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AUB Mediterraneo — Key Milestones

Founding, accreditation, openings, and major achievements (2020–2025).

VITAL 2030 plan approved

June 4, 2020

The AUB Board of Trustees approves the VITAL 2030 strategic plan. One of its components is AUB Global, which includes the establishment of twin campuses outside Lebanon.

Pafos outreach

November 2020

Mayor Phedonas Phedonos contacts President Fadlo R. Khuri about establishing an AUB twin campus in Pafos, Cyprus.

Fact-finding mission

February 2021

AUB fact-finding mission (Senior Vice President for Advancement and Business Development Imad B. Baalbaki, then Mamdouha El-Sayed Bobst Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences Nadia El Cheikh, Senior Director of Facilities Bassem Barhoumi) meets with Pafos Municipality, Ministry of Higher Education, and CYQAA in Cyprus.

Leadership visit to Pafos

April 2021

AUB senior leadership team (President Fadlo R. Khuri, Senior Vice President for Advancement and Business Development Imad B. Baalbaki, then Mamdouha El-Sayed Bobst Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences Nadia El Cheikh, and Chief Innovation and Transformation Officer Yousif Asfour) travels to Cyprus and meets with the Mayor of Pafos, Mr. Phedonas Phedonos.

ASG site analysis

April 2021

AUB engages the Albright Stonebridge Group to analyze nine countries as possible sites for an AUB twin campus.

Executive Director selected

September 1, 2021

Dr. Wassim El Hajj is selected to serve as executive director of the American University of Beirut – Mediterraneo to lead and participate in all aspects of the project including strategic and academic planning, local and US accreditation, legal agreements, human resources, communications, finance, procurement, and facilities.

Board vote

September 7, 2021

The AUB Board of Trustees, then chaired by Dr. Philip S. Khoury, votes unanimously to proceed with opening an AUB campus in Pafos.

Proposal to Pafos Municipality

October 2021

Senior Vice President Imad B. Baalbaki and Founding Rector Wassim El Hajj lead AUB team that prepares and submits a proposal to the Pafos Municipality to establish a twin campus in Pafos.

Two working groups

October 2021 — December 2021

WG1–Admin & WG2–Academics established.

Space planning study

October 2021 — March 2022

AUB Mediterraneo conducts a space planning study and works on space requirements in coordination with end users.

Municipal approval

November 2021

The Municipality of Pafos approves the proposal to establish a twin campus in Pafos.

Strategic retreat

November 2021

AUB holds a strategic retreat with the senior leadership team, including deans, VPs, AVPs, and directors, focused primarily on the strategic geographic expansion of AUB and brainstormed the main opportunities and challenges associated with such an expansion.

Programs & master plan

December 2021 — January 2022

Senior Vice President Imad B. Baalbaki and Founding Rector Wassim El Hajj lead AUB team that identifies programs and structure; steps to establish a private university in Cyprus; and works with Dar Group on a master plan.

Student sourcing study

January 2022 — February 2022

An AUB team led by SVP Imad B. Baalbaki, Founding Rector Wassim El Hajj, and Deputy Provost Lina Choueiri conducts a student sourcing study in coordination with ASG.

Institute for Liberal Arts

January 2022 — March 2022

AUB Mediterraneo develops an Institute for Liberal Arts to manage the general education offering, house the general education faculty members, oversee the orientation and induction program, provide continuing education, and ensure teaching excellence.

Site sub-license

January 2022 — April 2022

Senior Vice President Imad B. Baalbaki and Founding Rector Wassim El Hajj lead AUB team that negotiates with the Municipality of Pafos on sub-license agreement for the long-term lease of future site of AUB Mediterraneo campus in Pafos.

Dar Group contract

April 2022 — May 2022

AUB signs a contract with Dar Group to design and implement the AUB Mediterraneo master plan; made possible by a donation from Dar Group and its CEO, Trustee Talal Shair.

Founding agreement signed

April 8, 2022

AUB signs an agreement with the Municipality of Pafos, Cyprus to establish the American University of Beirut – Mediterraneo (AUB Mediterraneo), AUB’s first twin campus outside Lebanon. The signing ceremony is attended by the President of the Republic of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades; US Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs Lee Satterfield; Ambassador, AUB Trustee, and Chairman of the AUB International Advisory Council Frank G. Wisner; Mayor of the Municipality of Pafos Phedonas Phedonos; AUB President Fadlo R. Khuri; in addition to ambassadors and officials as well as other members of the AUB Board of Board of Trustees.

Admissions outreach

June 2022

The AUB Vice Provost and Director of Admissions visit private schools in Cyprus to assess the local market and raise awareness.

Tender docs finalized

June 2022

AUB Mediterraneo finalizes construction tender documents.

MSCHE approval

August 24, 2022

The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) approves the American University of Beirut – Mediterraneo as a branch campus of AUB pending a substantive change site visit as soon as practicable but no later than six months after the commencement of instruction at the branch campus.

Construction & supervision

September 22, 2022

AUB announces that JV MAN Enterprise and Atlas Pantou have been selected to construct the American University of Beirut – Mediterraneo campus in Pafos, Cyprus and that Antreas loannou Architects has been selected to supervise the construction.

Early presence proposal

September 30, 2022

AUB submits a proposal to the mayor of Pafos to establish a physical presence in Pafos as soon as possible.

First Rector appointed

January 1, 2023

AUB President Fadlo R. Khuri announces the appointment of Dr. Wassim El Hajj as AUB Mediterraneo's first rector.

CYQAA accreditation

March 15, 2023

The Cyprus Agency of Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Higher Education (CYQAA) accredits the American University of Beirut – Mediterraneo as a private institution and accredits all of its departments and programs.

First event

May 8, 2023

AUB Mediterraneo hosts its first event: a six-day international residency session, part of AUB’s EMBA program, at its temporary location at the Pafos Innovation Center.

Founding deans

May 24, 2023

AUB announces the appointment of the founding deans of AUB Mediterraneo: Alain Daou (Faculty of Business), Salah Sadek (Faculty of Engineering), and Malek Tabbal (Faculty of Arts and Sciences).

Student recruitment begins

June 2023

AUB Mediterraneo begins recruiting for students for the 2023-24 academic year. The initial course offerings are: philosophy, politics, and economics (BA); psychology (BS); computer science (BS); industrial engineering (BS); business administration–management (BBA); business analytics (MS); and engineering management (MS).

Foundation stone

June 7, 2023

The foundation stone for AUB's twin campus in Pafos, Cyprus, the American University of Beirut – Mediterraneo (AUB Mediterraneo) is laid. The official ceremony is held at Apostolou Pavlou Avenue, in the presence of the President of the Republic of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides, former President Nicos Anastasiades, Mayor of the Municipality of Pafos Phedonas Phedonos, Dr. Philip S. Khoury, then chairman of the Board of Trustees of AUB, with members of the Board of Trustees, AUB President Fadlo R. Khuri, administrative and faculty members, as well as other distinguished political, diplomatic, cultural, and social figures.​

Inaugural opening & first cohort

September 6, 2023

AUB celebrates the inaugural opening of the American University of Beirut – Mediterraneo at the Pafos Innovation Center on Neophytou Nicolaides and welcomes its first cohort of students of 53 students from 12 countries. (The ceremony, led by Chief Marshal Amy Zenger, was attended by the Honorable Athena Michaelidou, Minister of Education, Sport, and Youth in Cyprus; then Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the American University of Beirut Philip S. Khoury; AUB President Fadlo R. Khuri; AUB Trustee Huda Y. Zoghbi; US Ambassador to Cyprus Julie D. Fisher; Mayor of Pafos Phedonas Phedonos; ministers and members of parliament from Cyprus; Senior Vice President for Advancement and Business Development at AUB Imad B. Baalbaki; founding Rector Wassim El Hajj; founding AUB Mediterraneo Deans Alain Daou (Faculty of Business), Salah Sadek (Faculty of Engineering), and Malek Tabbal (Faculty of Arts and Sciences); and distinguished guests from Cyprus, Lebanon, and the United States.)

MSCHE site visit

February 15, 2024 — February 16, 2024

AUB Mediterraneo hosts the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). Commission Representative and Peer Evaluator Billy Khokhar, head of student support-STEM at the Open University. He meets with students, faculty, administrators, and trustee(s), and tours the campus, facilities, and dormitory.

MSCHE confirmation

March 18, 2024

The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) confirms the accreditation of AUB Mediterraneo as a branch campus of AUB.

Innovation Center launched

May 15, 2024

AUB Mediterraneo launches the AUB Mediterraneo Innovation Center in collaboration with the Municipality of Pafos with the strong support of AUB Chief Innovation and Transformation Officer Yousif Asfour and the Talal and Madiha Zein AUB Innovation Park

International Investment Award

July 3, 2024

AUB Mediterraneo is awarded an International Investment Award at the 12th Invest Cyprus International Investment Awards organized by Invest Cyprus under the auspices of HE President Nikos Christodoulides.

New campus opening

September 4, 2024

AUB celebrates the opening of its new campus on Apostolou Pavlou Avenue in Pafos, Cyprus and welcomes its second cohort of students in the presence of the President of Cyprus.

International Advisory Committee

September 7, 2024

The inaugural meeting of the International Advisory Committee of the American University of Beirut – Mediterraneo takes place at the AUB Mediterraneo campus in Pafos, Cyprus.

Two new undergraduate programs

June 17, 2025

AUB Mediterraneo announces the launch of two new undergraduate degree programs: a BS in Computer Science and Engineering and a BBA in Digital Marketing, starting fall 2025.

First Graduate Commencement

September 1, 2025

AUB Mediterraneo celebrates the graduation of 15 master’s students. Chair Abdo Kadifa is the keynote speaker at the first Graduate Commencement.

 
 
 

VITAL 2030 plan approved

 

Pafos outreach

 

Fact-finding mission

 

Leadership visit to Pafos

 

ASG site analysis

 

Executive Director selected

 

Board vote

 

Proposal to Pafos Municipality

 

Two working groups

 

Space planning study

 

Municipal approval

 

Strategic retreat

 

Programs & master plan

 

Student sourcing study

 

Institute for Liberal Arts

 

Site sub-license

 

Dar Group contract

 

Founding agreement signed

 

Admissions outreach

 

Tender docs finalized

 

MSCHE approval

 

Construction & supervision

 

Early presence proposal

 

First Rector appointed

 

CYQAA accreditation

 

First event

 

Founding deans

 

Student recruitment begins

 

Foundation stone

 

Inaugural opening & first cohort

 

MSCHE site visit

 

MSCHE confirmation

 

Innovation Center launched

 

International Investment Award

 

New campus opening

 

International Advisory Committee

 

Two new undergraduate programs

 

First Graduate Commencement

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