UA Signs Landmark MOU With ATCL and Rally Plus | Antonine University

  • UA Signs Landmark MOU With ATCL and Rally Plus

    25 November 2025

    Antonine University (UA), through its Faculty of Sport Sciences (FSS), signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Automobile and Touring Club of Lebanon (ATCL) and Rally Plus during a ceremony held on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, at Our Lady of the Seeds Monastery, Hadat–Baabda Campus. This agreement represents a pioneering step toward integrating motorsports into higher education, positioning UA as the first university in Lebanon to formally incorporate motorsports within its academic and experiential ecosystem.

     

    The partnership lays the foundation for developing new academic components in motorsports management, engineering, and event operations, alongside practical learning opportunities that allow students to engage directly with industry professionals and real track-side environments.

     

    Strengthening Academic–Industry Collaboration

    The MOU outlines several key areas of cooperation:

    • Innovative Academic Development: Co-creating courses and training modules that combine theoretical learning with hands-on motorsports exposure.
    • Experiential Engagement: Organizing joint events, demonstrations, and workshops on UA campuses and at ATCL and Rally Plus facilities.
    • Professional Networking: Offering students direct contact with motorsport teams, organizers, and technical experts, creating pathways for mentorship, internships, and career opportunities.

     

    A Ceremony Marked by Key Figures

    The signing event brought together representatives from all three partners.

    From ATCL, attendees included Mr. Imad Lahoud, President of the Motorsport and Mobility Commission at ATCL Lebanon and President of the FIA Rally Commission, and Mr. Ziad Jamous, Attorney at Law, Chairperson, and Observer in automobile sports events.

    From Rally Plus, the University welcomed Mr. Jamil Yazbeck, Executive President, and Mr. Jason Wehbe, Lebanese Rally Junior Champion.

    From UA, attendees included Rev. Fr. Michel Saghbiny, Rector; Rev. Fr. Ziad Maatouk, Secretary General and Vice Rector for Administration; Dr. Antonio Soutou, Dean of the FSS; alongside several members from the Faculty.

     

    The ceremony was also attended by ATCL’s sponsors, including Rubicom Agency, ATCL’s media partner.

     

    Voices From the Partnership

    During the ceremony, UA Rector Rev. Fr. Saghbiny highlighted the importance of bridging academic innovation with emerging industries: “This partnership reflects our dedication to offering advanced learning experiences. Motorsports is a multidisciplinary field that inspires creativity and technical excellence, and we are proud to lead this initiative in Lebanon.”

     

    Mr. Lahoud from ATCL stated: “Our long-standing expertise in motorsports can now contribute to shaping a new generation of professionals through this collaboration with UA.”

     

    From Rally Plus, Mr. Yazbeck added: “This cooperation merges passion with education. Together, we shall reignite the enthusiasm for a new era of motorsports engagement among youth.”

     

    A Partnership That Serves Students and Society

    By forging this collaboration with ATCL and Rally Plus, UA continues to reinforce its commitment to academic excellence, industry relevance, and innovative learning pathways. In doing so, it advances key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 4: Quality Education, SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, by preparing students to engage responsibly and creatively with evolving sectors through interdisciplinary and experiential learning.