University of Balamand

Mission Statement

The Académie Libanaise des Beaux-Arts (ALBA) is the first national institution for higher education in Lebanon. Since its creation in 1944, ALBA stands out as a leader in the field of Fine Arts and Design in the Middle-East. In 1988, it joins the University of Balamand. ALBA has been a pioneer in implementing innovative study programs maintaining its curricula at the leading edge of progress; these include: Architecture, Fine Arts, Interior Architecture, Global Design, Graphic Design, Cinema and Television, Urban Planning, and Landscape Architecture. This variety of programs offers students a unique educational experience through a multidisciplinary teaching approach thus stimulating their creativity. Teaching at ALBA is undertaken by prominent local and international professionals and academics from various renowned institutions to which ALBA is connected to through several cooperation agreements which serve to promote students’ mobility. Moreover, the participation in international workshops, be them in Lebanon or abroad, gives the students the opportunity to challenge their ideas and discover new ways of sound analytical and critical thinking methods. In 2004, ALBA adopts the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) in order to mainstream its programs with existing international educational platforms. Teaching in ALBA is mainly project-driven thus encouraging students to combine both theory and practice in a critical approach. This method is nurtured by several research programs implemented in various departments. Classes at ALBA are human-sized which allows students to receive a tailored and personalized follow-up. ALBA is strongly committed to excellence, innovation, and public support through mutual dialogue and participation with the Community of Lebanon represented through academic and public institutions, as well as the civil society. ALBA’s long-established professional network provides students with high-end employment opportunities tailored to local, regional, and international labor markets. Through their internationally renowned projects and the prizes awarded to them, ALBA’s graduates and Alumni alike bear witness to its well-acclaimed success.

International Role

For over 20 years now, ALBA has developed and established partnerships with a network of international like-minded institutions. The various educational partnerships were implemented through the different schools within the academy by developing strong bonds with institutions in France, Russia, Poland and Canada – to name a few. Intended to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and know-how, these partnerships allow: – Facilitating student and faculty exchanges – Organizing joint workshops – Creating shared artistic projects – Hosting keynote speakers for conferences – Organizing research colloquiums Every year, ALBA aims to establish more contacts with new schools and institutions to expand even more its network. This open exchange policy allows the students of ALBA to measure their work in different contexts and approaches, allowing for a more enriching curriculum. The academy also facilitates the participation of its students in several international events such as competitions, festivals, residencies, etc. during which the students have often been rewarded for their innovative work. A full list of our academic partners can be viewed here (http://alba.edu.lb/french/ecoles-d%E2%80%99arts-partenaires-de-l%E2%80%99ALBA-)

National Role

ALBA often participates and spearheads urban planning and design projects as well as architectural heritage preservation initiatives in collaboration with local municipalities (Saida, Tripoli, Chekka and Souk el Gharb). The academy also contributes to projects of restoration and preservation of historical and artistic heritage in partnership with the Lebanese ministry of culture such as setting-up a virtual museum for the art collection of the ministry. Other research projects include collaborations with local universities over topics such as ‘the audiovisual heritage of the Lebanese war’ in partnership with IESAV (Institut d'études scéniques audiovisuelles) and the “religious heritage’ in partnership with USEK (Holy Spirit University of Kaslik). ALBA also collaborates with local NGOs in organizing and hosting conferences and debates for instance a series of talks around ‘Simone de Beauvoir’ in collaboration with local NGO ‘Helem’. Similarly, ALBA has developed and nurtured long lasting partnerships to organize seminars, exhibitions and activities with several international cultural institutions such as the French cultural institute in Beirut, the Goethe institute, and others. ALBA plays an active role with local associations since Dean Professor André Bekhazi was the head of the Lebanese Order of Engineers and Architects for several years, and he and Ziad Akl –head of institute of Urban Planning at ALBA– are board members of the Urban Planning Association. Finally, through research ALBA has contributed to the revision of some laws and regulations in coordination with the Bar Association regarding Urban-planning regulations.

Main Focus

The Académie Libanaise des Beaux-Arts (ALBA) offers multidisciplinary curriculums with a large emphasis on versatility, creativity, one-on-one follow-up, project-based learning, and excellence. Programs proposed at ALBA target a multidisciplinary approach across all artistic languages with the objective of allowing students to master all tools capable of developing their creativity. In every department at ALBA, classes are tailored to the number of students where they benefit from a one-on-one personalized educational support from their professors. The pedagogy at ALBA focuses on a hands-on approach with emphasis on applied studio work. On the individual scale, this allows students to understand theory through practice; on the group level, this creates opportunities for shared experiences through teamwork and collaboration. Our fundamental goal at ALBA is to offer curricula that develop specialized know-how in the professional practice of our students and push them to achieve their maximum potential in their chosen careers – locally and internationally.