The Lebanese German University hosted H.E. Mr. Georg Birgelen, German Ambassador to Lebanon, on Tuesday 14 May for a meeting and debate with senior students, faculty members, as well as academic and administrative staff.
Following words of welcome, His Excellency toured the University campus and labs and listened to various explanations made by staff regarding academic programs and labs functions. He was then shown a report on LGU development since its initiation before moving on stage to discuss various topics of interest and respond to relating queries made by students.
Throughout the debate, HE pointed out that the German Embassy has been actively involved in Lebanon on all levels and that the presence and role of Germany in Lebanon is considerable. He spoke about Germany’s continuous political support and effort to maintain Lebanon’s stability and the various economic, social, and environmental activities and projects that have been carried out in collaboration with local and international organizations and businesses, such as the UNDP, UNICEF, DAAD Lebanon, LLWB (Lebanese League for Women in Business), Waste Studio, etc.
He explained that the collaborative interaction established between Lebanon and Germany has not only helped create many temporary job opportunities for young Lebanese but also raised awareness of several important issues including recycling, girl empowerment, and education, among others. He also discussed employment opportunities for Lebanese graduates in Germany and how the Embassy has been involved in building bridges between the Lebanese and German communities by assisting Lebanese individuals who wish to pursue their academic or professional prospects in Germany. He clarified what professional skills are currently required in the German job market and the employment opportunities Lebanese graduates could pursue in Germany.
Moreover, HE elaborated on the political situation in Lebanon and the region and the German and European perspective regarding the refugees’ crisis. He also discussed how economic prosperity could be established in Lebanon and how to attract German tourists to the country.
At the end of the discussions, HE expressed his wishes for LGU to grow further and to keep on its mission of providing quality education to young Lebanese and developing research into various scientific fields. He was also thankful for the warm welcome he received by LGU community.