The culture of non-violence might
finally penetrate the thick cover of dark clouds
besieging us in a prison of anxiety, violence and absurdity,
in order to restore communication
with a sun
that does not despair of calling us every single morning…
Walid Slaybi
Founder of AUNOHR
An opening word he dedicated to the University in 2009

Overview
AUNOHR (Academic University College for Non-Violence & Human Rights) was founded as an independent higher education institution for Lebanon and the Arab world under the Lebanese law for higher education (Ministerial Decree no /487/ date 04.09.2014) and received a ministerial license to proceed for academic activities No. 714 / M / 2015 dated 18.08.2015.
 

• The legacy of AUNOHR is based on thirty years of pioneering experience of its founders, Walid Slaybi and Ogarit Younan, and is considered as a first-of-its-kind in Lebanon, the region and in the world. As a matter of fact, AUNOHR is building academic cooperation with local, regional and international universities, colleges and other institutions.

• AUNOHR was founded with an objective to remain an incubator for both an academic professionalism and constructive social change, starting with the personal development of every student.

• AUNOHR is not just another new university; it is an original higher education institution whose existence has become a pressing need in every society. Many officials and representatives of other universities held in this concern: “By its quality uniqueness, AUNOHR is not a competition but rather a needed complement to what already exists”. As international nonviolent thinkers have said: "It is a unique endeavor and added value that we have long waited for throughout the journey of the world's non-violent heritage".

• Many international, Arab and local figures have joined the AUNOHR’s Board and Councils,  including Nobel Peace laureates, non-violent pioneers, academicians, and economists, as well as human rights and cultural personalities who are committed to the nonsectarian and nonviolent civil alternatives

• AUNOHR faculty members are professors, lecturers and experts from Lebanon and around the world, including intellectuals and designers of globally innovative courses in more than one field. Being original, nonviolence majors will be taught primarily by pioneers, philosophers and authors of reference books in the field, and this is AUNOHR’s distinguishing feature.

• Being a new approach in higher education, comprehensive university education model at the Master level was implemented (2009-2011), following the devising of curricula in nine different majors. Evaluating this first experience, everybody declared that it was “A dream come true”.

• AUNOHR currently grants two kinds of degrees: Masters and university Diploma, and is soon planning to offer a Bachelor degree. The university opted to start with postgraduate studies to target, first high potential candidates in order to publicize the impact of this kind of university education and in turn expose the new generation to its scientific and professional benefits.

More than half of AUNOHR curricula  have been newly introduced, and include the following specializations in the Master and Diploma levels:

• Philosophy and Non-Violence Education Skills
• Philosophy and Modern Training Skills
• Conflict and Non-Violence Mediation
• Educational and Human Rights Theater
• Non-Violence communication and Media Skills
• Human Rights
• Non-Violence Philosophy and Civil strategies
• Citizenship
• Non-Violence and Human Rights Culture (With concentration in one of the majors). 

• AUNOHR students are from Lebanon and the Arab countries. Students from various academic backgrounds are accepted since no equivalent majors exist in the frameworks of current higher education.
• AUNOHR opens registration for students who can proceed with their academic work any time of the year, according to a flexible calendar convenient to various categories. Studying is based on credits system that conforms to international standards.
• In its educational philosophy, AUNOHR relies on an unconventional pattern of university education which is a life in itself. In recorded testimonials about AUNOHR as seen by its students, a common conclusion is shared: “It’s a turning point; AUNOHR has changed my life…”

• In addition to academic specialization, AUNOHR also encompasses a specialized Center for Training and continuing education that provides, along with local and international experts, academic training for civil society, decision makers and community influencers.

• Professionally, AUNOHR is pleased to introduce programs of high professional efficacy in various academic and professional fields, as well as to provide the business world, and societal change with the desired scientific professionalism through modern and professional skills and roles.
   
• And as one of the first supporters who perceived AUNOHR as an unprecedented vision in the actual existence of our region stated, “It’s I who thank you…”

AUNOHR is for jointly achieving academic professionalism and societal change and first and foremost for the students’ reclaiming the self.

AUNOHR’s mission is an exact replica of the LOGO that adorns its name: 
A solid and unique education that constitutes the foundation and the heart, with students coming from all over Lebanon and the Arab region, restoring the vibrant colors of life to empower the self, first and foremost, and then disperse back to their communities as birds of freedom, disseminating the concepts and professional skills of non-violence culture so as ends and means remain intertwined like a tree and a seed, as Gandhi said. 
Undoubtedly, disseminating and teaching the culture of non-violence is not only restricted to the role of a university but rather an existential need that is regarded as the horizon for the Arab societies, as well as the whole world.

Self-Change
●The distinctive feature of AUNOHR’s curricula and philosophy is evident in what it offers to foster self change of each and every student through the devised courses, academic methods, work environment, learning, and human relations. We have a conviction that qualifying the university’s human potentials in the culture, skills and values of non-violence that go hand in hand with scientific study and professional specialization is a priority need in our societies. This is the mission of AUNOHR, both toward its students and higher education at large.

Societal and Professional Change
●Societies everywhere seek peace and justice, as well as the means to salvation from violence for they are aware of the fact that violence will threaten all that exist unless they adopt, as a priority, specializations and careers of peace and justice, in addition to non-violent education and prevention skills in order to deal with all sorts of violence. We firmly believe that peace is inbred in the minds and souls, provided that we lay the foundation for this culture in education first and then in university professionalism so that skills can transmit to all other domains of life.

Initial Objectives in Founding AUNOHR

• Institutionalizing this culture in academic specializations and university degrees, and in Arabic,
• Graduating pioneer university specialists in these fields from among young people, as well as high aptitude candidates,
• Raise awareness of the society and the new generation of the impact of this kind of study through models and successful practical illustrations (Review questions and answers; number 4).
   

Practical and Sustainable Objectives

• Establish cooperative relationships and academic exchange with universities and colleges, internationally, regionally, and locally;
• Build a new generation of non-violence academic professors and professional trainers;
• Produce innovative courses and researches, as well as encourage educational institutions, universities, and ministries concerned to incorporate them in the official programs and curricula;
• Constitute 'The Arabic library for non-violence';
• Develop a publishing house under the title of “Non-Violence”;
• Ensure an environment of freedom of thought, expression, and research, as well as academic freedom within the university life, and guarantee a vibrant  life on campus to experience equality and cooperative learning;
• Assure that the issues of gender equality, freedom of belief, non-sectarianism, non-discrimination, and the environment are at the core of the university’s components, curricula, and activities;
• Support the establishment of non-violence seed that grows new hope throughout the Arab societies;
• Reinforce commitment toward the culture of non-violence on the public affairs level within the framework of social responsibility of higher education.