For the fourth year in a row, the University of Balamand receives high recognition from the American Concrete Institute (ACI) for student activities despite the current unorthodox period of pandemic. This year, the University of Balamand was recognized as an ACI Excellent University, the highest ACI Award. The ACI award for University Student Activities identifies universities that are qualified for Excellent/Outstanding status based on points received for their participation in selected ACI-related activities and programs.

This year, the ACI Excellent University recognition has been awarded to only 33 universities around the world, with the University of Balamand being the only recipient in Lebanon.

Established back in 2016, the ACI – UOB Student Chapter was the only chapter of its kind in the region. Throughout the past academic year, and despite the unorthodox situation, the student chapter, led by Dr. Nariman Khalil has been an active part of the student life at the Faculty of Engineering organizing workshops, webinars, and taking part of local and global ACI competitions.

Vice President for Internationalization and Engagement and Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Prof. Rami Abboud, applauded the students’ chapter for their remarkable achievements praising the efforts of their advisor, Dr. Nariman Khalil, and the chapter board members. Prof. Abboud emphasized the importance of the experience that students gain from actively engaging with professional societies like ACI. He concluded: “With the determination, dedication, and hard work of our students, such accolades truly place UOB as a beacon of engineering education on the regional and global scales – our students lead by example.”

The American Concrete Institute (ACI) headquartered in Farmington Hills, Michigan, USA, is a leading authority and resource worldwide for the development and distribution of consensus-based standards, technical resources, educational programs, and proven expertise for individuals and organizations involved in concrete design, construction, and materials. ACI currently has more than 100 chapters, 243 student chapters and 30000 members spanning over 120 countries. ​