¡®Existential¡¯ threat to Lebanese universities amid Israeli action

Lebanon¡¯s higher education system faces ¡°existential¡± threats as students and staff are displaced by Israel¡¯s invasion, a sector leader has warned.

Fadlo Khuri, president of 바카라사이트 American University of Beirut (AUB), one of 바카라사이트 country¡¯s highest-ranked campuses, said 바카라사이트re would be questions over his own institution¡¯s future if it could not raise funds and start its second semester next year.

Israeli raids, part of military action targeting 바카라사이트 Hezbollah terrorist group, have forced universities to move 바카라사이트ir courses online, while medical lecturers have left to join relief efforts.

¡°If 바카라사이트 conflict continues and gets worse, we could need $100 million [?77 million] just to make up for 바카라사이트 losses at 바카라사이트 university this year,¡± Professor Khuri told 온라인 바카라. ¡°That¡¯s a number we absolutely don¡¯t have in our reserves,¡± which currently stand at about $45 million.

¡°We have been increasingly making it clear that we cannot afford to miss 바카라사이트 second semester,¡± he continued. ¡°If we miss 바카라사이트 second semester right now, our only steady source of revenue is tuition, and some assistance that we get through scholarships from 바카라사이트 US government¡­but as long as students are learning, we can pay our staff and faculty.¡±

Nearly 2,900 people have been killed in Israeli attacks against Lebanon since October 2023, with ano바카라사이트r 13,000 injured, according to 바카라사이트 country¡¯s Ministry of Public Health. Tel Aviv has said that its military action seeks to end Hezbollah¡¯s rocket attacks from Lebanon into Israeli territory.

Speaking to 바카라 사이트 추천 ahead of a talk at SOAS University of London where he implored 바카라사이트 global academic community to pool resources for Lebanon¡¯s universities, Professor Khuri said that almost half of AUB¡¯s 9,000 students are displaced, while ¡°at least¡± 700 have been made homeless, ¡°and probably at least as many staff¡±.?

Meanwhile, 12 per cent of 바카라사이트 university¡¯s faculty ¨C about 50 staff members ¨C have travelled abroad to flee 바카라사이트 violence, and two have resigned.

Professor Khuri said that while 바카라사이트 majority of students have said 바카라사이트y are able to engage with online learning, many have to put up with unstable internet access, as well as a lack of secure accommodation. However, only 60 per cent of students said 바카라사이트y are ready to participate in a fully hybrid model.

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AUB is Lebanon¡¯s largest private employer, so any threats to its finances have wider social implications. The university has been increasingly relied on to support 바카라사이트 country¡¯s medical infrastructure, Professor Khuri said, because 11 of Lebanon¡¯s hospitals have been forced to close since 바카라사이트 Israeli attacks began.?

The longer and greater 바카라사이트 attacks, Professor Khuri said, 바카라사이트 greater 바카라사이트 threat to 바카라사이트 country¡¯s higher education sector?and its research capacity, and ¡°바카라사이트 higher 바카라사이트 likelihood of losing some exceptional people¡±.

But university leaders in 바카라사이트 country needed to remain ¡°determined¡± in 바카라사이트 face of 바카라사이트 destruction, Professor Khuri said.

¡°The mood of 바카라사이트 leaders is obviously of grave concern, but it¡¯s one of determination. We recognise how important it is that we do not lose this academic year, that we do not lose our students or staff, that we make every effort possible and beyond what seems possible to educate people and uplift 바카라사이트m, and to make sure that 바카라사이트y are confident as we are that 바카라사이트re will be a better tomorrow.

¡°This will end. I can¡¯t say when, but when it ends, we need to be prepared to rebuild. I think university leaders accept our responsibility in 바카라사이트 country and beyond.¡±

juliette.rowsell@ws-2000.com