Haigazian University

  • Dr. Nizar El Mehtar, Ph.D.

Dr. Nizar El Mehtar, Ph.D.

Dr. Nizar El Mehtar
Assistant Professor
Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Office: Heritage Bulding,  Room # 305
Tel. ext.: 309
nizar.mehtar@haigazian.edu.lb

BIO 

Nizar El-Mehtar is Assistant Professor and Education Department Coordinator at Haigazian University, where he teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in education and oversees departmental initiatives. With over 25 years of experience spanning secondary and higher education, curriculum development, educational training, and consultancy, he has contributed to a range of educational efforts in Lebanon. El-Mehtar has contributed to national education initiatives through his service on committees at the Center for Educational Research and Development, including the Chemistry Scientific Committee for the new pre-university curriculum and the Non-Formal Education Committee. He has facilitated a variety of professional development activities, including workshops for International Baccalaureate chemistry teachers. He currently serves as a member of the Higher Education Reform Experts (HERE) team under the umbrella of the Erasmus+ National Office in Lebanon. His previous roles include practicum supervisor at the Lebanese University, Theory of Knowledge instructor and science curriculum leader at International College, and experiential learning facilitator with American University of Beirut partners. His professional philosophy emphasizes evidence-based, context-sensitive, and equitable educational design to support teaching quality and curriculum innovation across diverse educational settings.

PROFESSIONAL AND RESEARCH INTERESTS

  • Action research for Professional Development & School Improvement
  • Curriculum Development and Instructional Design
  • Interdisciplinary Education
  • Nature of Science Instruction
  • Formal, Non formal, and Informal Education Continuum
  • Qualitative Research Methods

SELECTED SCHOLARLY WRITINGS

  • Mahfouz, J., El-Mehtar, N., Osman, E., & Kotok, S. (2019). Challenges and agency: Principals responding to the Syrian refugee crisis in Lebanese public schools. International Journal of Leadership in Education, 1–17.
  • El-Mehtar, N., & Alameh, S. (2017). An analysis of the representation of NOS in an IB chemistry textbook. In F. Abd-El-Khalick & C. V. McDonald (Eds.), Representations of Nature of Science in School Science Textbooks: A Global Perspective. Routledge.
  • Mousawi, N., El-Mehtar, N., Gedeon, P., Amhaz, I., Khoury, S., Bou Chahine, A., & Samaha, R. (2024). Non-Formal Education in Lebanon. CERD.
  • El-Mehtar, N. (2015). Extracurricular Activities: Science, Technology, and Engineering. AMIDEAST.

ACADEMIC DEGREES

  • PhD in Education (Teaching of Chemistry), Lebanese University, 2015
  • MA in Education (Science Education), Lebanese American University, 2006
  • Teaching Diploma in Secondary Science Teaching, American University of Beirut, 1994
  • BS in Chemistry, American University of Beirut, 1992