Civic Engagement in the Lebanese Higher Education

Higher education has never played a more central role in societal and economic development than today. All stakeholders, including government and socioeconomic actors look to higher education in order to deliver on important goals. These goals include among others socio-economic development, skill levels improvement, social inclusion and cultural enhancement.

Inherent to its function, higher education has the potential to develop individuals so they contribute to society and societal development in meaningful and holistic ways. Throughout their learning path within higher education, students develop their critical thinking and independent thoughts. Universities shall be keen to develop their students’ analytical skills outside of their chosen field of study. This will equip them with necessary competency to negotiate the complexities of modern societies. Universities shall also work on fostering the skills and mindsets necessary to engage with and contribute to civic life while respecting democratic values and human rights.

Besides their central role in developing the economy of knowledge, the universities are required to lead the social development while preserving the social cohesion, the democratic values and human rights. The Lebanese universities are not exception in this regard, but rather this role is even more central in the local and regional context. The Erasmus+ Higher Education Reform Experts (HEREs) in Lebanon organise a one day seminar to discuss this important role of modern higher education and what is necessary to successfully accomplish this challenging mission.

The seminar will offer the occasion to review some good practices and successful approaches adopted in the European Higher Education Area. Several Lebanese experiences in the domain of civic engagement will also be presented together with the outcomes of several European Tempus and Erasmus+ projects. The major outcomes of the survey conducted by the HEREs at the occasion of this seminar will be also detailed. The presentations and discussions will be organised on three major axes:

• The civic engagement components in the academic programmes, curricula and courses
• The internal colleges’ activities related to civic engagement,
• The national community service projects that foster civic engagement.

Challenges and opportunities related to the development of the civic engagement will also be discussed.

Finally, a draft charter for civic engagement in the Lebanese higher education shall be presented and discussed.