Saint Joseph University of Beirut (USJ), through its Career and Placement Office (SIP), held its first Partners’ Gala at the Habtoor Grand Hotel, bringing together key professional partners for an evening of recognition, dialogue, and strategic exchange.

In her opening remarks, Ms. Nour Sardouk of SIP highlighted the importance of the inaugural gala and praised USJ’s partners as essential drivers of student success. She noted how internships, career opportunities, mentorship, and targeted training transform student potential into real-world impact.

Taking the stage next, Dr. Ursula El Hage, Director of SIP, underscored the transformative power of these partnerships. She described the attendees as “the architects of our future” and portrayed the Office as a bridge connecting USJ’s rigorous academic programs with the demands of today’s professional world, a bridge whose value is realized only when it leads to real impact.

“By opening your organizations to our students,” she said, “you create the professional environment where talent takes root and grows into meaningful change.” In Lebanon, these partnerships transform academic knowledge into contributions that shape society.

The scale of these collaborations is striking: USJ facilitates over 1,500 jobs and internships each year, engages more than 1,000 students annually, welcomes 160 companies to its Job Fair, organizes ten innovation competitions with partner support, and collaborates with over 200 firms through the Professional Training Center’s capacity-building programs.

Next, Prof. Richard Maroun, Vice-Rector for Research, praised the tangible engagement of USJ’s industry partners. He emphasized that by welcoming students, mentoring recent graduates, opening their organizations to new ideas, and recruiting talent, these companies play a “crucial role” in bridging academic knowledge with real-world experience. Their involvement helps students test their skills against market realities, understand employer expectations, and strengthen their initiative and adaptability.

Prof. Maroun went on to highlight a broader mission: innovation and knowledge transfer. “At USJ, knowledge is meant to circulate, be shared, and turned into practical solutions,” he said. This takes shape through joint projects, collaborative research, shared expertise, technology transfer, and ongoing exchanges between academia and the socio-economic sector.

He also underscored the strategic importance of these partnerships for USJ’s global profile. International rankings, including Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), evaluate universities not only on academic output but also on the perspectives of employers and collaborators. “Your experience with USJ truly shapes how the world sees our University,” he noted, reinforcing the value of active, long-term collaboration.

Attendees also received a brochure highlighting key USJ performance indicators, along with a QR code linking directly to the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) reputation survey page. Partners who wished to do so could voluntarily submit their details. Presented as a concrete way to support the University, the initiative strengthens USJ’s international standing and enhances the value of its degrees in both Lebanese and global job markets.

Concluding the formal remarks, Prof. François Boëdec, SJ, Rector of USJ, framed the evening within a broader perspective. “In a time of profound change in Lebanon and around the world, ongoing dialogue between universities and the socio-economic sector is more vital than ever,” he said. He highlighted that partnerships today take on “new forms,” extending well beyond traditional internships to include research collaboration, innovation initiatives, and structured, long-term engagement.

Prof. Boëdec reflected on USJ’s enduring legacy as a 150-year-old institution that has consistently contributed to Lebanon’s development. He emphasized its growing recognition as a hub of creativity, intellectual openness, and scientific and technological innovation. “Our graduates are globally fluent, trilingual, and grounded in strong values,” he noted. “They are equipped with the resilience to navigate the challenges of a complex world and to make a meaningful impact wherever they go.”

The evening concluded on a festive note, as attendees were invited to enjoy live music by Andrea Bou Nehmé and her band. Guests shared a convivial atmosphere, connecting over the melodies and celebrating the partnerships that make USJ’s mission possible.

Read also: Soirée des partenaires

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