The American University of Beirut celebrated the opening of its new academic year in Assembly Hall.
The event was attended by trustees, faculty members, staff, students, alumni, and friends.
During the ceremony, University President Dr. Fadl Khoury delivered a speech titled “On Hardships and Turning Points.”
In it, he traced the university’s history from its founding in 1866 to the transformations brought about by artificial intelligence.
Khoury emphasized that every generation must learn the language of its time. He explained that artificial intelligence and computing have become fundamental languages of the human experience.
Alongside design, the arts, and the humanities.
He also noted the importance of members of the university community being familiar with these modern tools and using them consciously.
Conversely, Khoury stressed that reading will remain an essential and indispensable language.
He noted that technological summaries cannot replicate the insight, satisfaction, and anticipation that reading provides.
He also considered critical thinking to be the ultimate goal of higher education, especially given the ease of access to information.
According to him, what matters is not merely acquiring more knowledge, but learning how to think and apply what students learn.
Khoury concluded his remarks by wishing the university community an academic year filled with health, knowledge, and inspiring experiences, emphasizing that difficult journeys forge people who are wiser and better equipped to face change.
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