News Highlights
Author:
Maha Al-Azar,
Media Relations Officer,
Office of Information and Public Relations,
ma110@aub.edu.lb
 Dabdoub's address
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AUB Graduates First Batch of Students From Newly-Created Executive MBA Program
 | The EMBA graduates
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The American University of Beirut's Suliman S. Olayan School of Business graduated the first batch of students from the Executive MBA program on February 6.
The 18-month EMBA program, which was started in February 2004, is a regional alternative to the few world-class international programs available in leading universities. The program also incorporates local and regional issues in its focus. Candidates eligible to join the program should hold a Bachelor of Arts degree and have senior management experience. |
 | Dean Najjar calls it an 'extraordinary event'
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Some 19 students of the program participated in a ceremony held at Assembly Hall and attended by a number of trustees, faculty and friends, including Minister Fawzi Salloukh.
"Tonight, is an extraordinary event in the general scheme of things at the Olayan Business School," said Business School Dean Najjar. "It is in celebration of achievement that we are assembled here."
Provost Peter Heath commended the graduating class for their achievement, noting that this graduation reflects an "on-going impulse for innovation and renewal that always characterizes this university."
Moreover, it represents tradition and the University's commitment to critical thinking and in-depth analysis, he said.
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 | Provost Peter Heath commended the graduating class for their achievement
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"We live in challenging times, and you, as senior managers, must be able to guide your units and companies successfully along paths that are sometimes smooth, but sometimes rough and turbulent," he added. "This requires insight, reflection, analysis and wisdom. I hope this program has helped refine all these aspects in your professional and personal lives."
President John Waterbury congratulated the graduates, saying that they were the "guinea pigs of the program," and they should provide the administration with feedback on their experience so that the program could be improved.
Keynote speaker, Trustee Ibrahim Dabdoub, chief executive officer of the National Bank of Kuwait, gave a personal account of the challenges he had to face when climbing the ladders of the business world. "That was the age of innocence," he said, however. "Since then, things have changed dramatically in the world, and as we look into the future, we can see how even more dramatic and profound the coming changes are going to be. For us, of course, the question is, will we, as Arab countries, adapt to this process of change?" |
 | Ibrahim Dabdoub talks about global trends, and implications for the Arab world
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Dabdoub foresaw an increase in political independence and democracy, as well as an increased economic integration and the formation of economic alliances. He then proceeded to criticize Arab countries for their lack of preparedness for these changes.
"While we were out breeding dictatorships in the Arab world, wasting our resources on war machines in order to fight each other, the developed world was fostering democracy and respect of human rights," he said. "While we wear out teaching our children archaic slogans "With our life and blood, we redeem you, O leader," the world was teaching its children science and technology. While we were out inflating the public sector, the world was encouraging entrepreneurship and private initiative? In short we lost five precious decades that could have catapulted us into the new age," he said.
Dabdoub said he was hopeful about the future, because democracy and respect for human rights are contagious, and "because there are people like you who have acquired knowledge and skills [which] will be catalysts for change in Arab countries."
In conclusion, Dabdoub recommended that political reforms be instated, that the region's education system be revamped to promote independent thinking, debate and research, and governments should consider privatization when they cannot succeed in providing certain services.
"I know it is easier said than done, but the world is changing so rapidly, and unless we join the trends of change, we will be left out," he said.
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 | A proud student receives his EMBA from President Waterbury
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The graduates (listed in alphabetical oder) are:| Michael Alexander Abdelnoor
Nelly Farhan Abu Zaki
Abdel Salam Mohamed Bdeir
Nabil Adib Bu Khaled
Nasri Gergi Challita
Berge Emile Daw
Fadi Fouad Fawaz
Ahmed Yousri Helmy
Nasser Adel El-Hout
Abdulla Khalid El Jazara
Marcel Albert Keyrouz
Hicham Antranik Maksoudian
Basem Hani Qablawi
Zuhair Ameen Al Qadi
Bassem Muhiddine Sabra
Marwan Anis Tayara
Simone Oscar Touma
Omar Bin Abdelaziz Al Zaben
Mohamad Nazih Zeidan
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