5.3.4 Does your university as a body encourage applications by women in subjects where they are underrepresented?

Study of the U.S. Institutes (SUSI) for Young Women Leaders for undergraduate students

https://www.bau.edu.lb/International-Relations/Announcement/Study-of-the-U-S-Institutes-SUSI-for-Young-Women-Leaders-for-undergraduate-students-

The U.S. Embassy in Beirut has announced an academic exchange program for university undergraduate students.

Study of the U.S. Institutes (SUSI) for Young Women Leaders: This program is for female undergraduate students aged 18 to 25 who are interested in developing their advocacy skills and learning about women leadership and role in the society. The program will take place from June to early August 2023.

The deadline to submit applications is December 31, 2022.

Program information and application instructions/link are available here: https://lb.usembassy.gov/2023-study-of-the-united-states-institutes-for-young-women-leaders-program/

As with all U.S. Embassy-sponsored programs, the U.S. Government pays for all major expenses, including roundtrip airfare, shared accommodation during the program, meals and health insurance. Competition is merit-based and Lebanese and long-term Palestinian residents in Lebanon from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Applicants will be considered without regard to race, religion, sex, age, and/or physical impairment.

Rawan Nashi was selected as one of the four Lebanese candidates to participate in 2022 SUSI Young Women Leaders Program from June ,25 till July 30 - 2022

https://www.bau.edu.lb/Architecture-Design-and-Built-Environment/News/Rawan-Nashi-was-selected-as-one-of-the-four-Lebanese-candidates-to-participate-in-2022-SUSI-Young-Women-Leaders-Program-from-June-25-till-July-30-2022

Congratulations to Rawan Nashi for completing the 2022 Study of United States Institutes Young Women Leaders Program (SUSI)!

Rawan Nashi was selected as one of the four Lebanese candidates to participate in 2022 SUSI Young Women Leaders Program from June ,25 till July 30 - 2022, an exchange program funded by the US Department of State and implemented by the Women’s Global Leadership Consortium. It was hosted by Saint Mary’s College, South Bend, Indiana, where women from the Middle East, North Africa, and the United States were brought together for an intensive five-week study on Civic Engagement for Young Women Leaders.

This experience places women among a diverse group of people, pushing them to engage in cross-cultural conversations, extending the borders of their own culture, and thus, helping them formulate a global mindset.

Beirut Arab University team wins the first runner-up place in the 13th Edition of the Arab Startup Competition

https://www.bau.edu.lb/Public-Relations/News/Beirut-Arab-University-team-wins-the-first-runner-up-place-In-the-13th-Edition-of-the-Arab-Startup-Competition

A Student Team from the Faculty of Architecture - Design and Built Environment at Beirut Arab University won the first runner-up place in the first startup competition that presents creative ideas at the Arab world level. The team was qualified to be among the finalists internationally where teams from eleven countries around the world participated in this competition.

The Faculty of Architecture - Design and Built Environment team has established a new company for building materials that were made from more than 60% of recycled materials, which are often non-recyclable. The company is one of the new companies that are specialized in concrete systems and called (INFRASTIC) which is a new construction technology company specialized in concrete systems for both vertical and ‎horizontal applications

INFRASTIC team has won the first runner-up place in the Arab Startup Companies competition about the “ideas track” in its 13th edition in 2020 which was organized by MIT Enterprise Forum (MITEF) – Pan Arab. Many teams from around the world participated in it where eleven teams reached the semi-finalist stage.

The Arab Startup Companies competition is an annual competition that was launched by MIT forum for Entrepreneurship in the Arab World since 2006. It aims to empower the youth and promote the incubator environment for innovation and entrepreneurship in the Arab region. Entrepreneurs in this competition have competed along three tracks: ideas track, startups track and social entrepreneurship track.

The winning team was granted $5000 as well as mentoring and pre incubation offer at Flat6Labs Beirut and was consisted of the following students: Louay Ghezzawi, Iman Najjar, Haidar El Mokdad and Jana El Chami, and was supervised by the Engineer Rasha Sukkarieh and the directions of Professor Ibtihal Youssef El Bastawissi, the Dean of the Faculty who said: “this qualification is an assertion about the scientific, technical and creativity level of our students and their ability to adapt with the changes on the entrepreneurship level.

Congratulations to BAU students who are selected to participate in the “2021 Study of the United States Institutes (SUSI) - Women's Leadership Program”

https://www.bau.edu.lb/International-Relations/News/Congratulations-to-BAU-students-who-are-selected-to-participate-in-the-2021-Study-of-the-United-States-Institutes-SUSI-Women-s-Leadership-Program-

Congratulations to BAU students Nisrine Kammourieh at the Faculty of Human Sciences, Yasmine Wraya at the Faculty of Law and Political Science and Rawan Nashi at the Faculty of Architecture - Design & Built Environment on being selected by the US Embassy in Lebanon; through a highly competitive process; to participate in the “2021 Study of the United States Institutes (SUSI) - Women's Leadership Program” at Saint Mary’s College.

Four scholarships from the French Embassy For Beirut Arab University students

https://www.bau.edu.lb/Public-Relations/News/Four-scholarships-from-the-French-Embassy-For-Beirut-Arab-University-students

In the framework of the agreement signed between Beirut Arab University (BAU) and the French Embassy in Lebanon concerning SAFAR Program, which focuses on promoting scientific research and stimulating relations between the two parties, BAU has acquired four scholarships from FORSA and SAFAR programs.

Three students have acquired PHD scholarships from SAFAR program, and one student has acquired a Master scholarship from FORSA program, as follows:

1- Mohammad Yakhne from the Faculty of Engineering – Tripoli Branch, has acquired a three-year PHD scholarship in Mechanical Engineering jointly with La Rochelle University after BAU has signed Cotutelle agreement with the University.

2- Roa Rawwas from the Faculty of Architecture-Design and Built Environment – Debbieh Campus, has acquired a six months PhD scholarship to perform part of her PHD research work at Lab'URBA - Laboratoire d'urbanisme. Université PARIS-EST

3- Hitaf Hussein from the Faculty of Science – Debbieh Campus, has acquired a six months PhD scholarship to perform part of her PHD research work at the University of Technology of Compiègne, France.

4- Doha Khalaf from the Faculty of Health Sciences-Beirut Campus, has acquired a six-months scholarship from SAFAR program to perform part of her Master research work in Food Analysis and Safety at the University of Technology of Compiègne, France.

Dr. Mirna Fawaz listed in the top 2% ranking of the most influential researchers in the world

https://www.bau.edu.lb/Public-Relations/News/Dr-Mirna-Fawaz-listed-in-the-top-2-ranking-of-the-most-influential-researchers-in-the-world

Dr. Mirna Fawaz, Head of the Nursing Department at the Faculty of Health Sciences has been listed in the top 2% ranking of the most influential researchers in the world according to Stanford University ranking.

This ranking lists researchers which have generated the most impactful and cited research in the past five years. It includes only 180,000 researchers from around the world out of more than 8,000,000 active researchers in various fields of study.

Beirut Arab University Received the Honorable Mention at 2021 Tamayouz Excellence Award

https://www.bau.edu.lb/Public-Relations/News/Beirut-Arab-University-Received-the-Honorable-Mention-at-2021-Tamayouz-Excellence-Award

Architect Mounira Al-Halabi, graduate from the Faculty of Architecture - Design and Built Environment at Beirut Arab University has been selected as one of the seven Honorable Mentions Project in the "Tamayouz" Excellence Award of Graduation Projects in Architecture for the year 2021.

Tamayouz Excellence Award is one of the biggest international awards for students of architecture, urban design, planning and garden design where the number of participating projects for this year reached 485 projects from 153 universities in 41 countries worldwide.

Architect Mounira Al-Halabi was able to achieve this result upon participating with her graduation project "Khan Al-Saboun Center for Handicrafts in Tripoli", which she prepared during the academic year 2018 - 2019 under the supervision of Dr. Islam Al-Samahi.

The jury praised the project since it provided a comprehensive study on the relationship between social traditions, crafts and the urban fabric of the city. It also extracted realistic solutions to revive the urban heritage and linked it to the surrounding streets.

This new success for one of the Faculty of Architecture - Design and Built Environment graduates at the international level confirms the distinguished level of the students of this faculty, with the support of its President, Professor Amr Galal El-Adawi, and the Faculty dean, Professor Ibtihal Bastawissi, to advance the educational process and secure all the resources and the latest technologies necessary for it.

Seminar on Enhancing Women’s Political Participation

https://www.bau.edu.lb/Human-Sciences/Event/Seminar-on-Enhancing-Women-s-Political-Participation

The Department of Mass Communication at the Faculty of Human Sciences, Beirut Arab University, organized a seminar, entitled Enhancing Women’s Political Participation. The seminar hosted anchor Ms. Claudine Aoun, Mr. Majed Eddi Abi Allamaa, Mr. Elias Hankash and Ms. Lori Haitian. The attending students posed questions that were answered by the panel members, and subsequently discussed with the floor. The seminar closed with a set of recommendations towards the enhancement of women’s political participation.

Women Empowerment for SME Management

https://www.bau.edu.lb/Business-Administration/Event/Women-Empowerment-for-SME-Management

December 8, 9 and 10, 2016 at Beirut Arab University Bekaa campus to motivate and encourage rural women to launch their own successful businesses.

BAU Participates at the Extraordinary General Assembly of the Francophonie Network of Women in Higher Education and Research (RESUFF) [8]

https://www.bau.edu.lb/Public-Relations/News/BAU-Participates-at-the-Extraordinary-General-Assembly-of-the-Francophonie-Network-of-Women-in-Higher-Education-and-Research-RESUFF-

Beirut Arab University participated in the Extraordinary General Assembly of the Francophonie Network of Women in Higher Education and Research (RESUFF)in France on the 16th and 17th of October 2019. The conference was attended by Prof. Rajaa Fakhoury the Dean of Faculty of Health Sciences and Official member of the RESUFF, Ms. Wafaa Beytamouni Director of President and Secretary General Office, and Ms. Lina Anouti Administrative Assistant of President and Secretary General Office, This conference was organized by the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie, and brought together 90 participants from 10 regions of the world, to encourage women in Universities (students/staff) to take on responsibilities and set up training modules for them in order to overcome obstacles and have a better future.

A Discussion Panel on the Experience of Indonesian and Lebanese Women in Politics at Beirut Arab University

https://www.bau.edu.lb/Public-Relations/News/A-Discussion-Panel-on-the-Experience-of-Indonesian-and-Lebanese-Women-in-Politics-at-Beirut-Arab-University

In cooperation with the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Lebanon, the Faculty of Human Sciences at Beirut Arab University organized a Discussion Panel entitled "Women in Politics: Indonesia and Lebanon as a Model" in Beirut Campus with the participation of the Indonesian MP Ms. Lena Maryana Mukti, Lebanese MP Ms. Paula Yacoubian, and Faculty Dean Professor Mayssah El Nayal, Panel Presenter and Moderator. The panel was attended by BAU President Professor Amr Galal El-Adawi, faculty deans, BAU Secretary General Dr. Omar Houri, Indonesian Ambassador Ahmad Khazen Khamidi together with the embassy staff, Iraqi Ambassador Ali Al Amiri, Bangladesh Ambassador Abdulmutallab Sarkar, Ambassador of the State of Palestine represented by Mr. Maher Mishael, and representatives of women's associations in Lebanon as well as a crowd of interested audience. The panel started with the Lebanese and Indonesian Anthems followed by Professor El Nayal’s welcoming speech in which she pointed out that the participation of women in politics will have a significant impact as it will contribute to diffusing their capabilities and helping them achieve more gender equality. "In a world that seeks peace, it is necessary to establish stronger democracies, and democracy is never achieved without utmost equality, which requires the full political participation of women,” El Nayal said. In his speech, the Indonesian Ambassador thanked BAU President for his contribution and for the panel. He reviewed the developments of the Indonesian women in the political field and stressed that the role of women in Indonesia is an integral part of the history of the country as they participated in and contributed to fighting the colonists for independence. He also assured that, today, nothing prevents women from participating in the political life and that Islam guarantees them equal rights with men in assuming positions of power. Professor El- Adawi stressed the necessity to free women of all restrictions that hinder the full performance of their roles in the society and in the political life, pointing out BAU’s encouragement of the role of women which is crystal clear in their large and prominent presence at the university at the administrative and educational levels. El-Adawi called for strengthening the role of women more in the political life as this factor is effective in achieving the concept of participation. MP. Ms. Lena Maryana Mukti gave a presentation in which she explained her experience in the Indonesian political life, pointing to the success of the role of women in Indonesian politics after achieving a 30% quota for women, which prompted the political parties to promote women's involvement and seek to increase their participation in the political life. Thus, a law was enacted and Indonesian women, since then, have held important positions in the country. Mukti talked about the political work within her party, pointing out that 54 women assume leading positions in the party, which is a very good figure as compared to the past when women were absent from these positions. MP Ms. Paula Yacoubian said that the annual struggle has a history of race in the Lebanese political life, recalling the roles of Linda Matar and Laure Moghaizel and stressing the inevitability of seeking to achieve quotas for women to correct the historical mistakes against women in Lebanon. For Yacoubian, the representation of women is no longer a luxury but a necessity to achieve participation. She criticized the serious injustice against the Lebanese women and their role during the recent parliamentary elections in Lebanon. Yacoubian called for the correction of the legacies and the conventional archetypes of the patriarchy according to which some families were raised thus depriving women over time of performing their full roles at all levels. At the end of the panel, President El-Adawi presented honorary shields to Mukti and Yacoubian and the Indonesian Ambassador presented shields to both guests, as well as BAU President and Faculty Dean.

The First Women as a Military investigation judge

https://www.bau.edu.lb/Alumni/News/The-First-Women-as-a-Military-investigation-judge

Alumna Najat Ramez Abu Shakra has been appointed as a military investigation judge.

Women Empowerment for SME Management

https://www.bau.edu.lb/Research-Center-for-Environment-and-Development/Outreach-Activities-2017-Women-Empowerment-for-SME-Management

Based on a collaborative initiative with the Center for Entrepreneurship (CFE) and the Faculty of Business Administration at Beirut Arab University (BAU), and the Lebanese League for Women in Business (LLWB) and RCED, a workshop on “Women Empowerment for SME Management” was organized at RCED-Bekaa during December 8-10, 2016.

Objectives

• Promoting business management skills of rural women
• Enhancing women’s role in local economic development

During the interactive sessions of the workshop, experts and mentors from BAU and successful business women from LLWB provided more than 35 women of all across Bekaa with knowledge and skills needed for business start-up and survival and good practice for building confidence and for resolving real-life business problems.

After a welcoming speech by RCED director, Dr. Safaa Baydoun, and CFE director, Dr. Wassim Itani, experts from the Faculty of Business Administration at BAU; Prof. Nehal Mostapha, Prof. Wagdi Higazi, Dr. Abdalla Nasreddine, Dr. Ekrami Mokhtar, Prof. Ahmad Slim and Dr. Alaa Abbas, exchanged with participats information and experience on challenges and important aspects necessary for successful management of women owned start-up businesses and SMEs. The experts also shared knowledge on the importance of the role of women’s entrepreneurs in economic growth and various aspects of successful business planning, management skills, finance and human resources management and marketing.

Moderated by the engineer Mrs. Najah Jaroush, the LLWB inspirational panel introduced the success stories of several women entrepreneurs; Ms. Yusr Sabra, Mrs. Haya elKassem, Mrs. Lina Idriss, Mrs. Kinana Rahhal and Mrs. Chantal Rbay.

Manager Mrs. Sabine Rbeiz Kassis from BLOM Bank, the sponsor of the event introduced the various funding products and explained the terms and conditions of each product wishing women entrepreneurs all the success through the different steps of their business development.

At closing ceremony certificates were distributed while women participants expressed their sincere appreciation for the efforts of the organizers and their wishes to attend for further training.

A Panel Discussion on Activating Women's Political Participation

https://www.bau.edu.lb/Public-Relations/News/A-Panel-Discussion-on-Activating-Women-s-Political-Participation

In cooperation with Beirut Arab University and the National Commission for Women, and in collaboration with the British Council and the National Committee for the Follow-up on Women's Issues, the Maharat Foundation organized a panel discussion on "Activating the Role of Women in Political Participation" among students and decision-makers within the framework of the EU-funded project DAWRAK. The panel was attended by the President of the National Commission for Lebanese Women Ms. Claudine Aoun Roukoz and MPs Majid Edi Abi El-Lamaa and Elias Hanaksh, as well as the candidate for the parliamentary elections Laury Haytian.

Students and participants discussed issues related to activating women's political participation, such as approving quotas in the election law, the role of political parties in supporting women in political participation, and the strategy of the National Commission for Women to activate women's political participation.

The students raised a number of questions and made several recommendations to the participants in order to enhance the participation of the young in the discussion of public issues and the development of public policies related to the political role of women and to support communication between them and officials and decision-makers.

The event started with BAU President Professor Amr Galal El-Adawi and Head of the Media Department Dr. Gamal Mujahed welcoming the participants and stressing that BAU supports enhancing the role of women at all levels not only in the political realm.

President of the National Commission for Lebanese Women Ms. Claudine Aoun Roukoz noted that the percentage of female candidates increased in the recent elections, but this was not reflected in the presence of women in the Lebanese Parliament, pointing out that women do not vote for female candidates but for a list that is compatible with their political stance.

She also maintained that the National Commission has called for a transitional quota to activate the participation of women in political life, considering that waiting for real equality only is useless at the moment. She added, "Laws reveal a significant prejudice against women. We as a national entity for women's affairs have many law suggestions which we will submit soon. Though women’s participation in the government is represented by 4 ministers out of 30, this is considered an achievement and a great progress at the level of female presence in the government.”

Continuing her speech, she said that the political presence of women needs a law and she encouraged the initiative of Prime Minister Saad Hariri to nominate women for the parliament and the government, adding that Hariri kept his word concerning women's presence in political life.

Within the context of the participation of women in the political parties, she stressed that females must get out of the shadows and impose themselves without allowing males to take the lead, adding "we are witnessing progress at all levels and the upcoming parliamentary elections will reflect this. Stereotypes change with the new generation."

MP Majid Edi Abi Al Lamaa, pointed out that there are many women in our patriarchal society who do not believe in the role of women in political life. "Here lies the danger. We must exert a great effort at the level of education at schools and universities to raise awareness about this subject,” he said.

Abi Lamaa assured that there are many discussions about the quota within the parties, considering that it is a kind of discrimination and imposing it is useless. He added, "Basically, it is linked to raising the young’s awareness through education in order to create a public opinion that is supportive of women's political participation, especially as there are many citizens who are against the quota, which is still considered a controversial issue."

As for the role of parties in supporting women's political participation, Abi -Lamaa expressed his hope for the new generation to change the current situation in the parties.

MP Elias Hanaksh, said that the current parliament members represent not only males but all citizens as well, especially as the problems in Lebanon are shared by men and women.

He pointed out that there is an improvement in the political participation of women through a set of indicators, for there are now six female parliament members and 4 ministers, as well as the post of Minister of Interior in the Middle East for the first time.

He also expressed his support for the approval of the quota, especially as all countries that have shown progress in the field of raising the political representation of women had approved the quota.

Laury Haytian, the candidate for the parliamentary elections, said that most of the female candidates who took part in the elections don’t belong to any party. They accepted the challenge to encourage the new generation to join the political domain. "There is a stereotype concept that women don’t understand politics which we tried to change in the previous elections," she continued.

Concerning the role of parties in supporting women's political participation, Haytian said that parties were not supportive as females’ candidates were absent from the election lists. The parties do not want the quota in order to maintain their posts and their gains. "We are witnessing a non-traditional situation in the political life; it is a transitional phase and civil society has played its political role, but the best way for women to achieve political presence is through the party, so the battle must take place within the parties for the women's involvement in the political life."

It is worth mentioning that DAWRAK project aims at enhancing women's participation in public affairs. In this context, the project resulted in a set of basic priorities for activating the role of women, including the promotion of women's political participation and civil status law. Therefore, DAWRAK launched two advocacy campaigns around these two priorities.

MP Mrs. Bahia Hariri Honors Research Leader Women from Beirut Arab University

https://www.bau.edu.lb/Public-Relations/Event/MP-Mrs-Bahia-Hariri-Honors-Research-Leader-Women-from-Beirut-Arab-University

Believing in the role played by distinctive and special women who are marked in the Lebanese Society, and embracing such women in the field of Researches and Leadership, the Dean of Health Sciences and the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research at Beirut Arab University, Prof. Rajaa Fakhoury and Prof. Hania Nakkash have been honored as women leaders in research in Lebanon in an event that took place in the Lebanese parliament, in the presence of Beirut Arab University President Prof. Amr Galal El-Adawi, on September 1, 2016. 

The event was organized by the National Initiative for the Centennial of Greater Lebanon, “Lebanon, the State of Knowledge” which is an initiative launched by Mrs. Bahia Hariri in remembrance of the declaration of the State of Greater Lebanon in September 1920. 
The ceremony celebrated the efforts and achievements of Lebanese women in the field of education and highlighted the importance of their role in maintaining Lebanon as a “state of knowledge.” Thirty-one Lebanese women were honored in this event, which was under the patronage of the Speaker of the Parliament of Lebanon, Nabih Berri.

“Women Between Constraints and Leadership” Arabic Recitation Contest at BAU

https://www.bau.edu.lb/Public-Relations/Event/Women-Between-Constraints-and-Leadership-Arabic-Recitation-Contest-at-BAU

For the tenth consecutive year, the Public Relations Administration at Beirut Arab University organized the Arabic Recitation Contest entitled “Arab Women between Constraints and Leadership”, under the patronage of HE Mr. Jean Oghassabian, the Minister of Women’s Affairs.

The event was opened by Ms. Rima Chehab who welcomed the guests. This was followed by a documentary on the topic of the competition. Then, Prof. Amr Galal El Adawi, President of BAU pointed out that the aim of the contest is not merely to advance Arabic as a language, but also to find out about what the youth have to say on issues relevant to the society.

H.E. Mr. Oghassabian praised the competition, stating that the constraints and restrictions prevent women from exploring their potentials to the full within the constitutional organizations or the public sector. Women are hardly ever given the full space to become an added value within these institutions.

He also added that women have proven themselves in all the fields in life, ranging from engineering to medicine and informatics. However, the patriarchal society does not yet allow her to become a member of parliament, although she would be an important addition to its performance. It is not a matter of looks or image, but rather the country’s need to benefit from women.

This was followed by the 20 performances of students from the following universities: Lebanese American School, Jinan University, Notre Dame University, Antonine University, Holly Spirit of Kaslik University, American University of Beirut, Manar University, Islamic University of Lebanon, Balamand University, Lebanese University in addition to Beirut Arab University.

Each student’s performance was followed by a question from the jury which consisted of the Journalist Bassam Barrak, Journalist Dolly Ghanem and Journalist Neamat Azouri Oussi who came to their final scores in accordance with the competition rules.

The First Winner of the competition was Rasha Zaher Attia from BAU- Tripoli Campus for the amount of three thousand dollars, the second prize went for Gina Joseph Moussa from Holly Spirit of Kaslik University for the amount of two thousand dollars while the third prize went for Mariam Faisal Haidar from Jinan University for the amount of one thousand dollars.

During the event, Prof. El Adawi, presented certificates of appreciation to all the participants, in addition to Honorary Trophies for the members of the jury as an appreciation.