Higher Education in lebanon. Presentation in 2014 about the HE system

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Republic of Lebanon
Ministry of Education & Higher Education
DGHE
Ahmad JAMMAL
Director General of Higher Education
Tel: + 961.1.772500 - 772677
Fax: + 961.1.772529
Email: ajammal@higher-edu.gov.lb
ajammal@ieee.org
URL: http://www.higher-edu.gov.lb
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Higher Education in Lebanon:
Beginning of HE establishments in Lebanon was in 19th century:
- AUB started in 1866
- USJ Started in 1875
- Other Establishments was created during the 20th century,
- The Lebanese University (public) in 1953.
Now, we have 40 HE Institutions, they are classified as next:
- 1 public university (LU)
- 32 Private University
- 11 Private University Colleges & Institutes
- 4 universities & 2 Institutes (Needs Starting-up authorization)
We have 165 specialties in the different institutions

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In addition, we have Higher Technical Institutes.
Dependency of the Directorate General of Higher Education:
- Private universities: At least 3 Faculties ( 3 programs / faculty):
Deliver BS, MS, PhD
- Private university Colleges & Institutes ( equivalent to a Faculty):
Deliver BS, MS, PhD
Dependency of the Directorate General of Vocational &
Technical Education (DGVTE):
- Higher Technical Institutes (about 5000 students):
- TS Degree after 2 years (Official Exam)
- LT or LET Degree: 1 yr. after TS (Official Exam)
- Other Higher education Institutions:
Military college (Ministry of defense: BA in Military studies)
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In 2013-2014:
The number of students In the HE Institutions was 191788,
( Females: 104213, Males: 87575), 23178 Foreign
About Half of them at the Lebanese University (71440 Students),
Others are in private sector,
2007-2008 2009-2010 2010-2011 2011-2012 2012-2013
Lebanese 143291 151489 168610 166289 168610
Foreign 23874 29361 23178 26233 23178
Total 167165 180850 191788 192522 191788
0
50000
100000
150000
200000
250000
Student'sNb
Student's Nb 2007 to 2012

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2007-
2008
2009-
2010
2010-
2011
2011-
2012
2012-
2013
lebanese univ 74176 72813 71000 73698 71440
Private univ 92989 108037 119120 118824 120348
Total 167165 180850 190120 192522 191788
0
50000
100000
150000
200000
250000
Student'snumber Evolution of student's Number
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Research Master
DEA - MSc
Professional Master
DESS
Architecture of Higher Education system in Lebanon
Baccalaureate (General or Technical) - Freshman yr
Licence – BSc – BA BS Ing. DUT: BS
.Techo
(Teaching Diploma) Diploma (Maitrise)
M. Eng. or BE (AUB)
Engineering Diploma
3 yrs
3 yrs
3 yrs
5 yrs4 yrs
1 yr1 yr
2 yrs
1 yr
2 yrs
Doctorate - PhD
3 yrs
Medical Specialties:
1- Medical Doctor : 7 yrs
2- Dental Doctor : 5 yrs
3- Pharmacy : 5 yrs
4- physiotherapy : 4 yrs
5- Public Health (Nursery) : minimum 3 yrs
1 yr
2 yrs
Technical
Degrees
TS
3 yrs
LT LET
University
Degrees
2 yrs

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Historical Background:
Before 1992:
1- Council of Higher Education: 1961
2- Higher Council of Universities: 1967
3- Examination Boards in Health Sciences 1955: Colloquium Exams Committees
(Medical Doctor, Dental Doctor, Pharmacy, etc.
4- Equivalence Committee: 1955
5- Engineering Practice Committee: 1955
After 1992:
6- Directorate General of Culture & Higher Education 1992 : Ministry of
Culture & Higher Education
7- HE inst. New Criteria 1996 :Decree No 9274/96 & 8864/96
8- Technical Committee: 1996
9- Equivalence Committee for HE : 1996
10- Directorate General of Higher Education 2002 : Ministry of Education &
Higher Education
11- New boards of colloquium exams (since 2003)
12- Audit process (since 2004)
13- Institutional & program revision process (since 2004).
14- Workshops on quality assurance (since 2004), Dissemination (internal & External
assessment), European projects, Team of HE Reform Experts, etc.
15- Collaboration with the WB: University Governance Screening card (CMI Marseille)
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Actually The DGHE in Lebanon
is responsible of Managing Private HE through the existing
independent committees & by the assistance of external
independent bodies (ex: audit 2004):
1- Technical committee
2- Equivalence committee in HE
3- Colloquium examination committees
4- External experts: Team of HE Reform Experts, NTO, etc.
5- Accreditation from boards outside Lebanon (2006-2014)
6- Administrative Audit through private institutions: SGS,
APAVE, TUV, etc. (2006)
7- Governance Screening card in HEIs (2012-2013)
A new law of Higher education was amended by the
parlement No. 285 dated 8/5/2014.
There are 2 other laws in the parlement:
- Structure of the Directorate general of Higher education
- Quality Assurance Agency in Higher Education

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Councils & Committees Responsible of HE in Lebanon
Ministry of Educ. & H.E.
Directorate General of Higher EducationCouncil of higher
Education
Equivalence
Department
Council of
HE
Department
Colloquium
Department
Engineering
department
Universities,
Institutes or
Colleges
DGE
DGTVE
CNRDP
LU
Independent committees
Equivalence
Committee
Colloquium
Exams
Committees
Engineering
Committee
Technical
Committee
External
Audit
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What’s new in the law of higher Education 285/2014:
- Mission and vision for HE in Lebanon
- National system of degrees (LMD, Professional degrees)
- Amendment of Credit system in the HEIs
- Framework of the private Higher Education Institutions in Lebanon and their
role.
- Affirm the autonomy of HEIs.
- Council of HE (Composition, role,…)
- Technical committee & Specialized program’s committees: composition, role,
etc.
- Equivalency committee: composition, role.
- Obligation of Internal & External Quality Assurance.
- Framework concerning the Bylaws of the universities: BOT, University Council,
Financial regulations, Staff regulations, Students regulation, Management,
Budget
- Conditions for Licensing New Universities, colleges, et programs
- Supervising and audit of HEIs
- Rights of Staff & Students
- In addition to other articles concerning the infractions of the law and how to treat
these cases.

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Council of Higher Education,
Higher education law 285 dated 8/5/2014
President: Ministry of Education & Higher Education
Vice president: Director General of Higher Education
Members:
- Administrative judge
- President of the Lebanese university
- 3 presidents or vice presidents/deans from Private universities
- 2 external experts (no relation with HEIs in Lebanon)
- Presidents of orders in Lebanon: Engineering, Medicine, Pharmacy ,
Dentistry etc…
Responsibilities:
1- Defines the Policy Statement of Higher Education
3- Supervises the activities of private HEIs in Lebanon
3- Advises the council of ministries for new HEI license
4- Authorizes new program or degree
5- Advises the Council of Ministries to halt an institution or a specific program
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Technical Committee (1), HE Law 285/2014
President: Director General of Higher Education
Members: Experts from Universities:
LU ( 3 members)
Private Universities (4 members)
in addition to 2 external experts
And an administrative judge
Responsibilities:
First task: For the License of a New HEI
Second task: To start teaching a new program
in an existing or in new institution
Third Task: Continuous review of the situation
in the HEIs and recognition of programs
The decisions of the council of HE is based on the TC
reports. Decisions are announced in the official journal .

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First task: For the License of a New HEI the following
criteria are considered:
Needs assessment, Financial resources,
In Addition:
1- The Bylaws & internal rules of the society or
organization asking for the license.
2- The Bylaws & internal rules of the institution
(Governing Boards, Academic boards, administrative
rules, academic rules, students, staff, committees)
3- Detailed file on all the proposed programs (Objectives,
Curricula, system, equipments, Labs,
Workshops, etc.)
4- Detailed information on the infrastructure: (buildings,
Extra Activities, Sports, Clubs, etc.)
Technical committee: (2)
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Second task: To start teaching in a new program in an
existing or in new institution, with the assistance of sub-
committees
The TC looks for:
1- The Curricula (Objectives, outcomes, syllabus).
2- Audit of actual situation of the University.
3- Site Visit: situation in the institution: Labs, library,
Halls, Equipment's, Staff (Academic, administrative,
technical)
Sub-technical specialized committees are composed
from the different universities to:
- review the New demanded programs for licensing,
- to the recognition of licensed programs and
- to renew of the recognition.
Technical committee: (3)

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1- Equivalence Committee for education & Higher
education had been created by a decree in 1955,
2- Equivalence committee for HE is created in 1996
The role of this commission was modified by the law of
HE
President: General Director of higher Education
Members:
- Experts from different universities
- Administrative Judge.
Responsibilities:
- Grant equivalence to HE Degrees from outside Lebanon.
The committee takes into consideration the accreditation
decisions from Accreditation Organizations outside Lebanon.
Equivalence Committee for Higher education (ECHE)
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Engineering Practicing Committee (EPC), Created in 1955
President: Ministry of Education & HE
Represented by: DG of HE
Members:
President of the order of engineers
Member from the ministry of public works
member from the ministry of agriculture
professor from the Faculty Of Eng. At the LU.
Responsibilities:
Advise the Ministry of Public Work & the Ministry of Agriculture
to give authorization to practice as Engineer after obtaining
Engineering diploma (5 years) or Master of engineering
Engineering degrees from outside Lebanon must be
obtained from accredited universities by professional
bodies (ABET, CEAB, NAAB, CTI, etc. ).

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Colloquium Examinations Committees (CEC),
Created by law in 1956
President: Ministry of Education & Higher Education
Vice president: General Director of Public Health
Members: (A commission by specialty)
The examination commissions are composed from members:
from the Ministry of HE, the Ministry of Health, and from professors
experts from the Different universities in Lebanon recognized by the
ministry to learn Medical Sciences.
Responsibilities:
Examinations in Health Specialties: Medicine, Dentistry,
Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Nutrition, Nursery, etc.
- All Graduates from inside and outside Lebanon must pass this
examination
- Graduates from the Lebanese University (Public University) are excepted
The program must be recognized by the DGHE as a condition
for the student to pass the examination.
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International Relations
• Protocols with many Countries: exchange of information about
education systems, exchange of professors & of students
• Participation in all the activities of ECISCO, ALICSO & UNESCO on
Higher Education (standards, orientations, Reform, etc.)
• Membership in Arab Network for QA in HE
• Participation in Tempus European programs (JEP, SCM, Mobility of
teachers (National tempus office in MEHE, TEAM OF HIGHER
EDUCATION REFORM EXPERTS)
• Participation of the DGHE in 13 Tempus projects
• Working with the World Bank on the University Governance
Screening Card (16 univ. in 2012, 13 in 2013)
• Developing capacity in EQA and on indicators to monitor HEI
(Collaboration with UNESCO – IIEP)
• CEDRE program: research program between France & Lebanon
• Contact with most of the accreditation bodies Wide World

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Tempus European programs
National Tempus Office: http://www.tempus-lebanon.org/
National Erasmus plus office: http://erasmusplus-lebanon.org/
Coordinator: Dr Aref Soufi
• Joined education Programs (JEP) (50% LU)
• Structural &Complementary Measurements (SCM): (13 with the
DGHE)
• Mobility (200 professor): 80% from LU
• TEAM OF HIGHER EDUCATION REFORM EXPERTS -
BOLOGNA PROMOTERS – STRATEGIC ACTIVITY PLAN
(SAP): Modernization of the Lebanese higher education sector,
weekly meetings, Questioner about quality, accreditation, Reform,
organizing workshops (participations of Stakeholders)
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CEDRE Lebano-French Program
Cooperation pour l’Evaluation et le Developpement de la REcherche
• Lebanese-French commission
– Committee members: 10 from Lebanon & France
– Scientific Experts: from universities in Lebanon & France
• Research projects between Lebanese & French Research teams
(4 domains):
– Environment & Geosciences: 44 projects
– Health & Medicine: 45 projects
– Engineering Sciences: 50 projects
– Society & human sciences: 20 projects
• Results: Creation of Lebanese Research teams, Papers in
international conferences & Journals

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Problems and challenges
-Restructuring the DGHE to adapt to the new activities:
Departments, staff, Task descriptions & resources.
- Organize the new activities established by the DGHE
(New law of Higher education, new decrees).
- Lack of qualified experts in EQA & in IQA
- Need stronger commitment of HEIs to internal Quality
assurance mechanism,
- Need to widen the spectrum evaluation criteria for
Programs & institutions
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- Lack of National QA agencies.
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- Develop indicators to monitor HE system & HEIs
- Building capacity in the HEIs on Internal QA and on
processes
- Amend the new law of Creating the LQAA
- Amend the new law of the structure of the DGHE
- Develop a NQF
- Reinforce Research Capacities in the HEIs.
- Develop code of Ethics for research activities.
- Develop indicators to monitor research.
Problems and challenges

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Thank you