Antonine University (UA) held a scientific and institutional event dedicated to research excellence on January 20, 2026, at its Hadat–Baabda Campus, under the title “Supporting Excellence in Research: Doctoral Studies in Co-Supervision and Strategies in Research Publications.”
Organized by the Vice Rectorate for Research (VRR), the event brought together academic leaders,researchers, and graduate and doctoral students from UA and other universities, alongside national and international partners, as guest speakers and panelists.
The event provided a platform for dialogue on strengthening research quality and impact, marked by three key highlights:
- the official launch of UA’s Doctoral Co-Supervision Scholarships;
- the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between UA and the National Council for Scientific Research – Lebanon (CNRS-L);
- a high-level panel discussion on the latest scientific publishing strategies in such a fast-paced and ever-changing academic environment.
Launching a Strategic Doctoral Initiative
The event opened with Prof. Antoine El Samrani, Vice Rector for Research, who formally announced the Doctoral Co-Supervision Scholarship program. In his address, he emphasized UA’s strategic vision to strengthen research capacity through international cooperation, positioning doctoral co-supervision as a cornerstone of long-term academic excellence.
He noted that “doctoral co-supervision, as advanced by Antonine University, represents a core of institutional expertise and a long-term investment in shaping future researchers, while nurturing high-quality, ethical, and impactful scientific production.”
Strengthening National and International Cooperation
Ms. Isabelle Picault, Deputy Advisor for Cultural Cooperation and Affairs at the Embassy of France, and Dr. Chadi Abdallah, Secretary General and Director of Research at CNRS-L, both underscored their shared commitment to advancing international academic cooperation and collaborative research.
Ms. Picault reiterated her ongoing support for UA, highlighting its role as a key partner of the Institut français and an active participant in its programs such as CEDRE and other institutional cooperation initiatives.
Dr. Abdallah stressed the importance of national coordination, stating that “developing national research capacity through strong university partnerships is essential to ensuring research quality and achieving meaningful national impact.”
UA’s Vision for Sustainable Research
In his address, Rev. Fr. Michel Saghbiny, Rector of Antonine University, outlined UA’s strategic vision for a sustainable and credible research culture. He emphasized that scientific output must be grounded in integrity and collaboration to effectively serve society.
He stated that “Antonine University advances a structured and credible research vision, reinforced by clear institutional frameworks, integrity, and a long-term commitment to high-quality, impactful academic output, fostered through strong cooperation with national and international partners, in service of society and knowledge advancement.”
A Landmark Institutional Agreement
A key highlight of the event was the signing of an MOU between CRNS-L, represented by Dr. Chadi Abdallah, and Antonine University, represented by Rev. Fr. Michel Saghbiny.
This landmark agreement establishes new opportunities for both institutions to harness shared scientific expertise in collaborative research projects at the local and international levels.
Rethinking Scientific Publishing
The event concluded with a high-level panel discussion, moderated by Dr. Jean-Noël Baléo, Regional Director of the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF) in the Middle East, bringing together renowned scholars from academia and science in their respective fields: Prof. Karma El-Hassan, Prof. Maher Abboud, and Prof. Walid Marrouch.
Dr. Baléo framed the discussion by noting that while technological innovation and new publishing models are reshaping scientific publishing, traditional metrics and the “publish or perish” culture often jeopardize creativity, interdisciplinarity, and societal impact.
Prof. El Hassan, Professor of Educational Psychology Measurement and Evaluation at the American University of Beirut (AUB), elaborated on publishing in the humanities and social sciences, contrasting international standards with those prevalent in the Arab world. She advocated for diverse publication formats and multilingualism, emphasizing the need to balance international visibility with local and societal relevance to ensure credible and meaningful scholarship.
Prof. Abboud, Dean of the Faculty of Science at Saint-Joseph University of Beirut (USJ), affirmed that amid editorial chaos and the limitations of purely quantitative metrics, the evaluation of scientific research in academic staff must be fundamentally rethought. He urged the adoption of an ethical and inclusive framework that values innovation, interdisciplinarity, and societal impact as true measures of scholarly contribution.
Prof. Marrouch, Professor of Economics and Associate Dean of Graduate Studies and Research at the Lebanese American University (LAU), highlighted the challenges of information in the age of artificial intelligence. He emphasized that the university’s mission extends beyond delivering content; it must cultivate human judgment, critical reasoning, and ethical responsibility. He further stressed the need for universities to institutionalize expert human judgment to assess true quality and guide the responsible use of knowledge.
The panel sparked a dynamic exchange with the audience, addressing both the challenges and opportunities shaping scientific publishing today.
A Commitment to Research With Impact
Through this initiative, Antonine University reaffirms its commitment to fostering a rigorous, ethical, and internationally connected research environment. By strengthening doctoral training, encouraging high-level scientific dialogue, and building strategic partnerships, UA continues to advance research that responds to contemporary academic challenges while contributing meaningfully to society and the production of knowledge.