The University of Sciences and Arts in Lebanon celebrated the graduation of its students, under the patronage of the Minister of Culture in the caretaker government, Judge Muhammad Wissam Al Murtada, and in the presence of MP Fadi Alama, the General Director of Al Mabarrat Charity Association Dr. Mohammad Baker Fadlallah, the Head of the Educational Centre for Research and Development Hiam Ishaq and the Chief of Cabinet for the Minister of Education and Higher Education Ramza Jaber, in addition to actors from educational bodies, trade unions and political parties.

Dr. Mohammad Reda Fadlallah

After playing the National Anthem and the University Anthem, the University President Dr. Mohammad Reda Fadlallah delivered a speech, in which he emphasized that “the University of Sciences and Arts in Lebanon was the dream of the late Religious Authority Sayyid Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah. The University staff thus focuses on providing students with the opportunity for active learning which promotes creativity, innovation and excellence on administrative, academic, educational and value-based levels, reaping distinction and realizing this dream”.

Dr. Fadlallah added: “We have been witnessing a political crisis negatively affecting our dear country, directly impacting the daily lives of parents. This has worried educational institutions, especially universities, trying to reach a standpoint which meets the needs of the institutions while observing people’s lives. We were accordingly keen to adopt a realistic and humanitarian approach, bearing in mind parents’ financial capacity, concentrating, in the same time, on the quality of education”. He noted that “the University adopted financial plans which included up to 50% scholarships for orphans with the assistance of Al Mabarrat Charity Association, and up to 100% scholarships for distinguished students. The university also established a student support fund for financially incapable students funded by good people”.

Marwa Deeb

During this event, there was a visual presentation of the students’ experience during their university life. The student speech was later delivered by Marwa Deeb who said: “Allow me to say that our generation is exceptional; on the onset of our university life, we faced a pandemic that nearly isolated us from our beloved ones, and kept us away from our dreams which were within sight. We have lost a lot, and we have witnessed our families’ financial suffering within the folds of a tyring economic crisis. Nevertheless, we found salvation in perseverance, and the university has always been our haven to go through the path of knowledge, and to unveil creativity and distinction within. Attending at the university felt like coming from our homes to our home, leaving our families to meet our families here”.

Al Murtada

On his part, Judge Muhammad Wissam Al Murtada recalled the Religious Authority Sayyid Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah “who inspired generations to be steadfast on the right path, flexible during discussions, true to neighbours, loving to others and to accept differences”.

Al Murtada added: “It is my pleasure to sponsor this event taking place here today, after we lately commemorated the death of Sayyid Fadlallah, whose mind, humanity, love, citizenship, culture and guidance are much needed in these exceptionally critical times for our country. Lebanon needs you because you are the continuity of his message of patriotism, citizenship and education”.

He addressed the graduates saying: “You shall outgrow all the crises and problems storming our country, for you are its wealth and hope. And as you move from the stage of education into the labour market, and from a place filled with loving words to where you cherish words, may you hold within your hearts the spirit of the late Religious Authority, Sayyid Fadlallah in all that he had wished for since the first days of these institutions. As we have commemorated his death, we bear in mind that he wanted us to walk through this path together, to build these institutions together and to put our hands together to build the human being he longed to see in us with all his mind and heart”.

By the end of this event, the head of Student Affairs Office, Zeinab Shaiban, announced the commencement of the graduation ceremony, after which certificates were handed to students while taking photographs.