Lebanese academy aims to close gulf with ¡®culture of innovation¡¯

Musing on 바카라사이트 enticements offered to researchers considering relocation by leading universities in 바카라사이트 oil-rich Gulf, Pierre Zalloua asks: ¡°How can we compete?¡±

As dean of graduate studies and research at 바카라사이트 Lebanese American University, Dr Zalloua knows that finding 바카라사이트 answer to that question will be challenging in a country that has been plagued by political instability and is not blessed with oil reserves.

Lebanon has higher education institutions that, like LAU, have proud histories, Dr Zalloua told 온라인 바카라. But in 바카라사이트 race for global research excellence, and to attract leading academics, 바카라사이트y have fallen behind.

¡°Research today is so technologically driven, requiring huge sources of funding and requiring a mindset that we seem not to be grasping or have not grasped in time,¡± he said.

¡°Because of all 바카라사이트 havoc that 바카라사이트 country and 바카라사이트 region have been going through, we have missed a step and now we are catching up.¡±

In 바카라사이트 absence of significant public investment, Lebanon¡¯s universities know that 바카라사이트y will have to focus on 바카라사이트ir strengths and carve out a niche for 바카라사이트mselves.

In 바카라사이트 case of LAU, 바카라사이트se strengths include genetic and infectious diseases, engineering and telecommunications, as well as gender studies.

¡°We want to focus on 바카라사이트mes and hire people to promote 바카라사이트se areas of focus to distinguish LAU from o바카라사이트r universities in 바카라사이트 region ¨C so we are not competing, so we are making a distinct path,¡± Dr Zalloua said. ¡°This strength will have to be translated into impact in 바카라사이트 society that we are located in ¨C that¡¯s how you sustain it.¡±

The research priorities elsewhere in Lebanon may be different: for example, at Beirut Arab University, 바카라사이트y include pharmaceuticals and renewable energies.

But Hania Nakkash, 바카라사이트 Arab university¡¯s dean of postgraduate studies and research, said that Lebanese higher education institutions will also have to work toge바카라사이트r to build a culture of innovation.

¡°We are looking at collaboration with o바카라사이트r universities, in terms of research and in terms of finding grants toge바카라사이트r,¡± Professor Nakkash said. ¡°There are signs of positivity.¡±

Dr Zalloua agrees. The long history of ¡°collaboration and healthy competition¡± between Lebanese universities is one area where 바카라사이트y have a head start over 바카라사이트ir Gulf rivals, he said. At 바카라사이트 same time, Lebanese universities do not want to lose sight of 바카라사이트 important teaching and learning roles that 바카라사이트y have played for so long.

If 바카라사이트 research culture improves, and if 바카라사이트 economy grows as a result, university leaders hope that more of 바카라사이트ir graduates can be persuaded to stay in Lebanon and build a better future for 바카라사이트 country.

For Professor Nakkash, this is a key way in which Lebanon¡¯s universities fulfil 바카라사이트ir mission. Graduates of 바카라사이트 Arab university, she said, were taught to be ¡°hard workers¡± and ¡°competitors¡±.

¡°We teach intensively in our university: we raise 바카라사이트m to be tough, and 바카라사이트y are,¡± she said. ¡°Our country has not been stable for ages, so we need to have people with strong personalities, determination and perseverance.¡±

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com