On Tuesday, May 11, 2021, Saint Joseph University of Beirut and Siren Associates signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This unprecedented MoU launched the Youth4governance training program offering opportunities for university students within state institutions, supervised by a steering committee gathering faculty members in collaboration with the Central Inspection.

Rector of Saint Joseph University, Professor Salim Daccache s.j. and Siren Associates Executive Director, Jonathan Mclvor represented by Mr. Marc Mouawad, signed the MoU in the presence of the Central Inspection President, Judge Georges Attieh and all members of the steering committee, including Ms. Lamia Moubayed Bissat, Dr. Carole Al- Sharabati, Dr. Léna Gannagé, Dr. Karim Emile Bitar as well as deans of faculties, graduates and students, who attended the ceremony via Zoom.

During the ceremony, members of the steering committee as well as Mr. McIvor, Professor Daccache and Judge Attieh, expressed their common belief that the youth is the future of Lebanon. Siren Associates’ Executive Director stressed on the organization’s determination to invest in the Lebanese youth, a commitment reinforced by the Head of the Central Inspection, who described the youth Lebanon’s most valuable resource. The importance of including the youth in governance and thus introducing them to state institutions was highlighted throughout the ceremony as a key factor in the journey of public sector reform. 

The Youth4Governance program aims, on one hand, to familiarize students with principles and matters related to good governance and the building of effective institutions and, on the other hand, to encourage their active contribution to strengthening and enhancing the capabilities of state institutions in order to better serve citizens and subsequently contribute to break the stereotype, which some still adhere to. This initiative is supported by the Central Inspection, which will provide a number of training opportunities to students interested in contributing to the development of the IMPACT platform. Alongside being the hub for e-governance, IMPACT also caters to stakeholders from across the different levels of the national public administration and puts freely accessible information and relevant datasets at the citizens’ fingertips in an effort to promote transparency and drive participatory policy making.

This initiative provides 20 full-time internship opportunities to eligible, committed and enthusiastic students, for a duration of two months and on two different stages, the first one being from June to August and the second from July to September, in the fields of technology, communication, social sciences, among others.

The internships are designed and planned by a group of USJ alumni currently working in public sector reform at Siren Associates and Siren Analytics in collaboration with USJ faculty members. A pedagogical follow-up will be provided by USJ faculty members as well as substantive guidance and follow-up and validation of deliverables. In addition, students will benefit from 4 ECTS credits, a per diem, an internship certificate, and a set of new knowledge, skills and attitudes.

For more information, please contact: Siren Associates (+961) 81353525

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