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The Cyprus Institute and the American University of Beirut Strengthen Educational Ties Between Cyprus and Lebanon

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On 7th June, the Cyprus Institute hosted the visit of the President of the American University of Beirut Prof. Fadlo R. Khuri, who took this opportunity to sign a Memorandum of Understanding between the two institutions. This visit is the culmination of over a year of mutual visits and intensive preparations to pursue joint research and education projects in areas of common interest, such as Climate Change, Renewable Energies, Sustainable Agriculture, and many others. The AUB Alumni Chapter in Cyprus has played a key role in brokering this partnership.

In the words of the President of the Cyprus Institute, Prof. Costas N. Papanicolas, “the Cyprus Institute and the American University of Beirut have a lot in common: a focus on research and education excellence, an international outlook, and a research agenda focussed on the most pressing environmental and social challenges facing the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East Region. As such, they are natural partners and the potential for cooperation is immense”.

Recently, the Cyprus Institute was awarded the “EMME-CARE” project, a 45-M€ initiative approved under the “Spreading Excellence and Widening Participation” call of the EU Horizon 2020 programme, which will see the creation of a Centre of Excellence for Climate and Atmosphere Research in the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East. One of the key partners of the Cyprus Institute in this endeavour is AUB, which will be among the first to host a joint professorship as part of the EMME-CARE programme. President Khuri noted that “AUB is committed to fostering partnerships and collaborations with academic and other institutions. We are looking forward to working with the Cyprus Institute to advance knowledge on this critically important topic”.