As part of his international outreach to maintaining an engaged alumni community, NDU President, Fr. Bechara Khoury, has traveled across the country and abroad in recent months to reconnect with alumni who have gathered to hear from their alma mater’s president.
In a recent event, Fr. Khoury traveled to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to meet with the Alumni Chapter in Dubai to strengthen academic connections.
An assembly was organized in collaboration with Mr. Tony Cid, President of the NDU Alumni Association – UAE Chapter to bring together a number of alumni among which was Mr. Elie Hanna, President of the NDU Alumni Association, for an evening of networking.
Fr. Khoury spoke to alumni about important initiatives at the University, first, NDU’s global development, “It is imperative that the university be socially and economically embedded - not only academically - to foster further development”, Fr. Khoury said.
Second, building bridges between the University and more than 1200 NDU alumni residing in the Gulf Region who have attained senior and executive career levels.
NDU has launched thousands of graduates who became significant figures in business, law, engineering, education, science, and the humanities. “NDU carries a unique sense of pride in what you have accomplished. You make up the most important element of the University’s identity and mission and are playing an important role in our personal and professional growth as NDU ambassadors”, Fr. Khoury said to the alumni present.
During his stay, Fr. Khoury also visited the UAE Ministry of Education, H.E. Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of State for Tolerance, Mr. Fouad Chehab Dandan, Ambassador of Lebanon to the UAE, Mr. Sufyan Al Saleh, President of the Lebanese Business Council, various startups and last but not least, the Rashid Center for People of Determination.
Though alumni move away from campus and hence after, their country, to pursue their careers, they are able to stay in touch and build a global professional network.