Expanding Education
“ It came to our attention that these programs that are very much interlinked should be in one school.” —Elie Badr
Expanding Education: LAU Joint Ventures New School of Architecture and Design gathers
Acting Dean of the School of Architecture and Design, Dr. Elie Badr
explained, describing the process of starting up the new entity. With time, however, he hopes to create a strategic plan for the school and identify additional programs to help its growth. “Lebanon is very well known for its jewelry and fashion design,” he said. “These are some ideas that we will think about in expanding the school.” Industrial design might also be considered. Badr explained that any new programs would have to be “suitable for the country and for the region.” He added that Lebanon and the region do not have many institutions that focus on the field of design, so the new school will serve the industry well with its existing and impending programs. “With the foundation of the new Architecture and Design School, LAU has once again revealed its remarkable determination to break boundaries, test limits and excel in all its endeavors and undertakings,” said LAU President Joseph G. Jabbra. “The school’s establishment, derived from the same core values that have for decades kept LAU moving forward and cemented our moral and academic prominence, will offer specialized and student-tailored academic programs for outstanding theoretical and practical education.” The school is fully recognized by the Lebanese government, and an amendment to LAU’s charter by the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York is in progress.
& alumni bulletin
LAU continues to grow, and this year it added another new school: The School of Architecture and Design, which brings together existing programs in architecture, interior design, graphic design and fine arts. Previously, the architecture and interior design programs were offered under the School of Engineering and Architecture, while graphic design and fine arts were part of the School of Arts and Sciences. The reshuffling was necessary to better organize the university’s design and art programs. “Bringing all these disciplines together in a single school of design brings more cohesion, and thus strengthens these programs that were [formerly] operating under different administrative units,” said LAU Provost Dr. Abdallah Sfeir. “It came to our attention that these programs that are very much interlinked should be in one school,” said the new school’s Acting Dean Dr. Elie Badr, who also serves as assistant provost for academic programs and professor of mechanical engineering. Sfeir spearheaded the initiative last year but had the idea to create the school four years ago. “Beirut is a hub for all creative disciplines in the Middle East, and it is very befitting that LAU capitalizes on this in its offerings,” he said. Badr will initially direct his attention to building a solid foundation for the school, focusing on financial, governance and marketing issues. “You have to give [the school] an identity. You have to create bylaws for it. You have to create its own budget,” he
By LAU Staff
“ With the foundation of the new Architecture and Design School, LAU has once again revealed its remarkable determination to break boundaries, test limits and excel in all its endeavors and undertakings.” —Dr. Joseph G. Jabbra, LAU President page 29
VOLUME 12 | issue nº 1 | Spring 2010
design and art programs under one roof