Law reorganizing Higher Education

Parliament enacts law amending
conditions for private universities

Parliament enacted on April 3 a law that re-organizes higher education for the private sector. The law will solve several problems related to granting licenses and establishing universities.

According to the law, universities must have at least three faculties: Each should be specialized in a major field accredited by international institutions and should also offer a minimum of nine specializations.

Teachers having a PHD or holding the highest degree offered in their area of specialization, should teach 50 percent of the credits in the first cycle, 70 percent in the second cycle and one hundred percent in the third cycle.

Universities are responsible of providing a full time teaching staff for 50 percent of the total programs. The teachers should be proportional to the total number of students, not exceeding 30 students per teacher.

University colleges can teach academic or technological curriculums. The technological programs offered by the faculty should be specialized in basic science application, engineering, medical, nutrition, and technology.

Higher vocational institutes should be specialized in technical fields especially in technology, industry, agriculture, water, and services.

The law states that a higher education council should be formed to study and monitor all applications presented by universities. It should be chaired by the Minister of Education and Higher Education, and should include the Chairman of Lebanese University, one of the selected deans, judge of the state council, representatives from private universities, and others.