La Rochelle, France – The University of Balamand (UOB) and the University of La Rochelle (ULR) in France signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish a formal framework that advances academic collaboration between the two forward-thinking young universities. This MOU crowns a history of outstanding cooperation between the two institutions that goes back to 2013. The MOU marks the beginning of a new era of collaboration between the two universities, especially as this is the first MOU that ULR has signed with a university from Lebanon. The visit was actually part of a mobility to La Rochelle organized by the Erasmus+ Project SWaTH that UOB is coordinating.
The delegation from the University of Balamand consisted of Prof. Rami Abboud (Vice President for Internationalization and Engagement and Dean of the Faculty of Engineering), Prof. Henri El Zakhem (Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering), Dr. Makram El Bachawati (Assistant Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering and Coordinator of the Erasmus+ SWaTH Project), Mrs. Mantoura Nakad (Assistant Dean for Administration and VP Office Manager), and Mr. Michael Salem (Assistant to the Vice President for Engagement and Director of Student Affairs). Prof. Rami Abboud signed the MOU on behalf of President Dr. Elias Warrak, and President Prof. Jean-Marc Ogier signed it from ULR’s side. Prior to the signature, Professor Ogier, who chairs the first governing board of EU-Conexus, received the delegation in his office, where he discussed several EU Scale initiatives that ULR is leading.
The MOU provides opportunities for advancing collaboration across various disciplines in teaching and research programs and paves the way for further collaboration. This multidisciplinary approach to academic cooperation is critical for addressing the complex challenges facing the world today and addressing them with sustainable solutions.
During the visit, the UOB delegation met with several senior administrators at ULR, including vice presidents, deans, directors, and the international relations team. The meetings were an excellent opportunity to exchange ideas and explore potential areas of collaboration between the two universities.
Professor Rami Abboud, who led the delegation, stressed the importance of international collaboration and multidisciplinary approaches in addressing global challenges. “The MOU between UOB and ULR is a significant step towards achieving our goal of promoting multidisciplinary, international collaboration, and exchange of expertise. In today’s globalized world, working together across borders and disciplines is more critical than ever to find sustainable solutions to society’s complex challenges.”