On Wednesday, February 4th, 2026, Haigazian University (HU) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the International Consulting Team (ICT) during an official ceremony held at the University’s boardroom. The agreements were signed by the President of Haigazian University, Rev. Dr. Paul Haidostian and the President of ICT, Dr. Joyce Touma and mark a significant milestone in the University’s commitment to professional development, innovation, and international collaboration.
The ceremony was attended by representatives of the heads of the Lebanese Internal Forces, Lebanese General Security, and Lebanese State Security, in addition to the CEO of ICT for the MENA region, Dr. Omran Ghazali, the representative of H.E. Dr. Talal Abou Ghazaleh in Lebanon, Iraq and Syria, Mr. Burhan Al-Achkar, along with senior administrators from both institutions and HU faculty members. The presence of key stakeholders from the public, private, and academic sectors underscored the strategic importance of this partnership.
Implemented through the Center for Continuing Education (CCE), the agreement represents a direct institutional collaboration between Haigazian University and ICT, with special acknowledgment of faculty member Col. Dr. Sarkis Karaguezian for his key role in bringing this MOU to fruition. The CCE will oversee all academic, administrative, and operational aspects of the collaboration, ensuring quality assurance and alignment with Haigazian University’s academic mission. All programs delivered through this partnership will be offered exclusively within the CCE framework.
ICT is an international consulting and training organization with operations in France and Lebanon, bringing a strong global and professional dimension to the partnership. Through this collaboration, both institutions will jointly deliver professional training programs under the umbrella of the CCE, leading to jointly issued certificates from the Center for Continuing Education at Haigazian University and ICT, reflecting a Lebanon–France international dimension and aligned with globally recognized standards and best practices.
In her address, Dr. Joyce Touma praised the collaboration with Haigazian University as a reputable academic institution, highlighting the importance of integrating artificial intelligence and information technology developments into administrative, legal, and consulting fields. She emphasized the value of introducing and utilizing these innovations within modern academic curricula, ensuring that education remains aligned with rapidly evolving professional realities.
President Haidostian, for his part, underscored the vital importance of continuous learning in advancing both education and business sectors. He stressed the need for adaptation to, and mastery of, emerging technologies to ensure sustainability, while also emphasizing the role of such initiatives in strengthening collaboration between the private and public sectors.
The partnership will be launched with an initial training course, with a clear strategic vision to expand into additional diploma programs and specialized training areas. Future offerings may include, but are not limited to, high-demand fields such as cybersecurity, digital transformation, and other emerging professional disciplines aligned with evolving market needs.
Commenting on the agreement, the Supervisor of the Center for Continuing Education, Mr. Christopher Kijilian, noted that this collaboration serves as a vital bridge between the University and the professional world, ensuring that academic values, industry expertise, and real market needs converge in a structured and meaningful way.
Mira Yardemian
Public Relations Director