Lebanon needs a national approach to internationalising HE

Lebanon’s higher education system stands as a testament to the country’s longstanding commitment to international academic exchange. Founded by foreign missionaries in the 19th century, institutions like the American University of Beirut (1866) and Saint Joseph University (1875) established Lebanon’s educational landscape as inherently international.

This historical foundation has evolved into a distinctive multilingual academic environment where instruction in Arabic, English and French facilitates global engagement and attracts a diverse student body.

Despite facing unprecedented economic collapse and political instability in recent years, Lebanon’s higher education sector has recognised internationalisation not merely as an option but as a strategic necessity.

The Lebanon Five-Year Higher Education Plan (2023-2027) explicitly identifies internationalisation and strategic partnerships as Priority Area 10 – a formal acknowledgment of their critical importance to the sector’s future.

The drivers behind this push are multifaceted. Lebanese institutions seek enhanced global competitiveness, enriched cultural exchange, expanded student mobility opportunities and the development of a robust research ecosystem.

International initiatives

Yet a significant gap exists between policy and implementation: the Ministry of Education and Higher Education’s failure to follow through with coordinated action plans has left institutions pursuing international initiatives in isolation, without the benefit of cohesive national support.

In the absence of coordinated government leadership, Lebanese universities have demonstrated remarkable ingenuity in forging international pathways. The Modern University for Business and Science (MUBS) delivers a Cardiff Metropolitan University MBA programme with full UK quality assurance standards – providing international credentials at a fraction of the cost of studying abroad. Similarly, the University of Balamand has established a joint doctoral programme with France’s Jean Moulin University Lyon III.

Perhaps most boldly, the American University of Beirut (AUB) has transcended Lebanon’s borders entirely by establishing AUB Mediterraneo in Cyprus, creating a physical international presence that serves both as an academic outpost and strategic protection against domestic instability.

The digital transformation of higher education has opened up new avenues for Lebanese institutions to internationalise without traditional mobility barriers. Virtual exchange programmes, like MUBS’s longstanding collaboration with Stanford University, represent the cutting edge of ‘internationalisation at home’, bringing global perspectives to students who remain physically in Lebanon.

These virtual initiatives have proven particularly valuable during periods when financial constraints or security concerns limit physical mobility. By investing in faculty development and technological infrastructure to support these digital collaborations, Lebanese institutions are democratising access to international education.

A national approach

For Lebanon to fully capitalise on the promise of higher education internationalisation, scattered institutional successes must evolve into a coordinated national approach. Three critical steps are needed.

First, the Ministry of Education and Higher Education must transform Policy Area 10 from aspiration to action by developing a practical national framework for internationalisation that provides both guidance and support to institutions.

Second, Lebanon must strengthen its quality assurance systems to build credibility with international partners and ensure that cross-border educational offerings maintain high standards.

Finally, institutions themselves must strategically invest in both physical and digital infrastructure that enables international engagement, even amid resource constraints.

Regional hub

Lebanon’s higher education institutions have demonstrated extraordinary resilience in their pursuit of internationalisation despite formidable challenges. This resilience reflects not just organisational adaptability but the deeply held belief that academic excellence in Lebanon is inseparable from global engagement.

As Lebanon works to stabilise its economy and governance, its universities are already laying the groundwork for the country’s re-emergence as a regional education hub. Through strategic international partnerships, innovative delivery models and commitment to multilingual instruction, Lebanon’s higher education institutions are not just weathering the current storm – they are charting a course towards a more connected and collaborative future.

In a region where education represents hope, Lebanon’s internationalisation efforts stand as a powerful reminder that, even amid crisis, the pursuit of knowledge remains borderless.

Dr Bassem Kaissi is vice-chairman of the board of trustees at the Modern University for Business and Science, Lebanon. E-mail: bkaissi@mubs.edu.lb

This article is a commentary. Commentary articles are the opinion of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of University World News.