The Faculty of Engineering (FOE) at the University of Balamand (UOB) made headlines as Mrs. Mantoura Nakad was invited by ESCWA as a panelist on sustainability, at the prestigious Arab Forum for Sustainable Development (AFSD 2025), held from April 14 to 16 at the UN House - ESCWA, Beirut.

In recognition of her research and recent publications, particularly her active engagement in the field of Education for Sustainable Development, Mrs. Nakad was selected as the only panelist from Lebanon in this field at this prominent forum where she stood shoulder-to-shoulder with leaders from across the Middle East and the MENA region.

In a powerful session titled "Supporting young people's learning, skilling, and transition to decent work in the Arab Countries," Mrs. Nakad captivated the audience with an insightful presentation that highlighted the powerful journey behind the creation and implementation of SUST229 – Sustainable Development for Engineers, a groundbreaking course lately embedded in the engineering curriculum at UOB since 2023. She also promoted the university and faculty’s commitment tackling sustainability in preparing students to tackle the critical global challenges of sustainability and sustainable development for a brighter future.

Mrs. Nakad’s presentation offered more than facts and figures — it told a story of vision, perseverance, and transformation, which was followed by a real-time video featuring current engineering students sharing their personal insights on how the SUST229 course has enriched their academic journey and deepened their understanding of sustainability.

Vice President for Internationalization and Engagement and Dean of the Faculty of Engineering Professor Rami Abboud congratulated Mrs. Nakad on this great achievement especially that only two Lebanese universities were selected to contribute to AFSD 2025 — the University of Balamand and the American University of Beirut. He stated that Mrs. Nakad’s participation was not only a recognition of her research but also a celebration of her commitment to empowering future engineers through education for sustainable development. Mrs. Nakad’s contribution powerfully reflected the University of Balamand’s and its President, Dr Elias Warrak, steadfast commitment to education as a driving force for a more sustainable and equitable future.





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