawi, presented the proposal for recommendations to strengthen the higher education system (HE) in Lebanon and Syria with regard to NGO-related education.

The Project teams in Lebanon and Syria shared their experiences, discussing the developed courses, outcomes achieved and the overall impact of the MORALE Project in both countries. The Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration of the at Lebanese University, Dr. Salim Makdesi highlighted Lebanon's progress, while Dr. Suleiman Mousselli from Damascus University provided insight into Syria's experience in the project.

The concluding conference developed a platform to assess and present the impact, achievements and sustainability of the MORALE project, and to facilitate discussions and future directions of long-term viability.

MEDID Event

The final conference included a dissemination day (MEDID 2023). The MUBS Erasmus+ Dissemination and Info Day 2023 (MEDID 2023) held on July 13, 2023, served as a significant platform for spreading awareness and providing critical information about the Erasmus+ program and its various opportunities. By inviting participants from various countries and universities, it created an engaging environment for sharing experiences and insights about the program. The agenda was well-structured and covered a wide range of pertinent topics.

The Info Day also emphasized the real-life impacts of Erasmus+ through testimonials from the staff and students, providing a first-hand account of their experiences. Representatives from various universities across Europe and the Middle East also presented their Erasmus+ projects, illustrating the diverse range of topics and disciplines the program supports. The Morale project coordinator Prof Sobhi Abou Chahine and European representatives participated actively in this dissemination day, where an overview about the project and its main achievement, results and impact were shared with audience, which included all relevant stakeholders (HEIs, NGOS, Public authorities, EU delegation, NEO in Lebanon ….)

The MEDID 2023 served as a critical dissemination event. It raised awareness about the program and promoted a better understanding of its potential impacts on institutions, society, and individuals. The diversity of topics and speakers ensured a comprehensive view of the Erasmus+ program and its opportunities, thereby making it a beneficial event for all attendees, whether they were prospective students, academic staff, or institutional stakeholders.

In conclusion, the dissemination and networking activities carried out under WP6 have been crucial in highlighting the work of the MORALE project, engaging with a wider community, and influencing the higher education landscape in Lebanon and in Syria. They have also provided opportunities for learning and exchange, which were invaluable in our ongoing efforts to improve and adapt our project activities.

International benchmarking and applied energy research

DeCAIR jointly reviews international degree programmes

DeCAIR’s consortium includes BAU and universities in Jordan, Italy, Spain and Germany, with a Greek development organisation. Its published bachelor-programme survey names BAU among the participating partners. The survey examines eleven programmes across the United States, Europe and Asia, comparing curriculum, syllabi, resources, staff expertise and industry links. This is an explicit comparative research output supporting shared educational development. The work package record connects these surveys with the creation or improvement of AI and robotics programmes in Jordan and Lebanon. Its relevance is to SDG 4 and the skills and innovation capacity addressed by SDG 9.

Evidence: DeCAIR original international programme survey (participating partners, objectives and summary recommendations)

Evidence: DeCAIR consortium and partner directory (BAU, European and Jordanian institutional partners)

Evidence: DeCAIR work package achievements (surveys and needs identification; curriculum development)

DeCAIR: Developing Curricula for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics

Developing Curricula for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Partners

Developing Curricula for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Work packages

Documented implementation and exchange of results in 2023

The University of Jordan’s project record confirms a visit to BAU on 11 and 12 January 2023, including inspection of engineering laboratories newly equipped through DeCAIR. At the final conference on 12 December 2023, BAU’s Dean of Academic Affairs and International Relations presented the university’s experience alongside other partners, project results and recommendations. These records connect the comparative work with institutional implementation and shared learning. The new laboratory inaugurated at the final conference was at the University of Jordan; BAU’s own laboratory evidence comes from the January visit.

Evidence: Project coordinator record of new laboratories at BAU (January 2023 visit, reported 20 February 2023)

Evidence: BAU final conference experience and recommendations (event 12 December; report 14 December 2023)

Developing Curricula for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Activities

​On Wed and Thu 11 and 12/1/2023, representatives of the DeCAIR project visited Beirut Arab University (BAU). The project coordinators Gheith Abandah, Ahmad Bataineh, Murad Al-aqtash, and Dimos Papakonstantinou, and Lutfi Alsharif visited Dibbiyeh and Beirut campuses of the university. The visit included meeting with BAU president (Prof. Amr El-Adawi), Dean of Student affairs (Prof. Soubhi Abou Shaheen), and Dean of Engineering (Prof. Adel Elkordi). The visit also included visiting the engineering labs including the new labs equipped through the DeCAIR project and meeting the Dean of School of Medicine to learn about this school's experience in modern teaching techniques.

The DeCair Erasmusplus CBHE Project Final Conference

Prof. Sobhi Abou Chahine, Dean of Academic Affairs and International Relations has participated along with Dr. Alaa Daher from the Faculty of Engineering in the DeCair Erasmus+ CBHE Project (Developing Curricula for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics) final conference that was held on Tuesday 12/12/2023. This conference is for informing the participants and sharing with them the results of the project and for disseminating its experiences and recommendations.

The conference was held in the Small Auditorium of the School of Engineering in the University of Jordan with more than 110 participants, including specialists from Jordanian higher education, academicians from public and private Jordanian and Lebanese universities, representatives of ministries, unions and industry, members of the project team, and a group of those interested in artificial intelligence and robotics.

The conference had an opening session and a second, technical session. The opening session had the following speeches with Dr. Mohammad Abd-Almajeed as master of ceremonies.

• Prof. Gheith Abandah / Project Coordinator

• Prof. Munawar Al-Tarakiya / Dean of the School of Engineering

• Prof. Ahmed Abu Al-Haija / Director of the Erasmus+ National Office

• Ms. Ines Alves / European Union Delegation to Jordan / Program Manager Education and Erasmus+ Focal Point

• Prof. Nathir Obaidat / President of the University of Jordan / Conference Patron

After this session, the President of the University of Jordan led the inauguration of the Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Lab. This lab was created through DeCAIR and has 16 student workstations, 2 supervisor laptops, 2 servers for large machine learning jobs, and 9 robots.

The second session presented the partners’ experiences, student experiences, projects results, and recommendations. This session had the following 10 talks and was chaired by Dr. Adham Al-Sharqawi.

• The experience of Beirut Arab University / Prof. Sobhi Abou Chahine - Dean of Academic Affairs and International Relations

• The Lebanese University Experience / Dr. Majd Saeid

• The experience of the Jordan University of Science and Technology / Dr. Ahmad Bataineh

• Tafila Technical University Experience / Dr. Murad Al-Aqtash

• Experience of Computer Engineering Department / University of Jordan / Dr. Ramzi Saifan

• Experience of the Mechatronics Engineering Department / University of Jordan / Dr. Musa Yamen

• Student experiences / M. Muhammad Al-Rawashdeh and M. Rabie Al-Atoum

• Presentation of the project results and the project website / Dr. Ashraf Al Suyyagh

• Project recommendations and discussion / Prof. Iyad Jafar

Lebanon and Kuwait compare campus energy options in 2023

Mohamad Tarnini, Mohammad Alsayed and Abdallah El Ghaly of BAU coauthored Towards Energy Sustainability in University Campuses A Case Study of Beirut Arab University with Khaled Chahine of the American University of the Middle East in Kuwait. Published on 8 May 2023, the study compares diesel-only generation, solar with battery storage and solar coupled to existing diesel generators. It uses HOMER modelling to evaluate alternatives and documents implementation at BAU’s Beirut Campus. The open access article provides a decision method for institutions facing unreliable electricity supply, contributing to SDGs 7 and 13. Its comparative results and installation record demonstrate an applied contribution to practice. Estimated savings and modelled emissions are not evidence of university-wide carbon neutrality or independently verified long-term reductions.

Evidence: Original Lebanon and Kuwait coauthored energy study (author affiliations; sections 2 to 4; DOI 10.3390/su15097695)

Towards Energy Sustainability in University Campuses: A Case Study of Beirut Arab University

Published SDG practice and international dissemination

BAU authors document regional SDG best practices

Springer confirms that BAU authors Osama Omar and Ibtihal Y. El-Bastawissi wrote Bringing the SDGs to Life by 2030 Best Practices in Higher Education Within the Middle East Region. The living reference entry appeared on 1 July 2023; the 2024 edition appears in SDGs in Africa and the Middle East Region, pages 473 to 498. Its abstract describes a synthesis of successful initiatives in universities, schools and communities and recommends staff development, research groups and partnerships to support implementation. This is a published contribution to regional best-practice knowledge. Both authors have BAU affiliations, so the international publishing context supports dissemination rather than establishing foreign coauthorship. The two editions are versions of one contribution.

Evidence: Springer original 2023 chapter and BAU author affiliations (first online 1 July 2023)

Evidence: Springer 2024 edition publication record (first online 1 September 2024, pages 473 to 498)

International peer exchange through the IAU

BAU and Siam University in Thailand shared their sustainability experience at the IAU networking session on 21 January 2021 within the York conference, organised with partners in Canada and Japan. BAU presented work connecting education, research, innovation and community projects, and subsequently supplied seven community-engagement examples for IAU dissemination. This provides evidence of institutional knowledge exchange. The IAU Cluster’s published purpose includes peer learning and joint initiatives; BAU’s 2025 SDG 9 report supplies a later account of its research and practice. These records support the international exchange mechanism alongside the comparative outputs documented above.

Evidence: BAU original York conference and IAU knowledge exchange record (21 January 2021 session; follow-up dissemination)

Evidence: IAU Global HESD Cluster framework (peer learning and joint international initiatives)

Evidence: BAU 2025 SDG 9 report hosted by IAU (research examples and international project activity)

BAU participated in the Sustainable and Inclusive Internationalization Reimagining Approaches in Higher Education in an Era of Global Uncertainties Virtual Conference

Beirut Arab University, represented by Prof. Ibtihal Y. El-Bastawissi (Dean, Faculty of Architecture – Design & Built Environment) and Siam University, represented by Prof. Pornchai Mongkhonvanit (President of Siam University) have been invited by the IAU (International Association of Universities) to share their experience in engaging with the Cluster and sustainability in the Networking Session in the York Virtual Conference on Sustainable and Inclusive Internationalization.

The conference was organized by York University – Canada, in partnership with the IAU, Okayama University – Japan, and Canadian Commission for Unesco. The conference took place on 20-22 January 2021, while the Networking Session that has been hosted by the IAU was on 21 January 2021. In her presentation, Prof. El-Bastawissi focused on achieving the SDG goals generally and SDG9 particularly through education, research, conferences, new labs, innovation and community-based projects as well as wide-spreading BAU Journals, and developing partnerships with other universities.

Following this successful intervention in the conference, IAU represented by Hilligje van't Land, the Secretary General, welcomed BAU and Siam Universities to share concrete examples of community engagement focusing on social impact to be presented by IAU during the University World News Webinar entitled “Building Social Impact and Civic Engagement on 27 January 2021. Prof. El-Bastawissi shared with the IAU seven examples on BAU Community Engagement and on the university’s role in promoting sustainable urban development.

"BAU's Journey towards SDG 9: Fostering Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure"

Institutional contribution and evidence assessment

BAU’s role is established through named faculties, project coordination, university researchers and official project participation. Students contribute through research and applied learning, while academics and administrative representatives develop, evaluate and share curricula and methods. Community participation is visible in the Beirut fieldwork, urban health learning resources and NGO education. Together, the evidence supports a Yes response: international partners provide comparative reference points, BAU helps adapt the findings, and published or delivered outputs make the resulting knowledge available for wider use.

The most direct evidence is the urban recovery comparison, the delivered course with the BAU case, MORALE’s documented course revisions and DeCAIR’s joint international survey. The energy paper adds international coauthorship and applied comparison. The Springer chapter and IAU exchange support dissemination. This evidence establishes contributions to international best-practice development; it does not claim that every output is an internationally adopted standard. Submission-year eligibility should follow the applicable THE reporting period.