Through the national Lebanese University (LU), Lebanon achieved advanced positions globally ranking among the Top 300 universities globally, among the first 10 positions in the Arab world and the 2nd locally in the “Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2020” (THE) that assess universities against the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (namely SDGs 3, 4, 5, 8, 10, 12, 13, 17).

The Lebanese University also ranked 83rd worldwide at the level of “SDG 8 - Decent Work & Economic Growth”, translated in the desire and confidence of the local and global labor market to receive LU graduates.

On this occasion coinciding with the LU 69th Anniversary, the President, Prof. Fouad Ayoub, addressed the Lebanese and LU people:

"The Lebanese University celebrates this year its 69th Founding Day, which was supposed to be a celebration day honoring the achievements of its professors and students who distinguished in the fields of science, research, leadership and innovation, and who provided to their community and the world an added value and a human contribution worthy of honor.

Because of the coronavirus crisis, gatherings were prohibited and activities were cancelled except those vital. We, the people of the university, the administrators, professors and students, were engaged in fighting this pandemic, whether at the level of remote education, or in providing support to our medical team present at the front line of defense, or in creating the necessary devices and applications that assist in the treatment and prevention and contribute to reducing human losses at this phase.

Now is not the convenient time for reminding of the LU achievements and contributions made to the community, because this is the least of our duty during any crisis. We did not also postpone our congratulations on the LU 69th Anniversary because of the workload, rather, we waited for a worldwide recognition to the contribution of the LU to achieving the 2015 UN SDGs, eight of which were measured by “THE” in its recent results. SDGs are of great importance because measuring the impact of the university on achieving the SDGs shows its impact on its social and natural environment, and assesses the overall development benefit of its activities in relation to its community and the world.

We waited for these results to present our congratulations, for you, the people of the university on the 69th Founding Day, whether you were employees, professors or students, retired or graduates, because, you all contributed and still are contributing to the prestige of this university.

Thus, as I promised two years ago, after the LU received international accreditation by the High Council for Evaluation of Research and Higher Education (Hcéres) in Europe and France, we also participated for the first time in university rankings conducted by international institutions, the first of which was the “Times Higher Education World University Rankings” that assess universities against the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (namely SDGs 3, 4, 5, 8, 10, 12, 13, 17).

The LU Presidency formed a team from the Office of Communication & Information in the Central Administration and a group of professors and administrators who dedicated their time to collect all required information from all faculties and departments. All information along with the supporting documents were submitted to “THE”, whose results were recently released. In fact, the LU ranked, along with the American University of Beirut (AUB), among the Top 300 universities globally, the Top 10 in the Arab region and 2nd in Lebanon.

It is worth noting that LU ranked 83rd worldwide at the level of “SDG 8 - Decent Work & Economic Growth”, translated in the desire and confidence of the local and global labor market to receive LU graduates.

During these tough times that Lebanon is witnessing, we are proud to disseminate positivity, and extend our congratulations to our colleagues at the AUB. We offer this achievement to the Lebanese and the LU people. We are confident that their faith in their university and its role in the advancement of the Lebanese community will be stronger, that they will have faith again in the rise of their country, thanks to their determination and creativity, in which we all rejoice and rely on."

Long Live Lebanon & the Lebanese University