October 23, 2025 – Notre Dame University-Louaize (NDU) has signed a landmark agreement with the International Cooperation Group of Brazilian Universities (GCUB), a global non-profit civil society organization comprising 112 affiliated institutions worldwide. The partnership aims to promote internationalization through programs, projects, and collaborative initiatives that foster academic, scientific, and cultural exchange.
NDU was represented by President Fr. Bechara Khoury; Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Michel El Hayek; Vice President for University Advancement Dr. Najib Metni; Advisor to the President for Presidential Affairs and Assistant Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies Dr. Antoine Farhat; and Majed Bou Hadir, Director of the Office of Public Affairs and Protocol. From GCUB, Executive Director Prof. Rossana de Souza e Silva attended, accompanied by Secretary Pablo P.S. Romero, Head of the Cultural and Education Section, and Emilie Houwat, Assistant to Secretary Romero.
“Both our institutions share a commitment to global engagement and humanistic values, emphasizing international cooperation, diversity, respect, and dedication to the common good, human solidarity, and moral integrity,” said Fr. Khoury, stressing that such opportunities ensure that no Lebanese student is left behind. In turn, Sec. Romero thanked NDU for its collaboration, highlighting that the agreement not only reinforces historical and cultural ties between Lebanese and Brazilian communities but also paves the way for pilot studies and joint initiatives. Prof. de Souza then addressed global challenges, particularly poverty and its impact on development and learning: “This is where we are attempting to find new solutions through GCUB’s extensive portfolio of fully-funded mobility programs.”
Both NDU and GCUB recognize the importance of promoting and strengthening cooperation, sharing knowledge, enhancing research and educational programs, and facilitating the exchange of faculty, researchers, and students. Therefore, the agreement will focus on the following terms:
a) Development of joint research projects
b) Joint development of institutional cooperation and international projects
c) Exchange of information, documentation, and scientific publications
d) Exchange of teachers, researchers, and technical staff for both short- and long-term stays
e) Undergraduate and graduate student mobility programs
f) Joint organization of conferences, seminars, symposia, and other events aligned with both institutions’ interests
GCUB strongly believes in the power of development as a pathway to peace, making NDU a strategic partner in this fundamental and global mission. Regardless of their fields of study, students, researchers, and faculty will benefit from this international collaboration, which will enrich their personal, academic, and professional skills while making a difference.