Under the patronage of His Excellency the Minister of Industry Dr Hussein Haj Hassan, Al Maaref University held a building opening ceremony of the Faculty of Engineering and Sciences on Tuesday 13 February 2018 at the University campus in Beirut, with the participation of the Director General of Higher Education, and in the presence of the representative of the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Lebanon, the Chargé d'Affaires Mohamed Fadli, President of the Lebanese University, represented by the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering Prof. Rafiq Younis, President of Beirut International University Dr. Abdul Rahim Murad, represented by the Vice President Academic Dr Ali Tarabeh, President of the University of Sciences and Arts in Lebanon, represented by Dr. Nasri Harb, President of the Lebanese Association for the Advancement of Science Professor Naim Ouaini, Director General of the Internal Security Forces, represented by Colonel Mohammed Damen, Director General of Public Security, represented by Major Haider Qubaisi, Director General of State Security, represented by Major Ibrahim Sharkawi, Advisor Director of the Center for Remote Sensing of the National Council for Scientific Research, Dr. Ghaleb Faour, Director General of the Islamic Foundation for Education Dr Hussein Shariatmadar, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Amal Educational Institutions, Dr. Reza Saada, Mayor of Ghubairi, Mr. Maan Khalil, and a group of deans and professors as well as an assembly of trade unions, cultural and scientific representatives of educational institutions, school principals, research centers and large numbers of interested engineers. Several members of the University Board of Trustees and members of the academic and administrative bodies were also participating in the building opening ceremony.

The ceremony started with a recitation of verses from the Holy Quran, followed by the Lebanese National Anthem and a short film show about the Faculty of Engineering and Science, in which the Vice President and Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Professor Jalal Jomaa, spoke about the distinguishing study program features of the faculties of Engineering and Sciences in Al Maaref University, particularly the cutting-edge technologies and labs that engineering and sciences students would be accessible to them.

After welcoming the guests, the President of Al Maaref University, Professor Ali Aladdin, said "opening the building of Engineering and Sciences is a true support for the local and international exchange of scientific and practical knowledge that aims at the development of technology that secures an enrichment of human civilization."  The University President, as well, stressed the idea that "the university contributes in establishing the ethical, creative and effective human being and takes part in the renaissance and building-capacity of society and nation based on adherence to scientific and academic quality standards and securing all their modern requirements."

In his turn, the Director General of Higher Education Professor Ahmed Jammal said "Al Maaref University was the first Lebanese university that got audited by both the Technical Committee and the newly established Specialized Committees according to the new higher education laws. The University has proved its eligibility for getting licenses for the establishment of faculties as well as for starting its teaching operations in them." 

The Director General of Higher Education confirmed that Al Maaref University has been committed fully to the implementation of all the quality assurance requirements since its establishment” and reminded that  "for the renewal of recognition of certificates, all higher education institutions must adhere to all the quality assurance standards, with no further delays”.

For his part, Head of the Engineering Syndicate, the Architect Jad Tabet said in his speech that "engineering is an art, science, planning and intervention in all fields and covers the daily needs of people." He pointed out that "the organizers’ commitment to educational ethics was an encouraging incentive to attend the opening of the Faculty of Engineering and Sciences at Al Maaref University". He added that , "the universities in Lebanon have opened numerous channels of communication in a range of sciences-related fields through conferences as well as have set up a number of follow-up initiatives related to the scientific progress and development”. He hoped that "the Faculty of Engineering at Al Maaref University will manage to produce a leading and innovative model of engineering in Lebanon”.

The Minister, Dr. Hussain Haj Hassan, the sponsor of the celebration, stressed the idea at the start of the speech that "Al Maaref University aims to add qualitative and quantitative value to higher education and Lebanon’. He stated that “the membership to this university is an honor to me and such a university represents a object of hope”.

The Minister, continued his speech by saying that "We need more precise procedures to raise the quality assurance level of higher education”. He drew the attention that “The implementation of the quality assurance is sensitive, and thus, it needs to be placed under the highest degree of official follow-up”. For him, such a standpoint would entail having “quality assurance not only on a voluntary basis, but also on obligatory basis to ensure common and accurate accountability standards for its implementation and oversight”.

Afterwards, the University President awarded three honorary shields to the Minister of Industry, the Director General of Higher Education and the Head of Engineering Syndicate as a tribute for their valuable and concerted efforts in the development of the higher education sector. As well, the University President presented an honorary shield for winning the 2017 Publons Peer Review Award to Professor Hussin Hijazi, the Vice President for Development and Quality Assurance and the Dean of the Faculty of Business.

At the end of the building opening ceremony, the participants visited the new premises of the Engineering and Science Faculties where the ribbon-cutting event took place, marking of this, the official opening and operation of a newly-equipped location with the latest cutting-edge and educational technologies in engineering and sciences. Subsequently, the participants had an opportunity to tour the well-quipped classrooms and applied labs, during which they learned about the high technical equipment used in engineering and science education.

The tour ended with a cocktail party.