The Teachers’ General Assembly was held as planned in the Congress Hall on Saturday November 29, in the presence of the Rector Karam Rizk, the Dean Dr. Fr. Antoine Al Ahmar, and the Academic Secretary Mr. Pierre Khorassanjian and members of the teaching body of the Faculty.

The session was opened at 12:30 p.m. with a prayer said by all the persons present.

The agenda contained the following points:

• Speech of the University Rector, Dr. Fr. Karam Rizk
• Speech of the Faculty Dean, Dr. Fr. Antoine Al Ahmar

Presentation of the heads of Department:

• Prof. Nagi Wakim: Computer Department
• Prof. Naim Ouaini: Department of Biochemistry
• Dr. Joumana Farah: Department of Engineering
• Mr. Pierre Khorassanjian: Department of Mathematics
• Academics and Administrative Affairs, Mr. Pierre Khorassanjian
• Election of the teachers’ representative in the Faculty Counsel

The Rector inaugurated the session with a speech concerning the evolution of the Faculty of Sciences since its foundation and its installation in its new building next year. The Rector described in eulogistic terms the efforts of those who collaborated in the success of that new Faculty in order to highlight three important points:

• The work of the administrative core surrounding the Dean since the creation of the Faculty in October 2000 has borne fruit now that the Faculty is preparing itself for installation in its new premises with a great number of students.
• The quality of the specialized teaching body that characterized this new Faculty in USEK was recognized by the Rector who has just nominated for this year the appointed heads of department, an initiative that will be followed by other nominations in the fullness of time from among the teaching body.
• The spirit of belonging that must mark all the members of the teaching and administrative body in order to allow this young faculty to create its “history”.

After a reminder of the agenda, the Dean gave his speech which covered the following points:

• Presentation of the new teachers (18 members) and laboratory assistants.
• Retrospective of the year 2002-2003
• The new programs launched during this year: M.Sc. in Electronics, M.Sc. in Information Technology. These two specializations have attracted new students in addition to former students who have had a career change coming especially from Engineering.
• A glimpse of the current situation and the structuring of the Faculty through the nomination of the heads of department. At the same time insisting on the importance of this year which lays the foundations of reaching the stage of maturity in the execution of taught courses.

The Dean addressed the members of the teaching body reminding them of their responsibilities within their function as educators consisting of educating students which is first and foremost:

• Being able to solve problems
• Knowing how to communicate
• Behaving according to ethical and moral rules.

He then focused on the teaching methods and methodologies used, the importance of practical laboratory work, insisting on the participation of the students who should not simply be receptors, and encouraging their creativity.

He concluded insisting on the importance of research, even though the Faculty does not grant PhDs and only M.Scs, nevertheless, research should constitute a major preoccupation of the Faculty.

Then it was the turn of the heads of Department to talk and explain their plan of action.

Dr. Nagi Wakim presented himself and described the last 27 years he spent in the USA where he obtained his PhD.  He then described his 3 objectives: consolidation of the programs, growth management, and the development of partnerships. His intervention was in English.

Dr. Naim  Ouaini discussed the evolution of Biochemistry in the Faculty at the B.Sc. and M.Sc. levels launched a year earlier. He then described his department’s strategy consisting of seeking co-diploma education at the M.Sc. level (short and long term) and PhD level (long term), and facilitating the graduate’s insertion into the job market armed with international skills without leaving the country in line with USEK’s and the Faculty of Sciences’ general policy. In this light he quickly described the steps undertaken with INAPG, the University of Paris Sud, for a teaching partnership, and also with Lebanese industries for training.

Dr. Joumana Farah later described the objectives of the Computer and Telecommunications Department: Offering an education in the field of Telecommunications and Computer Engineering, educating higher executives able to meet the increasingly wider technological requirements and initiating future engineers in research in order to evolve within a completely effervescent field. She also described admission and passage to major courses, the consolidation of laboratory sessions followed by training to insert the future engineers into the job market. In the long term the objective is to find European partners to launch M.Sc. courses.

Mr. Pierre Khorassanjian made a brief presentation concerning the Department of Mathematics orientations. A new program of B.Sc. and Teaching M.Sc. in Mathematics is being prepared. This program will also help those who devote themselves to research in mathematical logic and theoretical computer science. This is not forgetting that the Department has as a reason for its existence the teaching of mathematical courses in other careers, he announced that particular effort would be made by the teachers to let those students who did not choose this career but who need this discipline love mathematics.

The Rev. Rector apologized to those assisting for having to leave early due to his obligations and wished this assembly success.

Mr. Pierre Khorassanjian continued in his capacity as Academic Secretary regarding general questions and reviewed the following points:

• The notation in effect in the Faculty. The teachers were invited to better acquaint themselves with the spirit of the system as is recommended by ECTS, and now adopted in Europe.
• The participation of all teachers in the development of pedagogical politics (regulations, courses, programs, etc…) and which appears in the recently distributed bilingual guide. Homage was paid to the Dean for his efforts concerning its publication.
• Communication with the administration: the functioning of the departments should not prevent good communication with the administration which should manage the exceptions (teacher travel, classroom management, etc…).

They then reached the last point of the agenda. With 75 presents out of 91 voters a quorum was reached. The statutes lecture was complete, namely, concerning the elected member (for 2 years) and the member designated by the Dean to take a seat in the Counsel. The secretary announced that that poll would be undertaken according to Robert’s Rules, and requested the raising of a motion of nomination followed by a seconding of the nomination. Two candidates were chosen as eligible: Pascal Damien and Rosette Daoud and they proceeded to the vote. Damien won by 35 voices against 33 for Daoud and 5 white bulletins with 2 abstentions.

The Fr. Dean in the light of the votes designated Ms. Daoud as member of the Counsel which is thus composed as follows:

• The Dean Prof. Fr. Antoine Al Ahmar, President
• Academic Secretary, Mr. Pierre Khorassanjian, Secretary
• Prof. Naim  Ouaini: Department of Biochemistry
• Prof. Nagi Wakim: Computer Department
• Dr. Joumana Farah: Department of Engineering
• Dr. Youssef Zaatar: Department of Sciences and Technology
• Mr. Pierre Khorassanjian: Department of Mathematics
• Engineer Pascal Damien: elected member
• Dr. Rosette Daoud: elected member

The session was closed at 2:00 p.m.