Showcasing the Faculty of Engineering’s growing international presence, Civil Engineering students Joseph Yammine and Nizar Al Awar, accompanied by Associate Professor Abdulkader El-Mir, proudly represented Lebanon at the American Concrete Institute (ACI) Convention held in Baltimore, USA, from 25 to 30 October 2025.

The invitation came following their victory in the 2024 ACTS “Egg Protection Device” competition, held on April 2025, where both students secured first place, which gave them the opportunity to join one of the world’s most prestigious gatherings in concrete innovation and sustainable construction.

The ACI Convention is a leading global forum where industry experts and academics meet to share innovations shaping the future of concrete technology and sustainable construction.

The students have actively participated in the activities of the ACI Convention, engaging with technical sessions, industry presentations, and networking events. Through this involvement, both students gained valuable hands-on exposure to current advancements in concrete technology and established new professional connections with industry leaders worldwide. These interactions significantly broadened their perspective and strengthened their prospects for future career opportunities.

Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Vice President for Internationalization and Engagement, Professor Rami Abboud, expressed his heartfelt congratulations to both students and their supervisor Dr. El Mir for raising the University of Balamand flag high amongst the elite in bringing international recognition to their faculty, university and country. He noted that their success marks another milestone for the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and reinforces its mission to prepare students for global leadership in line with the recent 2 strengths gained in 2025 in the BS Civil Engineering ABET re-accreditation.


From Left to Right:

-Mr. Ahmad Mhanna- Director, Middle East/North Africa Region at American Concrete Institute.
-Engineering student Nizar Al Awar
-Engineering student Joseph Yammine
-Dr. Abdulkader El-Mir - Associate Professor at the Faculty of Engineering, UOB
-Dr. Faten Abi Farraj- Group Research and Development Specialist at ACTS ​​