Building on its strategic international partnerships, Antonine University (UA) signed a research track agreement with JUNIA, the French Graduate School of Science and Engineering, within the framework of the institutional agreement previously established with Université Catholique de Lille (UCLille) in 2023.

The agreement was signed by Fr. Ziad Maatouk, UA’s Secretary General and Vice Rector for Administration, and Mr. Pierre Mounanga, JUNIA’s Executive Director of Research and Innovation, and witnessed by Mr. Patrick Scauflair, President-Rector of UCLille.

A preparatory meeting preceded the signing, bringing together key academic and administrative representatives from both sides. The UA delegation included Fr. Jean Al Alam, Vice Rector for Integral Human Development; Prof. Roger Achkar, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology; and Dr. Jad Nassar, Director of the Telecommunications, Information, and Computer Key Enabling Technologies Laboratory (TICKET Lab).

JUNIA was represented by Mr. Gabriel Chênevert, Head of the Computer Science and Mathematics Department; Mr. Brandon Decraene, International Cooperation Coordinator; Mr. Julien Pruvost, International Mobility Coordinator; and Ms. Florence Malaise, Director of International Relations.

The meeting focused on defining the academic framework of the agreement and advancing discussions on a prospective double degree program between UA and JUNIA.

Through this initiative, UA students will have the opportunity to undertake a one-year research track at JUNIA, paving the way for enrollment in a PhD program co-supervised by faculty members from both institutions. This agreement strengthens academic pathways in research and fosters deeper collaboration between the two universities.

By expanding access to international research opportunities and co-supervised doctoral studies, this partnership reflects UA’s commitment to advancing interdisciplinary, globally connected research, in line with the University’s strategic focus on developing knowledge that is both academically rigorous and responsive to real-world challenges.