Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
in Lebanon
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Interdisciplinary Engineering Education …………………..…….….....… 71
Charles Yaacoub, Ph.D, Holy-Spirit University of Kaslik.
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كلمة وزير الرتبية والتعليم العايل
الربوف�سور ح�سان دياب
اإن التطور ال�ضريع الذي طراأ على قطاع التعليم العايل على مدى العقود املا�ضية ،والذي اأدى اإىل هذا النم ّو الذي
ن�ضهده يف العديد من الدول املتقدمة ،قد انعك�س ب�ضكل طبيعي على تطور التعليم الهند�ضي مبا يتالئم والتغيريات
التي فر�ضتها احلداثة ،واإذا كان التعليم هو من اأهم العوامل التي ت�ضهم يف تطوير املجتمعات ،فال ّ
�ضك باأنّ
املهند�ضني والعلماء والباحثني ي�ضكلون القاعدة الأ�ضا�ضية للتقدم والتطور التكنولوجي.
ولع ّل اأهم التحديات التي تواجه التعليم الهند�ضي يف هذا القرن ،هي التي تتم ّثل يف وجوب تطوير منظومة تعليمية
متكاملة حتقق للمهند�س ميزة ن�ضبية وتناف�ضية يف ظل مفاهيم العوملة واخل�ضخ�ضة ،علم ًا باأن اأمناط التفكري
والتعليم والأن�ضاق املعرفية التي كانت حتكم فل�ضفة التعليم يف ال�ضابق ،قد تعر�ضت لتغريات عديدة وبخا�ضة فيما
يتع ّلق بنظرية التع ّلم والإبداع ،ومناهج وتكنولوجيا التعليم.
وعلى �ضعيد اآخر فاإ ّننا نرى باأنّ النمو ال�ضريع للتقنية قد �ضاعد يف ن�ضر املعرفة ب�ضرعة فائقة ،كما اأتاح الفر�س
والإمكانات اأمام تناول املعلومات والبيانات وقد جنم عن ذلك تاأثري كبري على التقدم امللحوظ يف مهنة الهند�ضة
يف الوقت احلا�ضر.
ومن املالحظ اأي�ض ًا هذه الزيادة العاملية يف القوه العاملة يف املجال الهند�ضي تزداد رغم تناق�ضها يف اأمريكا
واأوروبا .ا ّإل اأن هذه الزيادة تكاد اأن تنح�ضر يف دول جنوب �ضرق اآ�ضيا .ومما يتبني بو�ضوح اأي�ضاأ اأن التغيري يف
التعليم الهند�ضي يف ال�ضنوات الأخرية املا�ضية قد رافقه اتفاق عام وعاملي لإعادة هيكلة املنهج الهند�ضي ليتمكن
من تلبية متطلبات املجتمع.
وبالن�ضبة لنا يف لبنان فث ّمة تطور ملحوظ يف ميدان التعليم العايل مع الرتكيز على علوم الهند�ضة والتكنولوجيا،
اإذ ازداد عدد املوؤ�ض�ضات التي تدر�س برامج الهند�ضة من 7قبل العام 1995اإىل 15حاليا .وبلغ عدد الطالب يف
الخت�ضا�ضات الهند�ضية املختلفة يف العام 2010ما يناهز 15500طالب وطالبة .كما اأن عدد طالبي اإذن مزاولة
مهنة الهند�ضة قد ارتفع من 1524يف العام 2005اإىل 2550يف العام 2011منهم 2143من اجلامعات داخل
لبنان.
وعلى الرغم من اأنّ التعليم الهند�ضي يرتكز على منهجيات و�ضوابط ومعايري ترتبط باملحيط املحلي والإقليمي
والدويل ،اإل اأن هذا التعليم يف لبنان وبع�س الدول العربية واإن كان قد قارب م�ضتوى املعايري العاملية ،اإل اأ ّنه ما
يزال بعيدً ا عن بلوغ الكثري من هذه املعايري.
لذلك فاإ ّنه ل بد لنا من اإدخال اإ�ضالحات جذرية يف هذا املجال .اأولها العمل على تطوير معايري وموؤ�ضرات واآليات
ل�ضمان اجلودة ،وتطبيق نظم اجلودة يف املوؤ�ض�ضات والربامج عامة .واأود يف هذه املنا�ضبة اأن اأحيي تلك اجلامعات
يف لبنان التي اإنخرطت يف م�ضرية �ضمان اجلودة والعتماد لرباجمها ،عرب هيئة العتماد المريكية ،ABETكما
اأن هناك العديد من اجلامعات اللبنانية الأخرى ت�ضعى حالي ًا للح�ضول على العتماد من .ABET
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وي�ضرين يف هذه املنا�ضبة اأي�ض ًا اأن اأ�ضري اإىل اأ ّننا يف وزارة الرتبية والتعليم العايل ما نزال نعمل جاهدين� ،ضوا ًء يف
جمل�س الوزراء اأو يف جمل�س النواب ،لإقرار قانونني على متا�س مبا�ضر مع مو�ضوع تطوير التعليم العايل ،و�ضمان
و�ضبط اجلودة فيه ،وهما قانون التعليم العايل اجلديد الذي تقدمنا كثريا يف مناق�ضته يف جمل�س النواب ،وكذلك
قانون اإن�ضاء الهيئة اللبنانية ل�ضمان اجلودة يف التعليم العايل.
اإىل الدور املنوط بالنقابة على �ضعيد التعليم امل�ضتمر ،اإىل القيم واأخالقيات املهنة ،وما اإىل ذلك من ال�ضوؤون
وال�ضجون املتعلقة بالتعليم الهند�ضي وباملهند�س.
ختام ًا اأود اأن اأوجه التحية اإىل نقابة املهند�ضني يف لبنان واىل العاملني على تنظيم هذا املوؤمتر ،متمني ًا لكم جميع ًا
النجاح يف مناق�ضات بناءة تف�ضي اإىل تو�ضيات ت�ضهم يف رفع م�ضتوى املهنة وتعزيز مكانتها.
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كلمة رئي�س احتاد املهند�سني اللبنانيني
النقيب ايلي ب�سيب�س
ي�ضكل العلم ركيزة اأ�ضا�ضية يف ثقافة الأ�ضرة اللبنانية ،ويف مفهومها للتطور الجتماعي واملادي ،بحيث اأنه يوؤمن
القيمة امل�ضافة للفرد لتاأكيد ح�ضوره الفاعل يف املجتمع ،اأو يكون وديعة موؤمتنة يعود اإليها يف اأيام ال�ضدة.
وهذا لي�س غريب ًا على املجتمع يف لبنان فان لنخبه اليد الطوىل يف اإحياء النه�ضتني العلمية والأدبية يف الدول
العربية وكان ملدار�ضهم التي هي من اأقدم املوؤ�ض�ضات التعليمية الأثر البالغ يف املحيط مما ر�ضخ هذه النزعة اإىل
العلم يف �ضمري الفرد.
يحتل التعليم الهند�ضي حيز ًا كبري ًا يف هذا املجال نظر ًا اإىل عراقة كلياته ومعاهده ،فكلية الهند�ضة يف اجلامعة
الي�ضوعية �ضوف حتتفل يف العام املقبل باليوبيل املئوي على تاأ�ضي�ضها وبعد اأن كانت الوحيدة اأ�ضبحت اليوم
بالإ�ضافة اإىل ثمانية ع�ضرة من الكليات م�ضوؤولة عن تخريج طالب الهند�ضة.
مع تزايد اأعداد اخلريجني ويف غياب اأي توجيه هادف ومرتبط بخطة اقت�ضادية وا�ضحة لتاأمني فر�س العمل
وجدت نقابة املهند�ضني اأن من واجبها التحرك يف هذا املجال عن طريق تنظيم هذا املوؤمتر للو�ضول اإىل تو�ضيات
يف املحاور التالية:
)1تطوير الربامج التعليمية لتكون اأكرث مالئمة ملتطلبات ال�ضوق والتحولت القت�ضادية يف املجتمع اللبناين.
)2اإقرار معايري جديدة للرتخي�س لكليات الهند�ضة و�ضرورة متابعة تطبيقها واللتزام بها.
� )3ضرورة اعتماد توجيه مهني من قبل وزارة الرتبية وتطوير التعليم املهني.
� )4ضرورة اللتزام مبعايري علمية يفر�س توفرها يف طالب الهند�ضة واعتماد امتحان جدارة يلزم الطالب.
اإننا واإذ نتفهم مبداأ دميقراطية التعليم وباأن تزايد اأعداد اجلامعات الهند�ضية يف لبنان هو لتلبية الطلب خا�ضة
واأن لبنان هو مق�ضد اإن يف قطاعه الطبي اأو التعليمي لرعايا الدول العربية ولكن اأعداد اخلريجني اللبنانيني من
هذه املعاهد اأ�ضبحت ت�ضكل م�ضكلة ظاهرة ول طاقة للبنان ببنيته القت�ضادية اأن يتحملها.
اإن �ضوق العمل يف دول اخلليج العربي مبا متثله من حل يف املدى املنظور هي �ضوق متقلبة ،وما الركود القت�ضادي
يف بع�س دولها والبطالة التي نتجت عن تباطئ النمو �ضوى اإ�ضارات تنباأ بالأ�ضواأ .اأما الهجرة اإىل البلدان الأوروبية
اأو اأمريكا �ضعي ًا اإىل العمل ،فما هي �ضوى نزف اقت�ضادي ومايل نظر ًا اإىل اأن هذه الكفاءات اللبنانية ق ّلما تعود اإىل
لبنان حتى واإن كانت تقوم بتحويالت مالية اإىل عائالتها املقيمة ،فاإن كلفة تعليم هذه النخب هي باهظة ونحتاج
اإىل ع�ضرات ال�ضنني لتغطيتها.
اإن التخمة يف اأعداد اخلريجني وهي �ضوف تقارب الـ 3000خريج �ضنوي ًا من املعاهد اللبنانية يقابلها نق�س فا�ضح
يف املهن امل�ضاعدة للهند�ضة وخا�ضة يف جمال البناء من مهنيني وحرفيني وعمالة ماهرة مما يجعل اقت�ضادنا
اأ�ضري ًا وعاجز ًا اأمام عمالة اأجنبية هي يف اأغلبها ل تتمتع باخلربة واملهارة الكافيتني.
امل يحني الوقت لتخاذ اإجراءات وتدارك األزمات قبل وقوعها اأم نرتك كم�ضوؤولني ال�ضاب اللبناين يف �ضعيه وراء
جنار ي�ضعها يف اإطار خ�ضبي اأو متحى حروفها لكرثة بحث �ضاحبها عن �ضهادات مكلفة يخف بريقها لأنها ل جتد ّ
عمل في�ضطر مرغما» لتغذية ال�ضفوف املنتظرة اأمام ال�ضفارات.
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ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Paul Hage
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من التعليم اإىل املمار�شة وامل�شاركة
املهند�س املعمار ،هذا الإن�ضان الطامح اإىل الكمال واجلمال ،الذي يريد باأفكاره املبدعة اخلالقة
ت�ضحيح م�ضار املجتمعات واملحافظة على قيمها وتراثها وتاريخها.
املهند�س املعمار هو امل�ضوؤول عن ت�ضكيل البيئة املبنية برتاثها وجديدها ،وامل�ضوؤول عن مقاربتها
الإ�ضكاليات ال�ضائدة وعن تقدمي بدائل واقرتاح حلول.
املهند�س املعمار هو القادر على ا�ضتنباط الفكر والأفكار من اجلدليات واحلركيات الجتماعية
وال�ضيا�ضية والقت�ضادية ،وحتويلها اإىل فراغات معمارية تنب�س باحلياة ،ت�ضتكمل فيها هذه
اجلدليات حراكها وبحثها عن الإجابات ،وت�ضكل معها عمارة حقيقية �ضلبة قادرة على مواجهة
احلداثة واملعا�ضرة واإيجاد بدائل اأ�ضيلة نابعة من ذاتها وقادرة على ال�ضتقرار وال�ضتدامة.
املهند�س املعمار هذا اجلريء املعتز بقدراته الفكرية والتقنية ،الدافئ بنور ال�ضم�س واملطمئن بظلها،
يحيا ويبدع يف كل الأمنكة :على اجلبال كما يف الوديان وعلى ال�ضواحل ،ومن املفرو�س اأنه قادر على
التعامل مع اأي بيئة طبيعية وجدت من دون ارتكاب اجلرائم.
اإن هذا هو املعمار بذاته الذي �ضمم ونفذ املباين التي حتا�ضرنا من كل جنب و�ضوب ،وهو امل�ضوؤول
عن اأ�ضكالها واألوانها التي تلوث الأب�ضار ،قد نكون عمينا ول نعرف.
وهذا املعمار اأتقن فن امل�ضاومة واملقاي�ضة و حتى املكاب�ضة ،وقبل بتقييم انتاجه املعماري على اأ�ضا�س
كم امل�ضاحة املربعة املقتن�ضة من نوعية احلياة ذات الأفق املفتوح ،ومدى ان�ضياعه لقوانني التنظيم
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املدين الغريبة املنطق والأطوار.
هذا املهند�س املعمار املكبل واملحبط الذي بات ينتج الأحجام ال�ضماء البكماء ،اجلاثمة على جوانب
الأر�ضفة ،ترتب�س لالإن�ضان املقاوم للتجهيل لت�ضلب منه حقه يف العي�س الكرمي .ما من اإن�ضان ي�ضتطيع
اأن يحيا يف هذه الفراغات املعمارية من دون اأن ت�ضلب منه حرية فكره وح�ضا�ضيته باجلمال و حتى
اإح�ضا�ضه الغريزي ي�ضبح م�ضو�ضا ،فيقنع نف�ضه بهذه الفراغات املعمارية القلقة والفارغة والبلهاء،
على اأنها ال�ضواب الفكري واجلمال احل�ضي.
اخلوف على اجليل الذي يعي�س �ضمن هذه الفراغات ول يعرف غريها ،فهي بالن�ضبة اإليه امل�ضاحة
احلركية املرجع يف ت�ضكيل فكره وحركة ج�ضده ،وهي املحفز جلدليته الفكرية وعالقته مع قيمه
الجتماعية وتراثه وكيانه ،فهل هذا املعمار الناجح يف البناء ويف تعبئة كل الفراغات بال�ضجيج
والتلوث مدرك لبعد فعلته وقادر على حتمل م�ضوؤوليته؟
هذا هو تو�ضيف املهند�س املعمار الذي ميار�س مهنة بكبيعتها حتمل بعدا وعمقا بنيويا يف املجتمع،
ولدوره اأهمية يف الت�ضكيل الجتماعي ووعي املكان .اإن هذا املهند�س اليوم يعاين من �ضكيزوفرينيا
تق�ضم فكره واإدراكه عاموديا حتت عنوانني رئي�ضيني متقابلني :ثقافته املعمارية من جهة وواقع
ممار�ضة املهنة من جهة مقابلة.
اإننا خالل فرتة التعليم اجلامعي ننجح يف تعريف طالب العمارة على الهموم املعمارية :الإن�ضانية
والجتماعية واملدينية ...كما ندربه على التعبري ال�ضكلي عن روؤاه املعمارية وندربه على تقنيات
الر�ضم ،التقليدية منها واحلديثه ،لتكون هي لغته املعمارية املعتمدة .ورويدا رويدا �ضاهمنا يف فتورة
العالقة مع التقنيات الكال�ضيكية واأبعدناه عنها بطريقة مبا�ضرة اأو غري مبا�ضرة ،ودفعناه باجتاه
احلديث والتكنولوجيا ،مبا يف ذلك من �ضلبيات واإيجابيات.
اإن فرتة الدرا�ضة اجلامعية هي الفر�ضة الوحيدة التي يتم فيها فعل تراكم املعرفة املطلوبة لت�ضكيل
املفهوم املعماري وزرع املكونات املطلوبة لتكوين ال�ضخ�ضية املعمارية باأبعادها الإن�ضانية واملهنية،
وتدريب العقل لي�ضبح قادرا على التعامل مع الإ�ضكالت ال�ضائدة ومقاربتها باإيجابية.
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يبداأ طالب العمارة حياته يف ال�ضروح اجلامعية ب�ضنتني من املحبة والإيجابية والدفع اإىل الأمام.
ينتقل بعدها اإىل ثالث �ضنوات عجاف ،يتحول خاللها اإىل ثائر مدافع عن ق�ضايا الفكر واحلريات
واجلمال .فنتعهد �ضبط جموحه وحتديد فكره بحجج العلم واخلربة والتجارب اخلا�ضة ،لينت�ضر
الطالب يف النهاية ،ونحن ننت�ضر بالطبع ،من خالل م�ضروع تخرج ينال اإثره الطالب �ضهادته يف
العمارة ،ويح�ضل تلقائيا بعدها على اإذن مزاولة املهنة ،التي هي مبثابة تاأ�ضرية دخول اإىل عامل
البناء اجلذاب باأبعاده املادية والجتماعية...
هذا هو عامل املهند�س املعماري الذي يحرك داخله ،هذا العامل الهالمي الذي مي�س احلياة بكل
زواياها .وميكن لهذا العامل اأن يتمدد ليغطي مدينة باأكملها اأو اأن ينكم�س لي�ضبح بحجم مبنى �ضكني
اأو بيت...
اإن الختالف ل �ضيما الت�ضارب بني امل�ضمون الأكادميي لخت�ضا�س الهند�ضة املعمارية من جهة،
وبني اإ�ضكاليات املمار�ضة املعمارية وواقعنا الجتماعي وال�ضيا�ضي والقت�ضادي من جهة ثانية ،ي�ضع
املعماري اأمام خيارات مت�ضاربة ،بني طموح جمح اإىل اجلمال وال�ضدق ،اأو الإ�ضت�ضالم واعتناق
اجلهل ل�ضمان �ضريان العمل وممار�ضة املهنة.
اإن مدار�س تعليم العمارة يف لبنان ترتكز يف مناهجها التعليمية على اأحد الجتاهني :اجتاه مدر�ضة
الفنون اجلميلة الفرن�ضية ( )Baux Artsاأو اجتاه املعهد الأملاين ( )BauHausاملعتمد من قبل
املدار�س الأمرييكية .وبع�س اجلامعات حاولت دمج الجتاهني و�ضول اإىل ت�ضوية بني اأوروبا واأمرييكا،
قطبي العامل املتح�ضر.
اإن هذين الجتاهني املعماريني تكونا يف ظل ظروف وتفاعالت �ضيا�ضية واجتماعية واقت�ضادية معينة
اأدت اإىل ت�ضكيلهما .واإن اعتماد اأحد هذين الجتاهني الغربيني يف مدار�س العمارة يف لبنان يف
البدايات اأثمر وقاد النطالقة املعمارية منذ بداياتها ،وقد حقق اإجنازات ومكت�ضبات اأهمها تقدمي
بع�س رواد العمارة ملفهوم احلداثة وبناء اأهم املباين على طراز احلداثة يف بريوت وغريها .اإمنا مع
منو املجتمعات وت�ضاعف تعقيداتها وتداخل ظروفها ،اأ�ضبح هذين الجتاهني ذوي الرتكيب الغربي
املختلف بطبيعته ،اأ�ضبحا عاجزين عن ا�ضتيعاب اأو حتليل ا�ضكاليات وهموم جمتمعاتنا وبالتايل
Page | 17
حل عجز كامل عن ت�ضريف التحقني الجتماعي الناجت عن املتغريات ال�ضيا�ضية والقت�ضادية
والدميغرافية ،و عدم القدرة على طرح بدائل اأو حلول.
ولأن جامعاتنا ل زالت تتبنى هذه الجتاهات واملناهج املعلبة ،اأ�ضبحت مكبلة ومل ت�ضتطع لعب دورها
الطبيعي يف مقاربة اإ�ضكاليات جمتمعاتنا العربية بتعقيداتها وخ�ضو�ضيتها ،مما خلق فجوة بني
الثقافة واملجتمع ،بني املثقفني والعامة ،بني املهند�ضني وم�ضتخدمي الفراغات املعمارية ،بني اأ�ضحاب
القرار واأ�ضحاب الأرا�ضي ،مما حول جمتمعنا اإىل تكتالت تدور يف اأفالك �ضيقة جدا ،تثري ال�ضجة
ومتحي فر�ضة احلوار ،وتلغي اأية فر�ضة للتكامل.
التعليم ال�ضليم :املخرج الوحيد
اإن م�ضتوى التاأزم ،على م�ضتويات خمتلفة ،بلغ من الدرجة مما يحتم علينا التحرك ،على الأقل
خلو�س جتربة التغيري ولطرح مقاربات ناجتة عن تفاعالت جمتمعاتنا ،ل ا�ضترياد مقاربات وبدائل
غريبة.
اإن الوقت قد حان لتحمل امل�ضوؤولية ومواجهة واقع التغيري الذي يع�ضف باملنطقة كلها .فهو انتفا�ضة
على الذات اأول ومن ثم انتفا�ضة على الأنظمة وعلى �ضيا�ضاتها وفكرها النابع دائما من اأيديولوجيات
غربية ،مت فر�ضها على جمتمعاتنا بقبلية عربية وحتت �ضعارات زائفة ،وبذلك حكم علينا باجلهل
وعدم القدرة على املبادرة.
اإن العامل العربي منذ اأن كان يرزح حتت احلكم العثماين وخالل فرتة النتداب ،وخالل عهود
ال�ضتقاللت الواحد تلو ا ّلخر ،ما فتئ ي�ضتورد التجارب الأكادميية ،يرتجمها ،اأو ل يرتجمها،
ويتبناها.
اإن �ضرورة اإنقاذ ما تبقى تفر�س علينا اأخذ املبادرة وو�ضع مناهج م�ضوؤولة ملدار�س الهند�ضة
املعمارية ،تكون ناجتة عن تفاعالت جمتمعاتنا وبيئتنا وتاريخنا وتراثنا القدمي واحلديث .علينا
حتمل م�ضوؤولية معاناة جمتمعاتنا من مر�س انف�ضام ال�ضخ�ضية وت�ضارب لغاته واأحا�ضي�ضه،
والعرتاف باأن احلل يبداأ يف اجلامعات التي تكونت اأ�ضال لن�ضر املعرفة والرتقي باملعرفة الإن�ضانية
وحماربة اجلهل والتكتل .يجب و�ضع مناهج �ضفافة حقيقية قادرة على حت�ض�س احلراك الإن�ضاين
وال�ضيا�ضي يف املجتمع ،وقادرة على مراكمة املعرفة و�ضول اإىل طروحات طبيعية مقبولة لالإ�ضكالت
ال�ضائدة ،واأن نعي اأن ل تكون هذه املناهج تعوي�ضا زائفا لالإيديولوجيات املهزومة اأو رومن�ضية حتيي
Page | 18
نو�ضتاجليا الأطالل واملعلقات وتعبد الأوثان .اإن املناهج احلية الناب�ضة التفاعلية هي القادرة على
جتديد نف�ضها با�ضتمرار وعدم النزلق اإىل �ضرطان النمطية يف التعليم.
ويف هذا ال�ضياق ،جتدر الإ�ضارة اإىل معهد الفنون اجلميلة يف اجلامعة اللبنانية الذي يتدار�س منذ
العام 2004نظام التدري�س الف�ضلي وفقا لنظام ال .L.M.Dاملعتمد يف اأوروبا ،وقد اعتمد يف
اجلامعة اللبنانية وفق املر�ضوم . 2225وقد و�ضع معهد الفنون حتى ا ّلن �ضيغتني للمناهج وفق هذا
النظام ،وهو ا ّلن على م�ضارف اعتماد ال�ضيغة الثالثة التي �ضيعمل بها من العام 2012وحتى ،2018
علما باأن التو�ضل اإىل هذه ال�ضيغة كان من خالل عدد كبري من الجتماعات وور�س العمل والتباحث
وحتى التجارب ،وو�ضع روؤية هادفة و ّاليات تدري�س قادرة على حتقيق الأهداف الأكادميية لكل مادة،
والأهم �ضمان تكامل العملية التعليمية واأن ل يوؤدي نظام التدري�س الف�ضلي املرتكز على الأر�ضدة
اإىل تفكيك الكيان ال�ضمويل للعمارة وحتويلها اإىل رزمة مواد تنمو كل واحدة منها يف اجتاه خمتلف.
عمل معهد الفنون جاهدا لتحديد املعمار الذي نريد لبناء املجتمع وترميم �ضدوعه ،ولتحديد
املمار�ضة التي نطمح اإليها للنهو�س واملواجهة ،وبحث عن كيفية حتقيق الرتكيبة الفكرية املطلوبة
لهذا املعمارّ ،اخذا بعني العتبار متطلبات �ضوق العمل ،املحلي واخلارجي ،واملتغريات التي حلت على
حركة املجتمع احلياتية ومتطلباته الوظيفية واجلمالية والتعبريية ...
دور النقابة يف تعزيز مناهج التعليم
اإن نقابة املهند�ضني با�ضتطاعتها اأن تلعب دورا اأ�ضا�ضيا يف تفعيل هذه املناهج من خالل �ضمان
ممار�ضة للمهنة حتمل الهموم احلقيقية للبيئة واملجتمع ،ممار�ضة تفتح احلوار مع املدينة والريف
على حد �ضواء ،تعمل على حتويل عالقتهما من الت�ضاد اإىل التكامل .ممار�ضة توؤمن اأن العمارة حق
عام وم�ضوؤولية اجتماعية واأنها عملية ت�ضاركية منفتحة قادرة على مراجعة نف�ضها يف كل ثانية تتن�ضق
فيها احلياة.
اإن النقابة هي اجل�ضم املعماري الذي هو على متا�س مع الهيئات احلكومية املخت�ضة ،وهي القادرة
على حماية املهنة من التجاذبات ال�ضيا�ضية والقت�ضادية ،ومنحها الهام�س املطلوب للحركة والتفاعل
والنتاج ،نظرا خل�ضو�ضية جمال هند�ضة العمارة وبعد تاأثرياته.
كما اأن النقابة قادرة على معاجلة الأعداد املتزايدة من الطالب القادمة على اخت�ضا�س هند�ضة
العمارة ،من خالل تعديل معايري النت�ضاب اإىل النقابة مثال ،اأو تعديل عملية منح كل اخلريجني
Page | 19
اإجازات عمل ت�ضمح لهم ممار�ضة املهنة ب�ضكل تلقائيّ ،اخذة يف احل�ضبان حاجات �ضوق العمل
وامل�ضتوى التعليمي وعالقته مبتطلبات البيئة.
ومن اأهم الأدوار التي با�ضتطتعة النقابة لعبها هو التعاون مع اجلامعات ومع كليات تعليم الهند�ضة
املعمارية جلهة لتفادي بع�س اإ�ضكاليات املمار�ضة ،النابعة من طرائق التعليم اأو من امل�ضامني التعليمية
للمناهج ،ومن خالل تعزيز الإيجابيات يف العملية الأكادميية التي من �ضاأنها اأن تثمر عمارة هادفة
مت�ضاحلة مع نف�ضها ومع حميطها.
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«Internationalization of Engineering Curriculum»
Since globalization affected the engineering practice all over the world, our
engineers became in need of a global experience along with a traditional
curriculum since the new world market place relies heavily on the brain
of engineers graduating from countries everywhere. Team work became a
crucial factor for the success of engineering firms which had to move to global
enterprising leading to hiring engineers from different cultures. Therefore, our
graduates must have in addition to a well designed engineering curriculum,
an international exposure and a better knowledge and understanding of
multicultural issues.
Introduction
Globalization has cancelled the distance between countries and lifted many
barriers leading to the necessity for better engagement with international
engineers (students and educators) from different parts of the world.
1 - Curriculum
a. Foreign languages
b. General knowledge
c. Engineering degrees
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2 - Mobility agreements
a. Students’ exchange programs
b. Educators’ exchange programs
c. Accreditation
3 - Internship/training agreements
a. Internship agreements
b. Training agreements
c. CO-OP programs
1- Curriculum
Engineering graduates must not only be technically literate; they must
be equipped with excellent communication skills (importance of foreign
languages). In addition they must be well cultured (important of cultural
studies courses and general knowledge) to be able to face the impact of
globalization on their work entourage.
For our graduates to have a long term engineering career, we should modify
our curriculum to take into account the need to offer talents that differ from
graduates of other parts of the world.
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American system of education and offering BS degrees. They can seek the
MS degree (2 years following the BS degree) and join the Lebanese Order of
engineers as per its internal bylaws.
The University of Balamand pioneered this model of BS/MS since the founding
of its engineering faculty. This model proved to be a very successful one since
it facilitated the mobility of our graduates and enhanced their competitiveness
with their peers.
2 - Mobility agreements
Inclusion of international dimension in our engineering programs and
curriculum may be implemented by establishing mobility agreements for
students and faculty/staff members.
Students’ exchange programs will broaden the international exposure for our
engineering students and will allow for integration of international experience
into the curriculum.
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choosing a university. His choices will be narrowed to engineering programs
that are accredited for example by ABET (US engineering accreditation
agency) or by IEP (European University Association) or similar agencies.
The issue of international accreditation will encourage international students
from different cultures and backgrounds to register at our university since the
completed credits may then be easily transferred to their university.
3 - Internship/training agreements
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Conclusion
We may face many obstacles …..But at least we are trying and we know that
we are in the right direction.
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Ingénierie de formation et formation d’ingénieurs
Adaptation aux demandes et vision stratégique
Dr Paul GHOBRIL
Doyen de la Faculté d’Ingénieurs à l’Université Antonine
Introduction
Page | 27
La formation d’ingénieur
A titre d’exemple, nous représentons dans la figure 1 les critères définis par
l’EAC (Engineering Accreditation Commission) de l’ABET (American Board
for Engineering and Technology) et qui sont les suivants:
a. Une capacité d›appliquer ses connaissances en mathématiques,
sciences et ingénierie.
b. Une capacité de concevoir et à réaliser des expériences, ainsi que
d’analyser et interpréter les données.
c. Une capacité à concevoir un système, un composant ou un processus
pour répondre aux besoins souhaités.
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d. Une capacité de travailler en équipe multidisciplinaire.
e. Une capacité à identifier, formuler et résoudre des problèmes
d’ingénierie.
f. Une compréhension des responsabilités professionnelles et éthiques.
g. Une capacité à communiquer efficacement.
h. Une éducation générale nécessaire pour comprendre l’impact des
solutions de l’ingénierie dans un contexte global et sociétal.
i. Une reconnaissance de la nécessité et une capacité à s’engager dans
la formation continue.
j. Une connaissance des enjeux contemporains.
k. Une capacité à utiliser les techniques, les compétences et les outils
modernes de l’ingénierie nécessaires à la pratique du métier.
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Les atouts du programme de formation
Page | 30
Figure 2 : Analyse de la méthode pédagogique de la formation CCNA.
Page | 31
Les approches pédagogiques et le développement des compétences
Du point de vu didactique, nous avons filtré les notions en les projetant sur
le nouveau état des lieux des technologies par exemple, en ce qui concerne
l’enseignement de l’électronique, nous avons optimisé les cours pour permettre
aux étudiants d’explorer le compromis entre les différentes modalités : matériel
versus logiciel, numérique versus analogique et matériel à usage particulier
versus matériel reconfigurable.
Une des méthodes didactiques que nous avons adoptée, quand il y a lieu, se
base sur l’approche de haut en bas (top-down) pour assurer une vision globale
des systèmes et un raisonnement structurel avant de rentrer dans les détails du
raisonnement fonctionnel. La contextualisation est de même considérée pour
franchir la barrière qui sépare la théorie de la pratique.
Page | 32
outil permettant d’explorer l’architecture du processeur ainsi que le
fonctionnement d’un compilateur. On n’utilise pas un assembleur mais par
contre on utilise un langage haut niveau avec des instructions assembleur
insérées en ligne. Le projet assembleur est donc remplacé par un atelier
d’analyse comme il n’est plus utile de développer en assembleur en partant
de zéro. Par contre, l’enseignement des microcontrôleurs envisage à la fois
une programmation en assembleur et en langage haut niveau.
• Le cours de la théorie des systèmes d’exploitation intègre le travail sur la base
des noyaux Linux afin de préparer l’étudiant au développement de Linux
embarqué [6] et cette formation continue avec des cours sur le développement
du kernel de Linux ainsi que sur le développement des pilotes afin d’assurer
une bonne intégration entre le logiciel et le matériel.
• A l’aide de simples circuits intégrés l’étudiant va concevoir un noyau simplifié
de microprocesseur RISC. Ces réalisations de processeurs simplifiés à l›aide
des éléments de base confirment l›acquis de l›étudiant en termes d›aspect
matériel au niveau des composants électroniques.
• Ces projets sont suivis par un cours de langage de description du matériel
permettant d›exprimer les mêmes réalisations sous forme de codes
programmés. On passe des composants aux opérations. Ces acquis sont
suivis par un cours avancé des architectures de microprocesseurs aboutissant
à une conception et réalisation matérielle à l›aide des composants à grille de
portes programmables (FPGA).
• Le développement d’un jeu à l’aide d’une description matérielle pure
(hardware) sans codage d’un programme permet à l’étudiant de comprendre
comment, avec le langage de description du matériel, la frontière entre
matériel et logiciel est devenue floue (figure 4).
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Figure 4 : Le jeu réalisé par description matérielle sans codage d’un
programme.
Page | 34
Adaptation aux demandes et vision stratégique
Page | 35
Les projets et les stages en guise d’une bonne insertion professionnelle
Pour obtenir le diplôme d’ingénieur un étudiant doit passer par les étapes
qui le préparent à l’insertion professionnelle en développant chez lui les
compétences facilitant son intégration à la vie professionnelle et au travail
d’équipe, incitant ses facultés de communication et d’expression, créant son
profil d’innovateur et de trouveur de méthodes et confirmant ses acquis. Ces
étapes se concrétisent par les préparations suivantes :
- Un stage ouvrier qui vient à la fin de la troisième année de formation pour
compléter la matière «méthodologie et rapport de stage» qui forme l’étudiant
à la rédaction du rapport de stage. Ce stage constitue un premier contact
de l’étudiant avec l’entreprise et lui donne la chance de découvrir la vie
professionnelle. L’étudiant a une certaine marge de choix et de l’entreprise et
de la tâche comme le but c’est d’une part l’intégration et d’une autre part la
rédaction du rapport de stage.
Page | 36
• Harmoniser le niveau de développement de nos étudiants avec
celui des étudiants des grandes universités dans le monde entier.
Conclusion
Page | 37
Références
[6] Qingsong Shi, Lingxiang Xiang, Tianzhou Chen, et Wei Hu, “FPGA-
based Embedded System Education”, IEEE First International Workshop
on Education Technology and Computer Science, 2009
Page | 38
Accreditation and Quality Assurance
Introduction
Page | 39
Accreditation
Page | 40
Quality Assurance
Quality Assurance is a term that has caused confusion for some time in
comparison with accreditation. In order to resolve this confusion, two terms
have been lately used: internal and external. The internal quality assurance
pertains to a higher education institution seeking to set, manage, and improve
the quality of its education system and associated operations. On the other
hand, external quality assurance (equivalent to accreditation) refers to the
planned and systematic review process of an institution or program to
determine whether or not acceptable standards of education, scholarship
and infrastructure are being met, maintained and enhanced [8]. It is an
instrument designed to add value to higher education by encouraging high
quality. An efficient and effective high quality higher education system which
is internationally recognized and a well-established national Quality Culture
are vital for economic growth in developing countries. A sustainable quality
assurance program enhances international as well as national employment
opportunities, improves the education and training of future employees,
facilitates an enabling learning environment, and enriches the academic and
intellectual landscape. Thus it can provide substantial support for economic
and social development at the national, regional and international levels.
Page | 41
mushrooming of higher education institutions, with weak enforcement of
guidelines and standards. This is all happening while the growing constraints
and competition in the market place may force more prominent employers to
look for graduates from accredited universities and programs.
Over the past two decades, many nations have established new quality
assurance (accreditation) agencies. In some cases, the agencies are often
funded by or are somehow affiliated with government ministries. In the United
States, accreditation agencies are mostly private self-funded organizations. As
such, we have what is so-called the American model of accreditation versus
offer different types of quality assurance programs that are available in
Europe, Canada, and Australia. In some of these countries, the maintenance
of educational standards is a governmental function and compliance with
government standards is mandatory. It is interesting to notice though that
no institution in the United States is required to seek accreditation. However,
because accreditation brings a variety of widely recognized benefits, most of
the eligible institutions in the United States have sought to become accredited
by regional accrediting commissions [7]. The literature shows that third world
countries are attempting to develop various quality assurance systems that
borrow ideas from here and there. The Lebanese attempts described below
fall in this category. Now, whether the established quality assurance agency
follows an accreditation or another quality assurance form, it will eventually
have to seek evidence and verify whether a given higher education institution
can be accredited or not, or whether the institution receives or not a favorable
decision concerning its academic quality processes.
Page | 42
influenced by the French system, without ignoring the impact of the American
University of Beirut. Until the middle of last century, two universities served
the higher education needs of Lebanon USJ and AUB. Some universities have
been established between 1950 and 1980, mainly LAU (BUC), LU, BAU,
USEK. Other universities evolved during and shortly after the war in Lebanon
(1980s), mainly NDU and UOB. Then, after the 1990s more than 20 HE
institutions have joined the academic arena. Though it is not the context here
to dwell into the subject, a critical question may be asked here: how can
we manage the academic quality process with a relatively large number of
universities in a small country riddled by a long history of social, political,
economic, and religious complexities. In attempt to find remedy to the current
academic situation and to be in line with international trends, a few initiatives
have been undertaken in Lebanon over the past ten years. Some of these
initiatives are hereby listed:
1. Lebanese Engineering Programs Accreditation Commission – LEPAC
(Tempus project, 2006)
2. Quality Assurance for Higher Education in Lebanon – QAHEL (Tempus
project, 2007)
3. Draft law for establishing a national quality assurance (QA) body for
higher education in Lebanon (Ministry of HE in collaboration with LAES
– funded by AMIDEST-Lebanon, USAIDS, 2011)
4. Workshops and Conference organized by the Association of Universities in
Lebanon titled “Towards a Comprehensive System of Quality Assurance
of Higher Education in Lebanon”, 2011
5. Toward the Lebanese Quality Assurance Agency – TLQAA (Tempus
project, 2012)
In order to see the global picture and examine the quality assurance process
dynamics in Lebanon, excerpts from these initiatives are hereby presented.
1. Lebanese Engineering Programs Accreditation Commission – LEPAC
(Tempus project, 2006)
www.higher-edu.gov.lb/projects/LEPAC/List_Guide.html
Page | 43
standards to ensure highest quality of engineering education, relevancy to
the job market, and employability of graduates.
3. Draft law for establishing a national quality assurance (QA) body for
higher education in Lebanon (Ministry of HE in collaboration with LAES
– funded by AMIDEST-Lebanon, USAIDS, 2011)
Page | 44
www.laes.org/_projects.php?lang=en&id=1
The aim of the project is to develop a draft law that regulates the
establishment of a quality assurance body for higher education in
Lebanon, including its functions, structure and relationship with Ministry
of Higher Education and higher education institutions. The project was
agreed upon with the minister of higher education.
The study was conducted through core and large committees as well
as seminars, so as to involve several stakeholders in the discussion, in
addition to commissioned consultation and reviewing Arab and non-
Arab experiences in the field. It started by setting a list of questions then
trying to answer them throughout discussions and consultations. Based
on this, drafts were amended gradually. Participants in the discussion
and consultation include experts in quality assurance, representatives
of higher education institutions, both private and governmental, and
representatives of quality assurance and accreditation bodies in Arab
countries, Europe and the USA.
Once the final draft is finished it is to be submitted to the minister of
higher education as a step toward the approval by the government of the
project law (current stage).
Page | 45
www.tlqaa.org
The main objective of this project is to establish the Lebanese Agency for
Quality Assurance. This agency would satisfy the expectations in terms
of accountability and continuous improvement of the HE system. Against
this backdrop, the project aims to experiment some tools that may be used
by this agency. Based on an analysis of the Lebanese context done by the
Lebanese partners a model for QA will be established with the support of
the European partners and discussed with the Lebanese Higher Education
(LHE) stakeholders at large.
Based on the established quality assurance model a set of standards and
procedures will be drafted for the evaluation of the institutions. Evaluations
will be carried out by experts from Lebanon and from abroad. … Training
materials provided by the European partners will be customized to the
Lebanese context and will serve to train the selected experts. … A pilot
evaluation of few Lebanese institutions will be performed.
By the end of the project, well accepted and tested standards and procedures
will be available and could be directly used by the Lebanese agency.
… Finally, the project, targeting and involving the whole LHE system,
will strongly enhance the quality culture with a good understanding of
accountability and continuous improvement concepts.
No one can deny that a good amount of work and initiatives have been
invested on the issue of accreditation and quality assurance in Lebanon. The
amounts of awareness and concern have increased over the past few years.
Many meetings and workshops have been held at many universities; and
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quite a few projects have been submitted. A good amount of documents and
literature have been published and shared. And, in spite concerns about some
of its content, a draft law has been submitted via the Ministry of Higher
Education to the Lebanese Council of Ministers. Yet, given the Lebanese
conditions and history, one cannot be sure about what has been or what will
be actually accomplished. So, while drafting a law is good, not implementing
it means the waste of effort, time, and money. So the more we try to keep
the cost low, the better we hope to be in terms of affordable tuition cost and
taxes to cover the inflicted expenses whether in the private or public sectors.
Not to mention that at a later time come back searching for a new law, thus
falling into a negative vicious circle leading to more losses, lack of trust, and
frustration.
After a thorough inspection of the initiatives mentioned above, one can easily
see the emphasis put on borrowing ideas from outside, probably in attempt of
avoiding re-inventing the wheels or simply to make use of others’ experiences.
This may not totally incorrect. However, one has to be aware and take into
consideration that we do not have the same start levels that the American
and the European have already established. They simply have a culture that
is more compatible with what we are trying to borrow from them. So while
the ideas we are trying to borrow from them may be good ones, they may
not easily implementable in Lebanon unless we work first on creating the
proper national culture that enables the development and the growth of
Quality Assurance standards and processes. Some initiatives seem to have
simply underestimated this issue. This point is illustrated by the following
quote from one of the Lebanese initiatives:
Main Goal: The Main goal (of the project) is to put in place an
accreditation board for engineering education in Lebanon, namely the
“…”. This board is based on International Standards and Procedures
such as EUR–ACE.
This goal can be achieved by understanding the World’s status
quo systems of licensing and accreditation of EPs and producing an
appropriate legislating accreditation system to be adopted by the
Lebanese Ministry of Higher Education.
Now while the project main goal is quite good, the means for its achievement
sound a bit shallow. However, it can be considered as a step in the right
direction.
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A caution needs to be raised here. We claim to be aware that the devil hides
in the details. Yet many times, and getting carried away with our genuine
enthusiasm, and acting in a hurry, we may rely simply on taking from outside,
ignoring the lack of proper culture and the internal fragility; as if a small baby
can be meat-fed! Most of the projects have good objectives and substantial
work plans, yet they may be doomed to fail unless they get equipped with
proper vision and measures to work on developing the proper culture suitable
for the launching and growth quality assurance processes at a widespread
national level. Enforcement of the law is good in a place where the law makes
sense and is well understood. Using the threat of punishment and measures
taken against the non-complying institutions seems to be neither effective nor
productive in the current Lebanese conditions.
The heterogeneity issue becomes more complex when we consider the students
transferring from one institution to another, after completing a three year
degree for example. While engineering education programs will be addressed
in other papers in this conference, an issue related to quality assurance
needs to be raised here. Although some engineering programs, or courses,
look to be fundamentally similar, we have witnessed in the past few year the
different types of formation, both at the conceptual and applied levels, some
with narrow and limited skills. This picture may be hidden inside the various
evaluation and grading systems.
All this highlights the need for a National Strategy concerning the educational
process and its quality assurance starting from elementary school. One has
to be careful however about the danger of getting carried away putting more
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emphasis on the form and quality of education at the expense of the substance
of education and the reasoning patterns. In addition, many universities are
concerned about the burden on the institution, while faculty members are
facing the pressure of the additional work that needs to be done, with the
Lebanese University itself having to face most likely the highest challenge.
Another concern may be raised at the point. In fact, what good is it to have
academic quality assurance, in engineering in particular, if we do not have it
anywhere outside the academic campus? Just consider what will happen if the
municipalities, for example, do not implement proper standards, or what will
happen if a little bribe alter any professional design, wouldn’t this eradicate
the rather costly academic quality assurance process? So the National Strategy
has to address the full scope and whole spectrum of the Quality Assurance
process. In addition, the National Strategy has to totally independent from
and not victimized by the current political situation in Lebanon. This is not
very difficult to accomplish once we put the national best interest above all
other considerations. A good National Strategy on Quality Assurance that
takes into account the integrated perspectives of the various concerned
sectors, mainly government, universities, professional bodies, and employers
will bring stability, growth, and prosperity to Lebanon.
After some much said, some fundamental questions can be raised here: What
are the skills that need to be acquired in any engineering discipline? And
are our programs structured to ensure the acquisition of the stated skills?
What role can the Order of Engineers play in the curriculum planning and
the assessment of the graduates? Most of these questions will be addressed in
other papers of this conference. However, I take the opportunity here to make
the following recommendation concerning the role of Order of Engineers. I
believe that it does not help to have engineering academic quality assurance
without having profession practice quality assurance standards. In this
regards, one can benefit from the experience of other countries where the
practice of engineering profession requires particular licensing. The licensing
process can be established by the Order of Engineers where general and
specialty standardized tests can be devised and administered to ensure that
practicing engineers in Lebanon meet the required standards. The renewal of
these licenses could be conducted on cyclic basis, where any changes in the
adopted engineering standards or new developments could be examined and
verified.
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Références
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Lebanese Accreditation Board for Engineering Program
Lebanese Engineering Programs Accreditation
Commission (LEPAC)
Abstract
Introduction
The engineering students in Lebanon are earning their degrees through different
engineering programs in an increasing number of Lebanese universities.
Consequently, it is important that these programs as well as the way they are
delivered are monitored as to their intrinsic quality, their compatibility with
international standards and their response to national needs.
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position by graduating engineers with abilities congruent with national,
regional, and international development requirements. A step forward is the
establishment of the LABE.
LABE’s framework and related policies and procedures were the results of
the LEPAC project that was funded by the EU Commission under TEMPUS
program. The main aim of
in Lebanon and accredit those programs that meet the established standards to
ensure highest quality of engineering education. Section II in this article describes
proposed LABE’s bylaws. Accreditation Policy and Procedures are explained in
section III. Finally, Accreditation Criteria are presented in section IV.
II-1 Mission
LABE’s mission is to periodically assess engineering programs offered at
universities operating in Lebanon and accredit those programs that meet
established standards to ensure quality of engineering education, relevancy to
the job market, and employability of graduates.
II-2 Vision
LABE’s envisages that engineering programs offered in Lebanese universities
provide, maintain and sustain quality engineering education that is congruent
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with community interests and societal needs, integrate and harness modern
technologies, and have strategies to face continually evolving challenges.
II-3 Responsibilities
LABE’s major responsibilities include:
• Define accreditation goals and objectives and processes for assessing
them.
• Assess engineering programs in the context of the specific program
objectives and outcomes.
• Provide feedback to institutions for improvement.
• Renders accreditation decisions.
• Identify to all stakeholders the programs that meet the set of standards
and criteria.
• Publish accreditation decision to constituencies.
• Set, assess, and maintain policies and procedures.
• Develop, assess, and maintain programs’ criteria.
• Form standing committees to manage details of all aspects of
accreditation process.
• Maintain the integrity of the accreditation process (team formation,
timelines, etc.).
• Act as liaison between institutions, government, and public.
• Advise the Ministry of Higher Education on licensing new programs.
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II-5 Mandate
1. LABE is mandated by the Council of Ministers.
2. LABE operates with complete autonomy within the context of its rules and
regulations.
3. The board has the sole responsibility to render the accreditation decisions.
4. The decisions of the DGHE Equivalence Committee, Engineering Committee,
and Technical Committee conform to LABE’s recommendations.
5. The Ministry of Public Works, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Orders
of Engineers accept LABE’s recommendations and conform to it when
attaining permission of practicing the engineering profession.
II-6 Funding
LABE operating funds come from several sources. The Ministry of Higher
Education covers roughly 50 % of LABEs operating budget. The balance of
the required budget shall come from the following sources: (1) Accreditation
fees of $ 3000 for each program, (2) institutions annual maintenance fee of
$ 500, (3) annual support from the Orders of Engineers, (4) annual support
from the Lebanese Industrial Association, and (5) other sources that LABE
seeks.
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Have an operating license from the MEHE, (2) meets all standards and criteria
established by the MEHE (decree 9274 and Higher Education Law [1]), and
(3) has been operating for at least three years.
IV-1 - 1 Program
Mission Statement
The program must articulate a mission statement that is in tune with the
mission of the institution and form the basis for its objectives and educational
outcomes.
Educational Objectives
The program must articulate and publish the educational objectives that
relate to the career and professional accomplishments to be achieved by
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the graduates. The objectives must conform to the current criteria and be
congruent with the mission of the institution.
Program Outcomes
The program must articulate a set of program outcomes that foster attainment
of the program objectives. The outcomes define a set of knowledge, skills, and
attitudes expected of the graduates at the time of graduation. The program
must enact a process that culminates in the formulation of the outcomes and
an assessment process to measure the outcomes and the level they are attained.
The program must publish the assessment results and enact a process to
integrate them in improving the outcomes and objectives. The program must
demonstrate that their graduates possess the skills that enable them to:
1. Embark on successful careers and internalize the spirit of life-long
learning;
2. Integrate engineering fundamentals principles and concepts with
contemporary technologies;
3. Apply modern experimental and computational tools;
4. Think critically and creatively, identify problems, evaluate new ideas,
and advance innovative solutions;
5. Design and realize a system;
6. Harness strong professional and ethical standards.
Professional Component
1. The curriculum must be designed to include the necessary professional
components that results in graduates attaining the program stated
outcomes and objectives.
2. The curriculum must prepare students to perform in the practical
world by requiring students to conduct research to heighten their level
of understanding of technical issues that are not formally covered in
the curriculum using scientifically based methods.
3. The faculty members must assure that the curriculum devotes adequate
attention and time to each component.
4. The program must have a practical training period spent outside the
university with specific outcomes.
The program that fulfills the Professional Component tracks one of the
following educational platforms:
1. Programs offering Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) degree (5 years)
2. Programs offering Diplome D’ingenieur degree (5 years)
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3. Program with a three-year Bachelor of Science (BS) followed by a
two-year
4. Master of Science (MS) degree
Assessment Process
Assessment is the key component of the accreditation process. The program
must establish assessment processes and use the results for improvement.
Specifically the program must have in place:
1. A process by which the stated objectives are continually assessed to
ascertain the level to which they are attained and updated to ensure
conformity with the needs of the program’s various constituencies.
2. A process to assess the level of attaining the learning outcomes and
to show how the assessment results are used to improve the program
so that the outcomes are better attained.
IV-1 - 2 Students
The quality of a program is ultimately measured by the quality of its graduates.
To ensure quality graduates, the following students’ criteria must be satisfied.
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Student Life
The program must promote and sponsor the formation of professional,
cultural, social, and athletic student organizations.
IV-1 - 4 Facilities
The program must:
1. Demonstrate the availability and adequacy of equipment, laboratories, and
classrooms and show their contribution to the achievement of program
objectives and outcomes.
2. Provide and continuously upgrade the IT infrastructure to support the
learning experiences of students.
3. Provide a dedicated physical library resources as well as on-line databases
to support the scholarly activities of students and faculty and continuously
improve achievement of program outcomes.
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IV - 2 Program Specific Criteria
The program must support the realization of a well-rounded engineer who is
characterized by the three enabling pillars:
1. Core knowledge and technical skills;
2. Context and setting understanding in which engineering knowledge and
skills are applied and practiced;
3. Attitudes and abilities (soft skills) to practice engineering effectively.
Conclusion
In this paper, the main outcomes of the tempus project “Lebanese Engineering
Programs Accreditation Commission (LEPAC)” have been described. The
bylaws, accreditation policy and procedures as well as accreditation criteria
are presented. Additional efforts must be done by the official authorities
towards the adoption of this project recommendations and the establishment
of such body to achieve the desired results.
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Acknowledgments
The authors commend the team spirit and acknowledge the major effort made
by the following contributors to the LEPAC Project:
Steering Committee members: Haissam Ziade, Nahed Ghazal, Charbel
El Kfouri, Amer Helwani, Mohamad Khaldi, Ahmad Jammal, Sobhi Abu
Chahine, Ahmad Smaili, Guiliano Augusti, Philippe Wauters, Dieter Weichert,
Jean-Francois Combe, Bernard Remaud, Claudio Borri, Iring Wasser.
Technical Subcommitte I members: Ahmad Smaili (HCU), Antoine Hreiche,
Chadi Hosari Chaiban Nasr (LU), Chawki Diab (CNAM), Fadel Moukaled
(AUB), Iyad Ouaiss (LAU), Karim Nasr (UOB), Mohamad Khaldi (UOB),
Mohamad Khalil (IUL), Mohammad Nasri (MUT), Moustafa Hamad (NDU),
Pierre Geoden (UPA), Sawsan Saridar (BAU), Sylvie Devigne (CNAM).
Technical Subcommittee II members: Abdul Hassan Husseini (LU), Abdul
Menhem Koubaissi (IUL), Abdul-Majid Abdul Ghani (LIU), Ahmad Jammal
(DGHE), Ahmad Smaili (HCU), Amer Helwani (MEHE, LU), Charbel El
Kfouri (Order of Engineers – Beirut), Dani Mezher (USG), Elias Nassar
(NDU), Mazen Tabbarah (LAU), Mohamad Taha (HCU), Nahed Ghazal
(Order of Engineers – Tripoli), Nuhad Dagher (AUB), Pierre Gedeon (UPA),
Sobhi Abou Chahine (BAU), Walid Kamali (MUT).
References
Page | 60
Engineering Education at Notre Dame University:
Addressing Diversity and Multiculturalism
Abstract
Introduction
The fast paced advances in high technology, particularly in the fields of digital
computers and communication, have inevitably put stronger pressures on
modern engineers, engineering employers, and engineering educators. Today’s
highly connected global village is witnessing the merging of many technical
areas of expertise, calling for engineers to acquire various multidisciplinary
technical skills. In addition, non-technical skills, such as communication,
management, and interpersonal skills are being eagerly sought by engineering
employers to cater for the needs of an increasingly diverse and multi-national
customer base.
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Driven by its continuous push for excellence, and by the need to better serve
the engineering profession and its increasingly diverse, and multicultural
community, the Faculty of Engineering at Notre Dame University – Louaize
(NDU) introduced, starting from Summer 2007, a number of curricular,
structural, and pedagogical initiatives, as part of a university-wide
improvement effort.
This aid amounted to about 17% of the operational budget [2], and
is distributed into four major categories, namely, Work-study Grants,
Undergraduate Scholarships, Sibling Grants, and Grants for Excellence [3].
During the same period of time, another set of data [4] revealed other
characterizing features of the Engineering student body at NDU. Based on
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this data 12% of the engineering students are female, compared to 42%
University-wide, 11% are non-Christian, and 2% are international.
In Fall 2007, in order to satisfy the growing market demand for a multi-skilled,
multi-cultured engineering student, the Faculty of Engineering significantly
expanded its so called General Education Requirements (GER) course pool
[5], as part of a University-wide GER expansion drive that had started a year
earlier for the purpose of “[improving] the students’ critical and analytical
thinking, [evaluating] the attainments of science, technology, humanities,
arts, social sciences, behavioral sciences and all other domains of culture in
the perspective of the totality of the human person, and [educating] their
sense of sound citizenship as well as their belonging to a universal human
family[…]” [6]
In the newly adopted Engineering GER pool, each student selects 9 courses
out of the 56 optional courses now available, instead of the previously
available 24 courses. The new pool includes a broader scope of topics ranging
from Arabic to Sociology. They are distributed over five categories, namely
Communication Skills, Philosophy and Religion, Cultural Studies and Social
Sciences, Citizenship, and Science and Technology.
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Table 1 includes the titles of a selected number of GER courses.
REG 212: Religion and Social PHS 207: Develop. of Science &
Issues Technology
Table 1 - Selected Course Titles from the New GER Course Pool
Two years after the implementation of the GER initiative, a small study
conducted on a 99-student sample extracted from the Faculty of Engineering
(57% majoring in Electrical engineering, and only 20% enrolled after
2007) revealed that communication and business and management courses
are starting to gain popularity after 2007 at the expense of social, cultural,
and natural sciences courses, thus leading to a more balanced GER course
distribution compared to the pre-2007 era (see Figure 2).
Figure 2 – Completed GER Courses before and after the GER Pool Expansion
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IV – Undergraduate Minor in Engineering Management (UMEM)
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V – Classroom Instruction: Towards an Integrated Engineering
Education Efficiency (IEEE) Approach
Given the large amount of engineering students receiving financial aid (see
Figure 1), and noting the sizable proportion (about 28% [1]) of them that are
WSG recipients, i.e. they need to work at the University to earn their financial
aid, one could easily conclude that the scholarly performance of engineering
students may suffer, especially since a large proportion of them also work
outside the University.
The IEEE teaching strategy, dubbed the 4CE (pronounced Foresee) Strategy,
is built upon five tenets, each of which having its specific goal(s), namely:
Continuity, Creative Thinking, Coordination, Cumulativeness, and Ethics.
One of the primary goals of the continuity tenet is to transform the Traditional
Reviewing Learning Pattern (TRAP), strongly popular among engineering
students at NDU (see Figure 4) into the more efficient Continuous Learning
Activity Pattern (CLAP), (see Figure 5).
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To reach that goal, the following three classroom techniques have been applied
and tested since 2007:
1. Paced Active Learning (PAL): consists of using classroom collaborative
exercises and regular individual quizzes, to increase the rate of
learning events (quizzes) and increase the time constant of each one
of them, in order to decrease the time constant of (speed up) the
steady-state learning curve.
2. Regularly Assessed Performance (RAP): consists of adequately
and promptly assessing the student’s performance in his/her
learning events, and communicating to him/her the assessment
results (preferably using an e-learning tool such as Blackboard)
via a dedicated and private record that is readily and continuously
available to the student for self appraisal.
3. Computer Assisted Presentation (CAP): consists of using technology
(computers, LCDs, etc.) to present the theoretical components of
the course material, for the purpose of saving the time necessary
for the classroom exercises used in the first technique (PAL). In this
fashion, it is realistically possible to transform the lecture from a dull
dictation session, into a lively discussion and interaction forum.
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As mentioned above, the classroom learning techniques need to be
supplemented by a conduct policy regulating the various modes of operation
between student and instructor (ranging from attendance to disciplinary
violations), with its major assessment components regularly communicated
via the soft record used in the RAP technique.
We note that an adequate evaluation of the IEEE approach is not an easy task
because many factors are involved in the evaluation process. However, based
on student feedback, it is possible to state that this approach motivates the
working student to work more regularly, optimizes the amount and quality
of classroom learning, and provides early warning signs in case of inadequate
performance.
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Bibliography
[1] Notre Dame University, Student Affairs Office - Office of Financial Aid,
Financial Aid Data for Engineering and Other Students - Fall 2008 to
Spring 2010, Zouk Mosbeh, 2010.
[2] Notre Dame University - Louaize, Office of the President, «Annual Report
07 - 08,» Louaize, Lebanon, 2008.
[3] Notre Dame University - Louaize , NDU Catalog - 2009 - 2010, Louaize,
2009.
[4] Notre Dame University, «Fall 200809/ Statistics,» The NDU Gazette, no.
1, pp. 1 - 15, April 2009.
[5] Notre Dame University - Louaize, «Appendix IV - Faculty of Engineering
- General Education Requirements (27 credits),» The NDU Gazette, no.
4, pp. 1415-, June - July - August 2008.
[6] Notre Dame University - Louaize, «Appendix I - General Education
Requirements for Bachelor Degrees at NDU,» The NDU Gazette, no. 5,
pp. 8 - 12, July 2007.
[7] Notre Dame University - Louaize, «Appendix IX - Minor in Engineering
Management,» The NDU Gazette, no. 3, pp. 3738-, April - May 2008.
[8] Notre Dame University - Louaize, «Appendix II - Undergraduate Academic
Minors at NDU,» The NDU Gazette, no. 5, pp. 13 - 15, July 2007.
[9] G. Hassoun, «Towards Improving the Engineering Education Continuum,»
in the Proceedings of the International Conference on Technology,
Communication and Education, Mishref, Kuwait, 2008.
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Interdisciplinary Engineering Education
1 - Introduction
Engineers are formed to design solutions for particular problems. Since new
technologies are changing the world to a more complex environment, new
problems arise incessantly. Nowadays, engineers are required to be multi-
skilled to cope with the rapidly changing requirements in different fields
of specialization. In addition to technical interdisciplinary education, the
modern economy requires engineers to be well trained in appropriate aspects
in management, economics and law.
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emerging technologies.
Based on the above statistics, we notice that the labor market in Lebanon
does not offer enough opportunities for our engineers.
1) Najwa Yaacoub and Lara Badre, “The Labour Market in Lebanon”, Statistics in Focus,
Issue 01, October 2011.
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Communication skills constitute an essential requirement from today’s
engineers. A project cannot be initiated if the idea behind is not well
communicated in a very convincing manner. While the design and
implementation of a given project require mainly technical information,
good communication skills allow for better coordination and guidance. The
delivery also requires good communication skills. Therefore, an engineer is
required to communicate his ideas clearly, confidently, and fluently, tailoring
his speech to the target audience. Written skills are also very important. An
engineer should be able to write clearly, concisely and systematically, covering
all the aspects of a given subject, beginning with a clear statement of purpose,
and ending with conclusions and a summary for reviewing the content.
On the other hand, engineers not only occupy technical positions. They could
be trainers, teachers, salesmen, marketers, etc….
Let us consider a practical and simple job position example. Some companies
include the term “engineer” in a salesman job position: a Sales Engineer. Such
a position requires a deep understanding of the company’s solutions and
products, and the ability of positioning solutions to best address prospective
clients’ needs. While a real “engineer” is not necessarily required for such
a position, it is sometimes more suitable to employ an engineer with some
background knowledge in sales and marketing than to employ a salesman
with some technical background, depending on the nature of the company’s
business and target clients.
2) Ted Hissey, «Enhanced Skills for Engineers», the Proceedings of the IEEE, Vol. 88, No.
8, August 2000.
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to their duties and rights, whether as employees, employers, or self-employed,
engineers could occupy managerial positions dealing with human resources,
intellectual property (copyrights, trademarks, patents,…), etc…
3) Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, “Criteria for Accrediting Engineering
Programs”, 2008.
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in a global, economic, environmental, and societal context”.
The Order of Engineers and the Lebanese universities can play a major role
in promoting and supporting interdisciplinary engineering education on
a sustainable basis. Universities can provide foundations in areas such as
communication skills, business management, economics, and law, while the
Order of Engineers can help determine the needs of the labor market to such
disciplines, periodically, and assist the universities in updating their engineering
curricula accordingly. The Order can also represent a link between universities
and a broad number of companies, industry professionals and governmental
institutions, proposing internship positions and interdisciplinary projects for
engineering students as well as research projects for graduate students.
6 - Conclusion
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Academia/Industry Collaboration : Opportunities and
Challenges
Abstract
Page | 77
academics are most interested in research that results in publications.
This typically includes both theoretical and practical work. However,
the efforts put in development and deployment is typically not valued
in publications. On the other hand, industry is primarily interested in
“research” that gets eventually developed and deployed for their use.
It is this gap that both parties must make an effort to close.
Success Stories
Several projects have been carried out at the American University of Beirut
in collaboration with industrial partners. We list here two of our personal
success stories without naming the partners involved upon their request. The
first project was the research and prototyping of a pipe inspection robot. This
was developed as a final year project. The outcomes from this project are
being used by the industrial partner to manufacture these robots, which they
have been successful in selling several of them outside Lebanon. The other
success story was the full automation of an old foam cutting machine. This
system has been deployed for about 9 months and is fully operational. It is
worth noting that in both cases no publication resulted.
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Research (NCSR), and Industrial Research Institute (IRI). These institutions
are carrying out several activities in order to enhance the link between
academia and industry. However, we believe that unless the first three
challenges mentioned previously are resolved these links will not result in
further progress in most cases. In addition to linking, we believe that these
institutions must systematically help with funding these collaborative projects
under high visibility programs. This funding must be sufficient to subsidize
the financial risk an industry takes when involved in research (long-term and
unprofitable in many cases).
Framework of Collaboration
Academia:
1. Put in place a clear reward mechanism (not directly financial) for
faculty involved in industry partnerships. Meaning credit such efforts
in promotion (in most cases currently this is not the case).
2. Facilitate closing the gap between research, prototyping and
development. This necessitates establishing incubators (within
academic institutions) to provide a strong boost to technology
transfer. This transfer that is much talked about but not acted upon.
Note that on the long-term this could potentially be financially
rewarding to the academic institutions.
Industry:
1. Primarily must recognize and be willing to accept that financial loss in
research is a must. However, one success would pay off all previous
investments and more.
2. Must be flexible on delivery time, prototype quality and continuity
(students eventually graduate).
3. Must not shy away from publications and patents.
National Institutions:
1. Must allocate funds primarily for academia and industry collaboration.
2. Must develop sustainable mechanisms and systems to facilitate
partnerships.
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Conclusion
The potential exists for success among academia and industry in Lebanon;
however, several challenges must be addressed. All we have to do is follow
in the footsteps of the several industrial countries with successful models of
collaboration.
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Partenariat Université-Industrie :
La démarche libanaise
Rafic YOUNES
Pr., Université Libanaise, Faculté de Génie, Liban.
Pr. Associé à l’UQAR – Canada.
Chercheur Associé au LISV, UVSQ – France.
ryounes@ul.edu.lb
Mots-Clés
Abstract
Page | 81
l’interaction industrie/université au Liban.
Introduction
Les collaborations université-industrie dans les économies les plus avancées ont
joué un rôle vital à l’épaulement de la compétitivité régionale et internationale.
Ces pratiques ont un impact considérable pour les systèmes d’enseignement
supérieur dans les pays en cours de développement. Au Liban, la compétitivité
de l’industrie reste un mot clé déterminant dans le partenariat en question.
En conséquence, les responsables universitaires et certaines organisations ont
conclu la nécessité d’une telle collaboration afin de stimuler le développement
des aptitudes technologiques modernes.
Les plannings proposés ont été essentiellement dirigés vers l’éradication des
barrières qui empêchent l’apparition des collaborations, tels que la manque
d’incitations, les structures administratives inactives ou les droits de propriété
intellectuelle mal définis.
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coïncidences d’évolutions:
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politique pour établir et soutenir les relations université/industrie, le manque
d’étude des obstacles est elle-même un sérieux obstacle à la conception d’une
politique efficace.
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Les gestionnaires estiment que travailler avec le milieu universitaire n’est
absolument bénéfique que dans la mesure où elle favorise l’association de
l’entreprise à ses objectifs. En particulier, nous devront chercher à déterminer,
d’une manière mesurable, les meilleures pratiques pour le processus de
sélection - la gestion et le développement de relations qui permettent à une
entreprise de capitaliser sur un partenariat de recherche avec une université.
Page | 85
l’enseignement des subventions)
• Le détachement de personnel par l›industrie à l’université comme
professeurs à temps partiel, les professeurs invités, des cadres en
résidence disposition.
• Des possibilités de l’industrie d’offrir de formation par tache (co-
programmes, les emplois d’été) et de possibilités de travail à temps partiel.
• Livraison de cours spécialisés par les universités (formation
continue, le perfectionnement des cadres, des programmes spécialisés
personnalisés)
• Participation des professeurs d’université dans des activités de
développement professionnel dirigées par l’industrie, professeurs de
conseil dans l’industrie, la participation à des conseils d’entreprise et
d’autres comités axés a l’industrie.
Échange de connaissances:
• Projet industriel par les étudiants dans le cadre de leur programme
(thèses, projets d’études ou de fin d’études).
• Embauche des étudiants orientées vers la recherche R&D (Co-op, des
emplois d’été, les diplômés récents)
• Partage de connaissance à travers des publications scientifiques ou
techniques
• Participation aux conférences et séminaires université-industrie.
• Consultation industrielle à l’aide de personnel universitaire
• Les échanges du personnel université-industrie, les dispenses
sabbatiques dans l’industrie, mission des chercheurs de l’industrie à
l’université
• Les activités de recherche conjointe
• Consortium ou institut mixte de recherche.
Le transfert de technologie:
• Vente d’une licence ou de brevet
• Co-entreprise pour la commercialisation du résultat de recherche
conjointe.
• Création d’entreprises dérivées.
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Gouvernement Libanais : Politique
Orientation stratégique
Nous avons identifié quatre principaux objectifs et les stratégies pour les
atteindre.
1. Rendement et efficacité
a. Mettre en place un cadre politique et juridique nécessaire pour la
rationalisation du système d›enseignement supérieur en particulier
les institues publiques.
b. Renforcer la complémentarité et les partenariats productifs parmi les
institutions d’enseignement supérieur publiques et privées, et entre
le secteur éducatif et les autres secteurs.
c. Assurer un rendement optimal de la fonction des moyens de
l’enseignement supérieur.
2. Qualité et excellence
a. Offrir des programmes d’éducation de qualité de premier cycle et
cycles supérieurs avec des normes comparables à ceux offerts par les
principaux établissements d’enseignement supérieur internationaux.
b. Devenir un centre de connaissance régionale dans le Moyen-Orient
dans certaines disciplines en particulier dans les disciplines où les
établissements libanaises d›enseignement supérieur ont un avantage
compétitif authentique.
3. Pertinence et adaptabilité
a. Produire, adapter et diffuser les connaissances qui équipent les
diplômés avec les compétences, les valeurs et les compétences vitales
dans un environnement changeant dynamiquement national et
international.
b. Utiliser l’état de la technologie de pointe et de l’information et une
communication appropriées et d’autres innovations en matière
d’éducation.
4. Accès et équité
a. Fournir méritants et qualifié des opportunités pour les programmes
libanais de qualité et abordables et des services tertiaires.
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Programmes d’incubation
Dans les dernières années, le financement des startups et les entreprises
précoces au Liban a connu un développement embryonnaire cependant
important et qui a constitué d’une émergence prudente des fonds propres
comme alternative au financement par emprunt.
Le premier changement a pris forme dans une nouvelle adaptation bancaire qui
se prête à l›introduction du régime «Emprunts pour l›innovation» par Kafalat,
l’institution de prêt entraînant garantie pour petites et moyennes entreprises
au Liban. En vertu de ce régime, des compagnies startups innovatrices peuvent
bénéficier d’un prêt sans intérêt presque avec une limite de 200.000 dollars
remboursables sur une période de cinq ans dont un an comme une période de
grâce et sans aucune exigence de garantie.
Ces changements positifs ont assuré que les stades les plus précoces de
financement sont maintenant disponibles aux entrepreneurs libanais avec
des devises d’équité à partir de 100.000 dollars allant jusqu’à un couple de
millions de dollars, voire la possibilité de partir plus loin avec les emprunts
garantis par Kafalat.
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productif. L’établissement de canaux de communication efficaces avec
l›industrie est un processus qui nécessite un changement organisationnel de la
part de l’université, ainsi que de l’apprentissage institutionnel, saisie comme
l›accumulation d’expériences de travail avec les acteurs extérieurs, tels que les
entreprises, les centres de recherche, les représentants du gouvernement ou
d’autres institutions académiques.
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• L’agronomie et l’alimentation
• La santé, Les médicaments, …
• La génie héréditaire
• La nanotechnologie,
Les universités privées qui ont développé des institutions de recherche profitent
d’autres sources de financement. Il s’agit, par exemple, de différencier leurs
interventions entre activités «à but lucratif» et «à but non lucratif ». Les
activités à but lucratif ont lieu à travers des structures internes flexibles qui ont
en charge la scolarisation, lݎducation continue et les services de formation.
Ce produit à but lucratif est partiellement destiné à soutenir les activités de
recherche sans but lucratif, il incite les membres du corps professoral de lancer
des projets de recherche appliquée.
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♦ Préparation à l’insertion professionnelle:
♦ 57% d’étudiants sont mal informés sur le marché de travail, 65%
n’ont pas de formation à la recherche d’emploi.
♦ 70% des universités ont peu de moyens d’informer les étudiants sur
l’évolution du marché du travail.
♦ 70% des universités ont un réseau des anciens élèves, mais pas toujours
utile pour la recherche d’emploi.
♦ Le secteur publique = stabilité.
♦ Le secteur privé = salaire, spécialisation, carrière.
♦ Formations:
♦ La formation des ingénieurs et des cadres est jugée moyennement
satisfaisante.
♦ Des modules de communication, d’économie et de langues sont
intégrées a la formation, mais moins le droit, la gestion, le management
ou la gestion des ressources.
♦ Les moyens pédagogiques sont : les travaux pratiques, les P.F.E., les
exposes publics, les études de cas, les travaux tutorés, les conférences
d’industriels, les mises en situations professionnelles et les interventions
spécifiques.
♦ Stages:
♦ Les entreprises déplorent le manque de pratique et estiment la durée
des stages insuffisants.
♦ 50% des stages sont théoriques et se déroulent au sein de l’université
ou de ses laboratoires.
♦ Le bureau de liaison Entreprise-Université est moins répandu que
l’association des anciens diplômés.
♦ 70% des universités proposent un système d’aide à la recherche des
stages.
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♦ Compétences attendues en termes de personnalité:
♦ 85% des entreprises réclament : la capacité à travailler en équipe,
l’autonomie, l’initiative, la capacité d’évolution et d’adaptation, le
sens des responsabilités.
♦ L’ouverture à l’international, à l’inter-culturalité à est fondamentale
dans notre économie.
Conclusion
Aujourd’hui, il est indéniable que le secteur privé joue un rôle crucial dans
les économies régionales. Le financement public reste un élément clé pour
soutenir des interactions université-industrie. Bien que la conception des
politiques éducatives et économiques qui prennent en compte l’économie d›une
région, la culture et de l’ethos, constituent des mécanismes plus efficaces pour
promouvoir l’intégration des universités à l’économie locale, leurs résultats
resteront limités si les ressources consacrées à cet objectif restent insignifiants.
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For an Authentic Lebanese Strategic Plan
for Engineering Education in Lebanon
Abstract
Learning through education represents the one human activity that influences
life most. Investment in education leads to economic growth, poverty
alleviation, reduced mortality rate, better health, conscious citizenry, and
improvement in the quality of life. To achieve its intended purpose, the
educational experience and processes must be: congruent with the context
and address societal concerns, support community aspirations and needs, and
develop talents to transform surely occurring challenges to possibilities. It
is incumbent on all players of the education sector to establish an authentic
framework by which accountability of the institutions of higher learning is
assured, their alignment with authentically established goals is evidenced,
their impact on the nation is measured, and their footprints on advancing the
national agenda are documented. We propose the establishing of a strategy
for engineering education in Lebanon, dubbed the National Engineering
Education Strategic Initiative (NEESI) that aims to develop the authentic
education framework to leverage resources beyond their apparent value.
Introduction
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in shaping the future. It is fair to say that the root cause of poverty, declining
social cohesion, insolence to deteriorating infrastructure and services, and
rampant corrupting attitudes is an education system that lacks focus and
purpose. Failure of a nation to build, institutionalize and continually improve
its educational system and related processes will become the “sports of every”
destabilizing “wind.”
Lebanon’s future is uncertain. The country spends more than 40% of its Gross
Domestic Product (GDP) to service its debt, and the debt is mounting. The
majority of the Lebanese are burdened with the high cost of living necessities
while economic growth is anemic at best. On the Corruption Perception
Index 2010, Lebanon’s score stands at 2.5, 10 being the cleanest [1]. The
unemployment rate among youth 1522- years is about 22% [2]. Where the
economic and educational health of a nation is measured by the bandwidth
of internet connectivity, among other measures, Lebanon struggles to have
uninterrupted electricity and no signs for miracles loom in the horizon. It
is insane in the midst of a crisis to engage in an endless blaming game - the
favorite sport among those who hold the key for any change - all the while
the fabric of the nation is 2 deteriorating by the day. Taking a look at our
behavior on the “street” one sees the level of “objectivity” of the Lebanese
elite - the role models for future generations - as they discuss national matters
of importance; the careless driving habits that wreak havoc and endanger
lives; “the profligate and hedonistic habits” of the youth; the lack of tolerance
toward one another; the absence of respect to the institutions and the
desecrations of public properties and laws; the blasphemy committed against
natural resources and the environment; The deteriorating climate for reason
to find its “voice”; “On and on the rain will fall like tears from the stars” and
the rest of us are insolent all the while. Our response to what is happening is
a sign of how oblivious to the level of intellectual and spiritual corruption we
have stooped. We opt to remain silent to the wrongs as long as our individual
needs and interests are met. Worst still, who dares to speak out? Freedom
and democratic expressions are risky propositions. The fight over who our
enemy is continues when the enemy thrives in our midst. “We got where we
are because of the busy man in the mirror” who forgot that “evil flourishes
when good men do nothing.”
The good news is that there is hope for change and a “crisis is a terrible
thing to waste!” However a sense of purpose has to emerge and a profound
shift in our attitudes is sorely needed - from one that is what is in it for
me and my cronies to one defined by what is in it for all, the nation, and
Page | 94
the world. Shifting attitudes requires deep reflection and reaching back. We
have to realize that it is suicidal to think that solutions can be outsourced or
imported. Solutions emanate from within, by doing the simple things right.
Above all other human actions and choices, education remains the only hope
and the one human activity that lifts the human spirit and advances the human
conditions. From a pure economic stand point, “education is an important
part of living standards” and “countries that don’t invest widely in education
find it hard to attract foreign investment in businesses that depend on a skilled
labor force [3].” However, it is not only “the economy stupid”, but economic
wellbeing, supported by intellectual capacities, as history teaches us, defines a
sustainable trajectory for individuals and nations to tread.
A report issued by the World Bank (WB) in 2007 [4] paints a grim picture
about the future of development in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
countries. The report states that despite the huge investment in education
over the past 40 years (5% of GDP and 20% of government budgets) the
educational system in the Arab World has fewer educational outcomes; has
not produced what the markets needed; focuses on repetition of definitions
and knowledge of facts and concepts and less on developing critical-thinking
and problemsolving capacities; suffers from high dropout rates; and is not
fully equipped to produce graduates with the skills and expertise necessary
to compete in a world where knowledge is essential for making progress.
Graduates attain low scores on international tests and their capacity to
innovate or adopt new technologies does not appear to be high. All the while,
the region has to contend with the largest cohorts of young people in the world
in proportion to its population and the increasing demand of globalization
for a different mix of skills.
The report exhorts the MENA countries to “travel a new road”. While
investment in education is a necessary condition for faster development and
prosperity, it is by no means sufficient. It calls for a shift from “engineering
inputs” to “engineering for results”, a change in the behavior of key education
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actors – teachers, administrators, and educational authorities, and the
instituting of incentives and public accountabilities measures that link school
and teachers performances to students› results and market outcomes.
The report however lacked the brutal honesty that invites drastic actions
commensurate with the gathering storm. While reflecting the correct expert
opinion, the report ignored “the elephant in the room” and veiled the real
problem with politically correct statements. By focusing on the economic
rather than the social and cultural dimensions of education, the remedy the
report offered misses the point which, in the authors’ opinion, is the most
important one. Cultural and social attitudes greatly influence all matters of
life, including economic growth. They define the context and in return are
shaped by it. Educational reform efforts that do transform cultural attitudes
to embrace entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation will be futile.
The World Economic Forum held a Special Meeting to address the fundamental
conditions required to revive economic growth and create the jobs needed to
accelerate human development in the Arab World [5]. The meeting made
an “urgent call for action to support positive outcomes in the region” and
improve and reform the educational systems “to provide students with the
skills they will need to find and hold good jobs.” They also exhorted businesses
to communicate and work with academic institutions to ensure that curricula
give students the skills that companies are looking for [5].
The forum’s recommendations fell short of addressing the heart of the problem.
If the focus is just on a skilled work force we miss a major point in the role of
higher education, which is to: harvest leaders, advance meritocracy, “connect
talent and ideas”, transform culture, shape attitudes, nurture creativity,
innovation, and entrepreneurship, and serve as economic development
engines. Skills are necessary but not sufficient to affect the contemporary
world.
A key to a fruitful life and secured future is “comfort with ideas and
abstractions”, creativity, and innovation – the magical outcome of high levels
of education.
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John F. Kennedy had said that “When written in Chinese the word crisis is
composed of two characters. One represents danger, and the other represents
opportunity!” Higher Education actors in Lebanon have the potential to
reform the educational process and prepare the Transform Lebanon (TL)
generation that is properly equipped to move the society forward regardless
of the future difficulties.
Page | 97
government agencies, intellectuals, economists, and the Order of Engineers.
Such a task force may be initiated by the Ministry of Higher Education and
supported by all stakeholders. The committee’s responsibility is to develop a
strategic plan for engineering education in Lebanon within a specified time
frame that would serve as a model for other Arab countries to follow. The
keys to a successful effort are strong leadership, unshakable commitment, and
assurance that committee’s recommendations will be seriously considered.
Led by the MoHE and supported through a Tempus grant, a proposal for
establishing an accreditation board for engineering programs in Lebanon,
dubbed Lebanese Accreditation Board for Engineering (LABE), has been
crafted by a group of engineering professors from all universities in Lebanon
in 2007. The proposal is the subject of one presentation in this meeting.
Accreditation will be an important part of the strategy proposed herein.
However, relying solely on such models defeats the purpose; the strategy must
include all dimensions of the Lebanese story: social, economic, environmental,
and cultural diversity, and to be as authentic as the Cedars: authentic goals,
authentic outcomes, authentic measures, and authentic processes.
The NEES must craft authentic goals and measures of their attainment to help
engineering colleges offer relevant programs and induce necessary changes
to achieve these goals. The strategy must also articulate the attributes of
engineering programs to leverage and sustain Lebanon’s assets - environment,
cultural heritage, industry, agriculture, natural resources, and most importantly
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human resources; the elements of authentic general education component
to build community conscious citizens; a plan to increase the mobility and
exchange of students and faculty among institutions; methods to promote
diversity while maintaining conformity with established quality standards;
and guidelines to promote social integration. Specific ideas to include in the
strategy that relate to these attributes are briefly outlined below.
Authentic Goals. This may be the most important outcome of the strategy.
These goals must be formulated to conform to the needs of all Lebanese
entities with vested interest in the educational outcomes of engineering
programs. Authentically derived goals guide engineering programs to define a
clear purpose and align their resources and activities with to achieve tangible
and meaningful results.
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the students, the institution, and the society at large. It enables parents and
students choose the programs that meet their educational aims; provides
concrete rather than anecdotal evidence on how well a program is achieving
stated goals; hold authorities accountable to all constituencies; and entices
institutions to support deficient programs to enhance the educational
conditions.
National Engineering Aptitude Exam. Exams, imperfect as they may be, serve
an important purpose which is to measure the ability of engineering graduates
in applying engineering fundamentals, critical thinking skills, and modern
technologies to create meaningful solutions. Bulletin boards scream of claims
that engineering programs in the advertising university offer “American
Style Education” and that their programs are accredited somehow. Enacting
a national exam and publishing the results for all to see would hopefully
support such claims with evidence or discourage such claims if they cannot be
corroborated. This also would help parents make better choices for their kids’
education and employers hiring graduates with the right set of skills.
Mobility and Exchange. The strategy should establish the conditions by which
students and faculty can spend a semester or a year at an institution other
than his/her home one. A mobility friendly system promotes best practices,
creates the conditions for faculty members to team up on projects of profound
consequences and for students to interact and experience different learning
methodologies, and facilitates displacement of faculty and students to the
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university that best suit their needs and aspirations.
An After Thought
I end with this anecdote quoted from [7]. On December 15, 2005 the council
on Competitiveness in the United States hosted a National Innovation
Initiative Summit to release its long-term study “Innovate America: Thriving
in a World of Challenge and Change”. Several months after the report came
out, the Chinese vice minister of science and technology visited members of
the council. When over lunch a council member attempted to present a copy
of the report to the Chinese envoy, the vice minister told his hosts that the
report had already been translated to Chinese and a plan is underway to
integrate its findings into the twenty-year strategic plan!
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References
[1] http://www.transparency.org/policy_research/surveys_indices/cpi/2010/
results
[2] http://www.indexmundi.com/g/r.aspx?t=0&v=2229&l=en
[4] MENA Development Report: The Road Not Travelled: Education Reform
in the Middle East and Africa, The World Bank, 2008
[5] Economic Growth and Job Creation in the Arab World, Report by the
World Economic Forum, 2011.
[6] http://www.higher-edu.gov.lb
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The order of Engineering and Architects and Continuing
Education
1. Abstract
There is no doubt that the citizens, especially the engineers, are one of the
most important assets of a nation for its development at all levels: economic,
social, technical, technological, etc… Thus, in this context, the preparation
of engineers to face the challenges in this century as well to move forward
with the company, society and the country is an important endeavor by all
concerned parties and particularly the Order of Engineers and Architects
(OEA). The contribution of the latter can be manifested at different levels.
One level involves the role of providing Continuing Education (CE) for
engineers to bring them up to date with the current technology, techniques
and tools. This can be accomplished in collaboration with universities,
industries and experts in the field. Thus, an objective is to encourage a life
–long learning process among its members. The continuing education can
be reflected through seminars, workshops, competitions, commons projects,
round table discussions, training, courses etc... It can be extended to develop
needed programs (sequence of courses) in cooperation with universities
and industries. Thus, the markets should be analyzed and the needs of the
company (ies) and the country identified to achieve the intended growth and
development. Consequently, a plan can be devised; reports can be written on
the current trends and are disseminated to all parties. The success involves
an active cooperation and the encouragement of the members who own
companies/industries which are in great needs of specialized skills and have
the eagerness to compete in the world market. Another level is to help “re-
training” engineers by integrating them in companies within the vision of the
OEA. Another level will be the encouragement of good quality CE courses or
programs so that the engineers will be prepared (technically, ethically, etc…)
to face the challenges ahead.
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2. Introduction
The innovation and the advancement that are observed in engineering, science
and technology in today world are changing at a rapid pace and are shaping
most aspects (if not all) of the world that we, as human beings, are living in. The
fast changes require a change in the attitudes and the behaviors of learning at
different levels: the students (future engineers), the company and the country.
First, the continuous professional development of an engineer would improve
his knowledge in his field and discipline, increase his competitiveness and
his ability to compete with other engineers graduated locally, regionally and
internationally. It is also a valuable and important key component in the
formation (development) of the knowledge society. Otherwise, the knowledge
of the engineer becomes obsolete and the latter will perish from the markets.
Second, the competiveness is highly valuable among the engineering firms or
industries that require the engineers’ skills and expertise in order to survive in
the market. Unlike the universities, the companies are profitable organizations.
Thus, their personals, especially the engineers, should be well prepared and
up to date with the state of-art-technologies and tools and consequently
be capable to incorporate the new acquired skills and technologies in their
designs and products at competitive prices and with high quality standards.
Furthermore, the engineers’ development can pave the way for the companies
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to perform “Research and Development”, a principle component to produce
a new information and technologies (not a consumer). Subsequently, the
companies can compete, innovate, increase their gains and assets, and be a
leader in the corresponding market. Thus, the professional development of
their employees becomes valuable and vital for their growth and survival
economically, technologically, etc… Third, the continuous development of
the engineers is highly critical in the economical growth of the country and its
development at all levels.
A. National Role
As already stated, the professional development of the engineers is crucial
for the growth and development of the country. In this context, a national
policy and strategy should be put forth to keep the country in general,
and the society in particular, in a continuous change towards a successful
and sustainable future. The fulfillment of such endeavor requires the close
cooperation between companies, universities, OEAs and the government.
This cooperation can be manifested by the creation of a national continuous
education committee.
The OEA is in position to play a role at that level. The pool of its members
is mainly engineers who are employed by various engineering/industrial
companies, higher educational institutions (faculties and instructors),
engineering consultants and owners of engineering offices or companies. The
OEA can be easily in contact with its various members to gather the required
information. Furthermore, some members might be “potential students”.
In this context, a Local Continuing Education Committee can be created
within the OEA to collect the valuable information (market, required skills
and competence, needs and trends for a successful future …). Subsequently,
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an analysis can be made; a report is written (for example on an annual basis)
with a set of recommendations and can be disseminated to all concerned
parties.
C. Role: Awareness
The success of such endeavor is based on the degree of awareness, and
motivation of the concerned parties about the professional development of
the engineers. They should believe in such endeavor and have a great stake in
pursuing such process for their survival with a great enthusiasm and zealous.
However, the awareness and motivation may not be the same among the
different entities. Therefore, the OEA could play the role of encouragement
and an awareness campaign might be put forth to show its benefits to all
concerned parties.
The awareness can be extended to the public, a role the OEA can play. That
is, courses can be designed to respond to their needs. For example, a course
or a set of seminars about what a household should know about electrical
hazards at home and the electrical safety measures can be developed.
D. Role: Delivering
The OEA can be active and translate its recommendations into concrete
programs. Courses can be offered at locations and schedules that are very
convenient to the members/public and at an affordable cost. Actually, the
activity may be incorporated in its services. The implementation should
take into consideration that the engineers are of different background and
the activity is interdisciplinary. The course is an applied course and closely
related to the engineers’ jobs. The theoretical aspect should be limited to
what is needed and can be given as a supplement. The given material should
complement and/or supplement his current work. The contents can be
developed in order to re-orient the engineer’s competence (for example, the
participant is promoted to another position and he does not have an adequate
competence and skills) or his engineering carrier in the same field. Another
venue would be to integrate the state-of-art technologies and new skills
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in his field into his current work and projects. In this context, an engineer
can “renew” and update his information, knowledge and skills. Besides the
encouragement for self-study, the process can be manifested through different
schemes:
i) Seminars (technical...): the development is achieved gradually and in
small amount. It can be geared towards what the engineer requires
to know for improving his carrier, achieving satisfaction and a good
level of sustainability. The seminars can be extended to conferences.
ii) Review courses and short courses: it can be offered to its members
as well as to the interested public. Thus, the latter is incorporated in
the process and becomes aware and conscious of the objectives and
importance of the continuing education learning.
iii) Workshops: similar to seminars, they are directed to a particular
subject and are finished by solving a particular problem. One
approach may involve a small group of engineers discussing an
issue in a round table platform).
iv) Programs: they could be manifested through a set of sequence courses
at different levels: education, capacity building in his current field,
switch expertise, etc…
v) Training: this can be manifested by “retraining” engineers who are
“out of work”.
4. Discussion
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competence and skills. In this context, the evaluation of the professional
development process is in accordance in order to determine if the objectives
and learning outcomes are fulfilled (learning level). The offered course should
not be “a copy and paste” from a local or international university’s course. The
contents should respond to the needs of the market or the customer that has
requested the course. Furthermore, teaching methodologies and appropriate
tools that lead to the best results should be selected and practiced. Besides,
the work environment can affects the success of such endeavor. For example,
if the manager or a chairman in a particular institution does not emphasize
(or is not motivated about) long-life learning, the employee will relax and
the results will be catastrophic in achieving the intended objectives from such
process.
5. Conclusion
The awareness and the motivation may indicate the level of interest of the
concerned parties and consequently they will be reflected in the devised
plan. With the right instructors, contents, delivery methods and skills, the
professional development process can increase the chance of success and can
lead to the development of the engineer, the competitiveness of the company
and the growth of the country.
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“Values and Engineering Ethics- Joining the Order &
Practicing”
Safety and welfare of the society are the paramount values recognized by
engineers. In fulfilling these objectives, engineers travel the highway of
concept, design, execution, commissioning and control. Along this road many
situations arise. This paper will try to outline these stops and point out the
critical salient features considering the importance of maintaining the proper
values and ethics. We will try to highlight the Lebanese practice in view of the
Lebanese engineering practice law. Recommendations for good practice will
be outlined as a conclusion.
It seems we came to an era where values and ethics need to be taught even at
universities. While searching and surfing for materials to help me in this respect
I found a university where they do give a minor specialty in “Engineering
Ethics and Values” This indicates that no matter how knowledgeable one
can get he needs guidance in applying this knowledge: contemporary ethical
problems, Business ethics, Foundation of ecological ethics are elements to
guide us in our profession.
Repetitive failures raised the concern to the many causes of which negligence
was a major unforgiveable one. While pursuing our research in the aim to
achieve and know the behavior of materials and to improve their strength, it
is our duty to know accurately the limits of these properties.
While using these materials and methods people, institutions, societies and
associations of professionals felt the need to device a set of rules under the
label of code of ethics to regulate the practice of engineering profession.
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Time and knowledge are determining criteria in our responsibility toward
the community. The diverse specialties in the engineering profession impose
on us a diverse and wide set of ethical basics. Word such as sustainability is
becoming a guide in our daily life.
A major question we should ask ourselves could lie on the similar following
set of rules:
In our local society it is our duty and obligation to elevate ourselves to higher
standards and keep respect to our profession. Let us not limit it as some does
to the final signature we apply on the construction permit application. During
my experience as an engineering professor I felt myself degraded on many
occasions when asked plainly by student’s parents or relatives:
• Professor when will my son be able to sign engineering official
documents?
• How much will he collect per square meter?
• Could he sign permits while staying abroad?
These questions used to hurt me deep inside and still do, when I look around
me at how some of us are practicing our profession.
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faulty structural design could end up in. Imagine what an under designed dam
failure could result in. Our responsibilities are tremendous and consequently
our work should aim to the perfection.
I believe that we do have to stress nowadays more than before on the ethical
values in education at the universities. We have to remind ourselves of the
huge responsibility to society. What wrong doing and mistakes we see around
us is in part our responsibility. I am sure that there are few engineers among
us who could be covering for the ill doing of others .Let us stand together and
fight these behaviors.
The order of engineers in Lebanon is almost the only one among other
profession who does not have yet an imposed required training program or
colloquium.
Engineers are grabbling with the ethical dilemmas posed by everyday conflicts
between the economic and environmental requirement of their work.
At the end of our session I would like to close up using the remaining time
by asking all of us to repeat the following after me as a sign of commitment
and achievement of this day. What I am proposing is to repeat an oath I took
almost 43 years ago on the graduation day at AUB. I believe that it is still
required from all of us engineers as is the Hippocratic Oath to physicians.
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تو�سيات املوؤمتر ا ْالول للتعليم الهند�سي يف لبنان
املنعقد يف نقابة املهند�شني يف بريوت 28ـــ �شباط ـــ 2012
تعزيز دور وزارة الرتبية والتعليم العايل من اأجل تطوير املعايري والأطر .1
الناظمة ملهنة الهند�ضة يف لبنان.
اإن�ضاء هيئة م�ضتقلة من اجلهات املعنية يف قطاع الهند�ضة لو�ضع خطة .2
ا�ضرتاتيجية وطنية لهذا القطاع.
تاأ�ضي�س هيئة اعتماد م�ضتقلة موثوق بها لربامج الهند�ضة مبا يتنا�ضب مع .3
املعايري العاملية ( )LABEتعتمد على م�ضروع .LEPAC
اإ�ضافة مقررات درا�ضية حول حماية البيئة ،الثقافة ،اأخالقيات املهنة وريادة .4
الأعمال.
تعزيز التعاون بني اجلامعات واأرباب العمل ( ال�ضناعي) لت�ضهيل درا�ضة .5
احلاجات للربامج اجلديدة وفر�س العمل والتدريب والأبحاث.
ت�ضجيع اجلامعات على عقد اتفاقات تعاون بني اجلامعات يف لبنان واخلارج .6
لتعزيز تبادل الطالب واأع�ضاء هيئة التدري�س وتعزيز البحث العلمي والإنتاج
ال�ضناعي.
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THE ORGANIZING COMMITTEE
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Dr. Michel Najjar, Vice President for Development,
Administration and Public Relation, Dean
Faculty of Engineering, University of
Balamand
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