The University of Balamand (UOB) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Energy and Water - General Directorate of Oil in Lebanon, at the University of Balamand's koura campus. The signing was attended by the Minister of Energy and Water, His Excellency Dr. Walid Fayad, the President of the University of Balamand, Dr. Elias Warrak, the Administrative Director of the Oil Facilities, Mr. Jiscard Khoury, Professor Tony Marouni, Mr. Munir Daoud, the Chief Operating Officer at the University of Balamand, Dr. Youssef Bassim, and Acting Provost, Professor George Bahr, along with vice presidents and deans.

This MoU aims to strengthen the relationship between the education sector and the professional sector by introducing university students to Lebanese government institutions and facilitating collaboration between the two parties to implement developmental projects in Lebanon.

Under this agreement, the University of Balamand will involve representatives from the General Directorate of Oil in workshops and seminars that align with the directorate's interests. It will provide technical training for its employees and assist in developing performance indicators. In turn, the ministry will provide training opportunities for UOB students and offer necessary support for student projects related to the directorate's work.

H.E. Dr. Fayad emphasized the importance of the oil, gas, and petroleum sector, as it directly contributes to economic development. He also highlighted the ministry's commitment to supporting students by providing vocational courses and workshops to enhance their skills, as well as benefiting from the university's expertise to strengthen the relationship between academic institutions and government entities, resulting in positive outcomes for both.

Dr. Warrak underlined the importance of exchanging experiences and skills between the Ministry of Energy and Water and the University of Balamand. He added, “The University of Balamand calls on all ministries to integrate the scientific, educational, and academic sectors into their work and decisions, as this step proves to be effective in enhancing the ministries' performance based on precise scientific foundations and the ability to create strong connections between university students and government institutions.”