This year’s Student Leaders Retreat, organized by the Office of Student Affairs (OSA) and the UOB Career Services Center, brought together student representatives from all UOB Campuses for a full capacity-building day focused on empowering students to design impactful events, build meaningful partnerships, and lead positive change in their communities.
Students were given the opportunity to network with colleagues from different campuses and various majors, working together to develop ideas and explore how student-led events and initiatives can serve as catalysts for positive change.
The day opened with welcoming remarks, an introduction to the retreat’s objectives, agenda, and expected outcomes, and ice breaker and networking activities. This was followed by a keynote session, “Events with Impact,” delivered by Mrs. Rita Chemaly, Researcher and Human Rights Activist, who explored how impactful initiatives and events can contribute to community change while helping students develop valuable personal and professional skills.
A panel discussion titled “Events, Engagement, and Community Partnerships” brought together Mrs. Pauline Fiani, Interior Architecture and Design Coordinator at the University of Balamand, Mrs. Alaa Karanouh, Impact Manager at the UN Global Compact, Mr. Andre Khoury, Co-Founder and Vice President of Youth in Action, and Mrs. Manar Hammoud, Recruitment and Selection Manager at Teach for Lebanon. The discussion, moderated by Mrs. Diala Farah, Director of the UOB Career Services Center, highlighted the role of volunteering, partnerships, and student-led initiatives in creating lasting community impact while enabling students to build valuable skills, networks, and experiences.
Building on these discussions, participants took part in an ideation workshop focused on “Creating Community Initiatives That Matter.” Working collaboratively in teams, students developed event and initiative concepts designed to address community needs and generate meaningful impact.
The retreat closed with an open reflection and Q&A session with the Director of Student Affairs, Mr. Michael Salem. Participants revisited the ideas of the day, named the takeaways they would carry back to their campuses, and shared their questions and thoughts about student life at UOB.
The Student Leaders Retreat is an annual tradition at UOB, reflecting the University's strong belief in its students and in the lasting impact they can have on their communities. Through initiatives like this one, the university continues to support student leaders as they turn their ideas into action.
