American University of Beirut

In a conversation with Interim Dean of Student Affairs and Deputy Provost Lina Choueiri, we learned about the university’s plans to transform the AUB student experience.

The goal is to reposition the university in the changing landscape of higher education and ensure student success while addressing the challenges posed by the global pandemic and the local economic and financial crisis.

The undergraduate academic experience at AUB will look different in the coming years, with more programs integrating curricular and extracurricular activities focusing on graduating engaged students who value diversity at all levels and are prepared to be impactful global citizens. Part of this effort is a newly revamped General Education program that connects the disciplines and is based on students learning how to understand themselves, the world, and their role in it. The revised program aims to make the value of a liberal education – a lasting hallmark of AUB’s education – more transparent. It also incorporates experiential learning opportunities and the development of soft skills, such as a creative and entrepreneurial mindset, collaboration and teamwork, and citizen leadership, which are necessary for the university and beyond. 

Providing a supportive and inclusive campus environment for students will continue to be a core focus post-pandemic. With a new director of the counseling center and soon a new director of university sports collaborating with colleagues across campus, the goal is to promote physical and mental wellbeing and build individual resilience in the face of uncertainty. In addition, there will be seamless support and opportunities for career-relevant training and workshops that will lay the foundation for future success. 

An AUB education is world class. We rank in the top 1% of universities worldwide (QS world university ranking = 242) across multiple indicators. Despite challenging circumstances in the past two years, we have had outstanding success in attracting external research and development grants and we continue to see our students accepted into top graduate schools around the world, embarking on attractive career paths, and earning prestigious awards and recognition. 

Safeguarding the future means maintaining our excellence, so that we continue to deliver on our mission, even more critical today than ever. To do so, AUB has made the difficult decision to begin collecting a portion of our tuition fees in US dollars, starting in fall 2022-23. This is coupled with a significant increase in financial support to our students, both continuing and newly admitted, which includes institutional financial aid, graduate student tuition waivers, merit scholarships, early admissions scholarships, and a robust roster of grant-based comprehensive scholarships.      

Affordability remains a major concern for our students and their families, and we will double down on our efforts to secure need-based financial assistance to those who qualify for it. Since the onset of the economic crisis, AUB has responded with increased financial support to ensure that no student who leaves AUB does so because they could not afford to pay. AUB currently supports the highest number of students with scholarships and other forms of financial assistance, over 58% of the student body. We are seeking out new funding sources and philanthropic support and are using all means at our disposal so that we can continue to provide access to AUB’s world-class education to the best and the brightest.​