French
ESIB Inaugurates the Alumni Lounge, Unveils Its New Visual Identity and Celebrates the Fifth Issue of the Magazine Excellence
The School of Engineering of Beirut (ESIB), under the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture (FIA) of Saint Joseph University of Beirut (USJ), organized an exceptional ceremony at the Jean Ducruet Auditorium, at the Science and Technology Campus in Mar Roukoz. It was marked by three intense moments: the inauguration of the Alumni Lounge, the launch of the School’s new visual identity (logo) and the publication of the fifth issue of the magazine Excellence.
The ceremony took place in the presence of Prof. François Boëdec, SJ, Rector of USJ, Prof. Salim Daccache, SJ, former Rector, Prof. Wassim Raphael, Dean of FIA and Director of ESIB, H.E. Mr. Abbas Halabi, former Minister of Education and Higher Education and President of the Federation of USJ Alumni Associations, Mr. Fadi Hanna, President of the Order of Engineers and Architects of Beirut (OEA), Mr. Nassib Nassr, Director General of Hôtel-Dieu de France and the USJ-HDF hospital network, as well as many University administrators, instructors, staff members, alumni, students, and friends of ESIB.
Opening the ceremony, Prof. Raphael welcomed the participants to a school that, for more than a century, has been training generations of engineers destined to design, build and innovate. He stressed that the three events celebrated this evening reflected the same vision: that of an institution attached to its history, fully committed to its present and resolutely turned toward its future.
Referring to the Alumni Lounge, he recalled that a diploma never marks the end of belonging to the School and that each graduate remains a member of the ESIB community. He also paid tribute to those who have contributed to preserving and developing the School over the decades, notably Prof. Salim Daccache, SJ, Prof. François Boëdec, SJ, the late Rev. Fr. Jean Ducruet, SJ, and Prof. Sélim Catafago, as well as to the honorary deans who have marked its history. Prof. Raphael also praised the commitment of the Alumni Circle, partners and donors who contributed to the realization of the Alumni Lounge.
Addressing the new visual identity of the School, he explained that it symbolized continuity rather than rupture, while embodying the future ambitions of ESIB. Finally, he emphasized the importance of the magazine Excellence, a true showcase of the achievements, ambitions and dynamism of the School community “which knows its past, accepts its present and prepares its future.”
Speaking on behalf of the ESIB alumni, Prof. Fadi Geara, Vice-Rector for Administration, highlighted the essential role played by graduates in the School’s outreach. He recalled their contribution to the development of Lebanon and the region through infrastructure, industry, innovation and the transmission of knowledge.
He emphasized that, today, alumni remain essential partners in accompanying students, supporting academic and research projects, fostering collaborations with the socio-economic world, and contributing to the future development of the School. According to him, the new Alumni Lounge is a privileged space for gatherings and exchanges between generations.
"Alumni are the ambassadors of academic excellence, innovation and the spirit of service that characterize ESIB," he said.
President Abbas Halabi then welcomed the initiative, considering that the Alumni Lounge was a new space for dialogue and cooperation at the service of thousands of graduates of the University. He stressed the importance of preserving human encounters in a world marked by digital transformations and the evolution of communication modes.
According to him, the real value of the Alumni Lounge will be in the projects, initiatives, and collaborations that will be born there, as well as in the human and professional ties that it will strengthen. “We want this Alumni Lounge to become a living space for dialogue, ideas, learning, and innovation between generations,” said Dr. Halabi.
In his speech, Prof. François Boëdec, SJ recalled that the University is above all a human community that is built over time through transmission, trust and links between generations. He emphasized the central place of alumni in this community, both as a living memory of the institution and as actors in its future.
Returning to the history of ESIB, he praised the generations of graduates who have contributed to the development of Lebanon while carrying the values they received during their training. He hoped that the Alumni Lounge would become a lively place promoting gatherings, solidarity and common projects.
The Rector also highlighted the recent achievements of the School, notably the excellent results obtained in the entrance exam of the École Polytechnique de Paris, where the eleven candidates presented by ESIB were declared eligible, including eight who were admitted at the end of the oral tests. He also welcomed the renewal of the international ABET accreditation of several programs of the School, a prestigious recognition of the quality of its training.
Addressing the launch of the new visual identity, he stressed that it reflected ESIB’s desire to remain faithful to its heritage while meeting the challenges of its time. “A great institution must know how to remain faithful to what founded it while finding new forms that allow it to continue its mission,” concluded Prof. Boëdec.
The ceremony was followed by a musical piano interlude performed by Gabriel Abi Saad, a student in special mathematics class and one of the X students, before the official presentation of the new ESIB logo, which visually translates the ambition of a century-old school open to the future.
The artistic dimension of the evening was also illustrated through the performance of Ms. Narimane Abou Rahhal, an ESIB alumna, who touched the audience with her masterful interpretation of two iconic songs: Ave Maria and Li Bayrout.
Finally, the presentation of trophies to the members of the ESIB Alumni Circle committee was an opportunity to pay tribute to their commitment to serving the alumni community.
The evening ended with the official inauguration of the Alumni Lounge, a new space dedicated to gatherings, exchanges, and the strengthening of ties between generations of engineers trained at ESIB, a symbol of the continuity of a community deeply attached to its school and its values.
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