Government Engagement Platform - AUB

Shaping Lebanon’s AI future starts with an open conversation about its possibilities—and the concerns that must be addressed. As part of its ongoing collaboration with @mitailebanon under the Memorandum of Understanding signed last December, @AUB_Lebanon, through its @GEP_AUB, hosted “Shaping Lebanon’s AI Future: A Consultation on the Draft National AI Strategy” on October 28, bringing faculty and students into a national dialogue on Lebanon’s AI priorities. H.E. Dr. @ShehadiKamal , Minister of State for Technology and Artificial Intelligence, presented the draft National AI Strategy 2032 and emphasized the urgency of engaging with the technological shift already underway. He invited faculty and students to challenge the draft and offer candid, critical feedback to help strengthen it. AUB Provost @ZaherDawy highlighted how the University is responding through its new School of Computing and Data Sciences, the CMA CGM Artificial Intelligence and Insights Institute, and investment in faculty and student talent. He also highlighted the Faculty Research Stimulus Fund for Policy Impact and the Government Talent Program as pathways for connecting that expertise with public-sector needs. In his welcoming remarks, GEP Managing Director @feljardali emphasized AUB’s role as a partner in addressing national priorities, bringing research, evidence, and expertise across disciplines to support informed decisions. The discussion gave faculty and students space to share their questions, concerns, and hopes for AI in Lebanon, examining the strategy’s ambitions, priorities for the first year of implementation, and the foundations of public trust. These exchanges are central to GEP’s work: bringing government and academia together so that national efforts benefit from the knowledge and critical questions of the university community.

Connecting student talent with public purpose: GEP launches the Government Talent Program @GEP_AUB at the @AUB_Lebanon launched the Government Talent Program, a first-of-its-kind program creating a structured channel for students to put their knowledge into practice and contribute to the work of government and public institutions. @AUB_Lebanon students have already demonstrated what this engagement can achieve through projects with ministries and public institutions. The program builds on these experiences to make meaningful contributions to public-sector work a sustained part of student life at American University of Beirut. The launch brought together AUB President @DrFadloKhuri , Provost @ZaherDawy, government partners, faculty members, colleagues, students, and alumni to explore this next step. At the heart of the event were students and alumni sharing their experiences working with government. Moderated by Government Talent Program Student Program Lead Alain Maliha, who also introduced the program, the panel brought the connection between learning and public service into focus. Through student clubs and societies, faculty-integrated projects, and other channels, the program will enable students to: 1- Apply their skills to practical challenges facing public institutions. 2- Gain firsthand experience of government work and public-sector priorities. 3- Help shape their country’s future through meaningful contributions to public service. GEP Managing Director @feljardali welcomed “a new chapter in how @AUB_Lebanon students contribute to the work of government and public institutions,” building on the achievements of student teams whose knowledge and ideas have already supported this engagement. American University of Beirut President @DrFadloKhuri emphasized a purpose at the core of the University’s mission: developing students’ agency and nurturing citizens who belong to their country and take an active role in building a better future. Reflecting on the vision of AUB’s founders, he highlighted how co-curricular activities and student life help translate this mission into practice. To learn more about the Government Talent Program and explore opportunities to get involved, connect with the @GEP_AUB at [email protected].

As part of the Memorandum of Understanding between @AUB_Lebanon and @MOILebanon, @AUB_Lebanon, through @GEP_AUB, hosted the EDGE – Export Development for Growth and Employment: Cross-Sector Consultation Session on August 20th at @ifi_aub. Led by @MOILebanon, funded by @EUinLebanon, developed and implemented by @TPILebanon, @BeyondGroup_ , and InfoPro Research, the EDGE initiative aims to support export development, economic growth, and employment in Lebanon through a cross-sector approach. The consultation focused on the Agrifood and Electrical & Machinery sectors, bringing together relevant stakeholders and expertise to discuss diagnostic findings, examine priority initiatives, exchange perspectives, and identify opportunities for collaboration. AUB faculty contributed their expertise to the discussions, bringing academic perspectives into a broader multi-stakeholder conversation on strengthening Lebanon’s export and productive sectors. @GEP_AUB works to create meaningful spaces that connect academic expertise with policy processes and multi-stakeholder engagement, supporting collaborative and evidence-informed approaches to Lebanon’s development priorities.