The American University of Beirut (AUB) plans to open new campuses outside Lebanon, according to AUB President Fadlo Khuri.
One of the two planned new campuses will be opened to Lebanon’s west, while the other will be opened to the east, Khuri said during the 156th Opening Day Ceremony on Monday, without elaborating on the exact locations.
“To further diversify, over the course of the next 12 to 24 months, we hope to launch new AUB campuses, one to the West and one to the East of our eternal home in Beirut,” he said.
After speculations surfaced regarding the fate of AUB‘s original Beirut campus, the university assured in a statement that the Beirut campus will remain, yet without clarifying where outside Lebanon the two new campuses will open.
“We hope to launch AUB campuses, one to the West & one to the East of Lebanon to reach students who can no longer come here, but will remain strongly anchored in Beirut – our eternal home – which we have helped shape, grow, and serve for over a century and a half.”
Established in 1866, AUB has grown over the last 155 years to become one of the most prominent universities in the region.
However, like other institutions in Lebanon, the university has been hit by the crippling economic crisis that has depleted fuel from the market and greatly exacerbated power cuts.
After its fuel stock reached a critical threshold, AUB had to switch off its air conditioning last month to prioritize critical functions.