On Monday, 12 January 2026, a delegation from The Cyprus Institute led by Professor Stavros Malas visited Saint Joseph University of Beirut (USJ). The delegation included President Professor Jean Sciare; Director of Care-C, Professor Constantine Dovrolis; Director of CaSToR-C, Professor Theodoros Zachariadis; Director of EEWR-C and STEDI-RC; and the Institute’s Assistant Vice President of Institute Affairs, Mrs Eleni Sophocleous.
A meeting was held at the Rectorate, bringing together the Rector Professor François Boëdec s.j., Professor Salah Abou Jaoudé s.j. Vice-Rector and Dean of the Faculty of Religious Studies, Professor Carla Eddé, Vice-Rector for International Relations, Professor Richard Maroun, Vice-Rector for Research, Professor Toufic Rizk, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs, Professor Fadi Geara, Vice-Rector for Administration, Professor Nadine Riachi, General-Secretary, Professor Wassim Raphael, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Professor Maher Abboud, Dean of the Faculty of Science, Professor Charbel Afif, Professor Gihane Mansour Abou Jaoudeh, Professor Melhem Helou, Professor Nicolas Louka.
The Cyprus Institute is a non-profit, world-class international research and graduate education institution based in Nicosia, Cyprus, established in 2005. Known for their scientific and technological orientation: energy, environment and water, climate and atmosphere, computational science and technology, and science/technology in archaeology and cultural heritage.
Professor François Boëdec welcomed the delegation, thanking them for coming to USJ. He emphasized the commonalities that bind the two countries, particularly with regard to geopolitical challenges. He confirmed that The Cyprus Institute could count on USJ, highlighting the importance of reaffirming their commitment to future collaborations
Professor Stavros Malas introduced The Cyprus Institute as a regional research centre. He said that the Institute is mandated to enhance relations, particularly with neighboring countries working within the shared Mediterranean space.
Professor Charbel Afif highlighted together with Professor Jean Sciare the successful collaboration between the two institutions as well as the past and the ongoing work that began seven years ago regarding air pollution and climate change: 24 joint publications between USJ and The Cyprus Institute, 20 conferences, six jury participations for Ph.D. theses, student exchange, in addition to two international workshops each with more than 250 participants from over 40 countries every year.
The meeting concluded with the signature of the renewal of the framework agreement by the President and the Rector, after which a lunch was held at L'Atelier.