شبكة المعلومات العربية التربوية

The American University of Beirut (AUB), a private institution of higher learning founded in Beirut in 1866, has long espoused a mission of social responsibility. From peace time to periods of conflict, AUB students and faculty have reached out through established organizations and clubs, summer work camps, and other voluntary efforts.This paper presents the AUB experience in three sections. The first section offers an historical overview of community engagement at AUB using a mix of archival material, published articles and books, and first hand accounts. The second section analyses the difficulties of community engagement within a university context. Although faculties are evaluated on their community service, this assessment rarely influences promotion and contract renewal. The third section presents case studies of three new initiatives at AUB which reaffirm the university’s commitment to service: CCECS: The Center for Civic Engagement and Community Service; AREC: Advancing Research, Enabling Communities; and The Neighborhood Initiative. The paper concludes with a reflection on the institutional changes needed within AUB for these young programs to thrive.…“Graduates will be individuals committed to creative and critical thinking, life-long learning, personal integrity and civic responsibility, and leadership.”from the AUB Mission Statement“All academic units, and some administrative units, must build into their missions a commitment to seek ways to benefit the broad communities in which we live. It is not enough to provide good education to our students. We must in addition constantly ask ourselves how we can serve our community. The answer to that question will be easier for some units than for others, but all must ask it.”President John Waterbury, State of the University address 2004, citing community service as one of AUB’s ten strategic goals.(Published Abstract)