The Beirut Innovation in Politics (BIP) that was held on December 18 2019 in Beit Beirut – Museum and Urban Cultural Center is an annual multi-format forum for committed and creative makers organized by FNF Lebanon and Syria.

It is concentrated on innovative solutions for pressing political challenges in the Mena Region.

The student life department staff has participated in the forum that was divided into two parts. The first part consisted of three chapters, which are Innovation and Policy Development Part 1, Innovation and Policy Development Part 2 and Innovation and Memory Politics. The second part consisted of two private sessions: one for the staff under the name of “speed clinic” and another one for the students and the stuff under the name of “Political Entrepreneurship”.

Sessions throughout the day were divided into three main chapters that consisted of separate sessions; the first chapter entitled “Innovation and Policy Development”, which began with a highlighted talk with Mr Joseph Lentsch followed by different sessions and talks answering the following questions: What type of citizens we want to nurture? How to safeguard elections against tempering? How to end unemployment? How to advance oil and gas policies?

The second chapter “Innovation and Memory Politics” considered the disciplinary politics surrounding the study of memory that have emerged through innovative approaches such as virtual reality, gaming and artificial intelligence.

Finally, the third chapter “Innovation and Political Communication” approached the different methods and techniques of innovative media tools and the indulgence of exceptional manners and tactics.

In parallel, various activities were going on within the framework of the forum especially the “Speed Clinic Consultancy” private sessions with Mrs Annelou van Egmond, vice president of ALDE Party Bureau, on projects and initiative released by different structures. The student life department presented its strategy for the second semester. In addition, the forum presented an interactive exhibition featuring different organizations and companies working on the development of politics and public services.

During the Beirut Innovation in Politics Forum (BIP), 30 students coming from different faculties and clubs attended a private session about Political Etrepreneurship  given by Mr Joseph Lentsch. The aim of this session was to provide the attendees with a live example on how one can innovate in today’s political scene. The students had the chance to learn a lot about this new concept from Mr Lentsch, a founding member of NEOS that is a new and thriving political party in Austria.

The session clarified that Politics has a certain methodology; the key to succeeding and having a true positive impact is stating the values you abide by, sticking to them and working on promoting them while building a supporting network. In short, politics is not an easy field; there are many formal and informal rules in it. The rules should be well understood in order to have a chance in succeeding.

The students that attended now have a new perspective and methodology that they can use in their own activities. They will be playing a positive role in the current and future political scene, aiming for an inclusive and modern approach in our political practices.