BEIRUT: Since the dramatic events of September 11, 2001, the rate of Arab students enrolling in Lebanese universities has been steadily growing as they escape increasing pressures against Arabs and Muslims in the West.

University officials in Lebanon are trying to seize the opportunity and remove any formal obstacles in the way of attracting more Arab students.

The director of registration at the Lebanese American University (LAU), Fouad Salibi, said: “In the past Arab students used to come to Lebanon in great numbers to study at the American University of Beirut (AUB) and especially at the Beirut Arab University (BAU). But following the events of the civil war in 1975, the rate of Arab students enrolling in Lebanese universities came down considerably.”

The new circumstances, created by global events, have opened the way for Arab students to return — although not in large numbers as was the case in the ‘60s.

The head of registration office at the BAU, Walid Ariss, said: “We had more than 30,000 students enrolled in the BAU, 80 per cent of which came from other Arab countries. Today we have a maximum enrolment of 8,000 with only 20 per cent Arabs.”

Given that Arab countries have progressed in the education domain, Lebanese university officials admit that the challenge is getting more difficult. “However, the quality of education is still high and similar to that of the United States, which attracts so many Arab students; both follow the same standards,” Mr Salibi added.

During the civil war, Lebanon went through a state of chaos in the education sector. “Therefore the established or traditional Lebanese universities are currently exerting extra unilateral and combined efforts to protect and improve the standard of the educational system, which is the main reason why Arab students may still be attracted to the Lebanese universities,” he said.

Frere Oierre Bou Zeidan, the secretary-general of the Holy Spirit University at Kaslik said: “Lebanese universities are making efforts to promote the Lebanese educational programmes through coordination with Arab education institutions and exchanging expertise, teachers, students and curriculums.

“We established relations with some Saudi and Kuwaiti students when we introduced the American system; however, I admit that the number of Arabs from the other Gulf states has increased considerably after Sept 11.”

Almost all Lebanese colleges and universities teach in the Arabic language. Nonetheless, the second chosen language, English or French, is used as a basis for their programmes.

“The state officials must work towards eliminating differences in the curriculums, especially the language barriers,” Mr Zeidan said.

The high cost of living in Lebanon is another factor that must be taken into consideration in this regard.