On Monday, June 30, 2025, Minister of Education and Higher Education, Dr. Rima Karami, visited the main campus of Notre Dame University-Louaize (NDU), launching a pioneering and constructive tour of Lebanon’s leading universities. The purpose of the tour is to listen to concerns, explore solutions, and contribute to the advancement of the country’s education sector. She was accompanied by Dr. Georgia El Hachem, Education Sector Lead at the Ministry of Education and Higher Education.
“Thank you for hosting me and for attending today,” began Her Excellency. “I am here to extend a sincere hand of partnership and support, and I have always been proud to collaborate with NDU, an institution that has succeeded in maintaining its high educational standards despite the many crises the country has endured.”
NDU President, Fr. Bechara Khoury, welcomed Dr. Karami and commended her dedication, stating: “Whenever we met with Her Excellency, we always felt that theory was put into practice.”
Also present from NDU were Dr. Michel El Hayek, Vice President for Academic Affairs; Dr. Antoine Farhat, Vice President for University Advancement; Fr. Charbel Haddad, Vice President for Administration; Fr. Pierre Ghsoub, Acting Vice President for Finance; Dr. Simon Abou Jaoude, Assistant Vice President for Academic Support; Dr. Ghazi Asmar, Assistant Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies; the deans of NDU’s seven faculties; Dr. Charbel Zgheib, Dean of Students; Dr. Kamal Abou Chedid, Director of the Center for Applied Research in Education; Dr. Wessam Al Chibani, Associate Professor; Majed Bou Hadir, Director of the Office of Public Affairs and Protocol; and Andre Fahed, Director of the Office of Communications.
The meeting opened with a screening of A Walk Through NDU, a short video showcasing the University’s heritage, history, and remarkable development that has earned it international accreditation.
Following the video, each attendee took the floor to share the challenges faced in their respective areas, and to suggest solutions. Topics included the need for streamlined administrative procedures at the Ministry to avoid disruptions to academic activities; the importance of interdisciplinarity and hybrid learning; the growing necessity for rigorous research on artificial intelligence in education in order to make informed decisions; and the advantages of establishing a national body to safeguard educational quality. Participants also voiced concern over the declining academic preparedness of students compared to a decade ago, likely a result of COVID-19 and other socioeconomic factors, and emphasized the long-term value of academic research for both universities and the state.
More specific issues were brought to Dr. Karami’s attention, such as the need for continued Ministry support in securing and maintaining institutional accreditations, and the challenge of adapting to current global issues.
In response, the Minister expressed deep appreciation for the motivation shown by all participants. She agreed with the points raised and confirmed that certain initiatives are already underway to address them. “Change is in our hands,” she said. “This is the time to support the Ministry so that it can, in turn, grow solid enough to support us in the future.”
Her Excellency also introduced a new initiative that requires collaboration between schools and universities: the creation of a national student-led committee, as it has become crucial to listen to younger generations, especially as they are more attuned to technological trends and the evolving demands of the future.
Driven by her passion for education, Dr. Karami hopes to accomplish one key goal during her tenancy: to convince the public that the Ministry must be led not by politicians, but by educators.
The visit concluded with Fr. Khoury offering a glimpse of NDU’s strategic vision, including the upcoming Faculty of Medicine and the NDU hospital, while reaffirming the institution’s readiness to cooperate on academic and administrative fronts for the benefit of students, the Ministry, and, ultimately, and the broader education landscape in Lebanon.