Notre Dame University – Louaize and the Center for Lifelong Learning held a graduation ceremony for the third cohort of participants in the Professional Diploma in Municipal Studies.
The ceremony was held under the patronage and in the presence of the Minister of Interior and Municipalities, Brigadier General Ahmad Al-Hajjar, at the Notre Dame University – Louaize Zouk Mosbeh campus.
Developing Municipal Capacities
Dr. Dany Qazzi reviewed “programs aimed at developing the capacities of municipalities and non-governmental organizations.”
It is worth noting that the university is graduating the third cohort of students from this diploma during this celebration, as these programs have contributed to preparing qualified cadres for municipal work.
They also aim to enhance cooperation with the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities and support sustainable development goals.
In addition to empowering women and expanding education and training opportunities, the university library has also been enriched with specialized training resources.
A Step to Connect Knowledge
He continued: “The Professional Diploma in Municipal Studies constituted a pioneering step to connect theoretical knowledge with practical application.”
In the same context, Dr. Qazzi presented the programs organized by the center during the summer of 2026 in partnership with the “Hague Academy for Local Governance.”
Engineer Ziad Moussa also announced subsequent cooperation programs to develop municipal work in Lebanon.
Afterward, the President of Notre Dame University – Louaize, Father Dr. Bechara Khoury, delivered a speech in which he said: “We meet today as our nation passes through a critical phase in its history.”
He added: “What we are doing today is not merely a training program or a transient academic project, but a long-term investment in the Lebanese individual.”
He affirmed that any real reform project begins at the grassroots level, and that the municipality is the primary cell in the body of the state.
In her intervention, Ms. Marieke Weerd expressed her honor to represent the Kingdom of the Netherlands at the graduation of sixty-two municipal leaders and practitioners.
Municipalities are the Nucleus of Development
The patron of the ceremony, Minister of Interior and Municipalities, Brigadier General Ahmad Al-Hajjar, affirmed that “municipalities constitute the primary nucleus of local development.”
He pointed out that “empowering municipal cadres raises performance levels and enhances governance, administration, and services.”
He also noted the “program’s alignment with the Ministry’s strategic plan for the coming years.”
At the end of the ceremony, the fourth cycle of the program was launched, commemorative shields were presented, and souvenir photos were taken.