1. Is AUNOHR a licensed university? Or is it an institution that claims to issue academic training certificates, as is prevalent?

AUNOHR is a private and independent institution of higher education, in Lebanon and for the Arab world. It was established by virtue of the ministerial decree No.487 endorsed on September 4, 2014. Consequently, the license to teach No.714 was issued on August 19, 2015 by the Ministry of Education and Higher Education in Lebanon.
The diplomas are recognized and validated by the Ministry of Education and Higher Education in Lebanon.

See: Legal Status

2. Is it affiliated with a local entity? Is it a branch of an external university? Is it an idea inspired by a similar institution abroad? Is there a similar university in Lebanon, in the Arab region or the world?

AUNOHR is independent and is neither affiliated with a local or foreign entity, nor a branch of a similar institution. It is a local innovation and its legacy is based on its founders’ 30 years of pioneering experience in theoretical and practical work. It is considered as a first-of-its-kind in Lebanon and the region, and unique at the international level.

 

3. Who are the founders? How did they establish such a new university in our region?

The founders are Walid Slaybi and Ogarit Younan who initiated the university and the legacy on which AUNOHR was based.

See: The Founders

 

4. Why an additional new university? Are there examples of the impact which you aspire to at AUNOHR?

There are a multitude of examples, and the impact is remarkable and motivating in social change and professional development, starting with self-improvement.
AUNOHR is not merely an additional university; it is an original higher education institution providing curricula unavailable in the existing higher education systems, and 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”.

Examples of social and professional impact:

*After reviewing AUNOHR curricula, officials at the Ministry of Education Higher Education in Lebanon wished the introduction of a course about the culture of non-violence in schools and in all specializations of other universities. Equivalent reactions were also triggered in several Arab countries,

*The administration of a large size school asked a young school teacher, who studied at AUNOHR, to train her colleagues after witnessing the striking impact of her new skills and after the parents’ committee had congratulated her for her work,

*Upon the initiative of a group of teachers and of the parents' committee, who were touched by the new educational work of a teacher who studied at AUNOHR, the school principal asked her to prepare a comprehensive program in order to transform the school into a non-violent school,

*Having discovered something unique in her training skills, the administration granted her a salary increase without her asking for,

*A social worker from a country suffering war and conflicts, regained hope in herself, in her people and in a potential change and expressed the will to return back home with effective tools,

*She founded a non-violent school, a first-of-its-kind initiative in her country, and said that AUNOHR bestowed to her a way of life,

*Thanks to his specialization at AUNOHR, he convinced his second university to introduce a new course about the culture of non-violence, a first-of-its-kind initiative, and he was nominated as instructor in an unprecedented case,

*He has been militant for many years and has a well-known social and political role, but when he studied the strategies of non-violent action at AUNOHR and began applying parts of it, with others around him, he felt that the effectiveness of the activity varied and became professional and rich in tools and ideas,

*She did not truly anticipate how amazingly her specialization will change her life and career and opens new job opportunities with steadily increasing financial revenue;

*After the management discovered the qualitative impact of her work, she was granted the responsibility of a leading non-violent educational mediation office for the school and the area,

*She became an accredited trainer at several leading banks in Lebanon and a number of Arab countries, with very high financial allowances,

*Specializing in conflict management and non-violent mediation gave him an advantage in his profession as a lawyer and opened up new and qualitative opportunities,

*A television station asked her with great interest to prepare a program on the culture of non-violence, which was the first-of-its-kind in the region with great impact on the audience, and which opened to her new professional opportunities,

*Thanks to his specialization at AUNOHR, the role that was newly given to him as well as his current professional skills and income were significantly enhanced relatively to his previous job,

*A director of “Awqaf“ and religious affairs, is now known as the "Sheikh of Non-violence". He organizes workshops for Imams about human rights and the culture of non-violence…

See: The students’ Testimonials

 

5. Who joined the local and the International Boards of AUNOHR?

The AUNOHR boards consist of the members who followed up on the creation of the university and who were deeply impressed by the achievement they have long dreamt of and which was launched in our very own region.
The local board consists of a numerous members who contributed to its development, including academics, intellectuals, personalities of the business world, as well as prominent actors in the social, media, economic and political fields.
The International Advisory Council of AUNOHR includes philosophers, Nobel Peace laureates and peace advocates.

See: The Boards of the university

See: The International advisory Council

 

6. Where is the university headquarters or campus?

AUNOHR adopted the strategy of educating first, before it took an edifice of its own or a final and fully-equipped university campus. Therefore, it launched its first experience in a building owned by a social institution, renting part of it and turning it into a university-like campus. AUNOHR later moved to a complete but temporarily-rented building, in a beautiful town in the countryside. Meanwhile, it signed with the Lebanese University a protocol of cooperation allowing it to use some rooms in the LU buildings throughout the country in order to teach AUNOHR students wherever they may be.
AUNOHR plans to build an important university campus worthy of the non-violence concept, which will be the first university campus to provide non-violence majors to Lebanon and the Arab world.
The administrative offices are located in downtown Beirut, in Gemmayze.

 

7. When do lessons start? When does the academic year begin?

Students can start as soon as they are registered, at any time of the academic year, through preliminary work on the foundations of non-violence and the culture of human rights. This work is part of the major program and aims to prepare students as a first step to what is required as basis for non-violent thinking, since there are no previous university studies in these majors in higher education.
After preliminary work, the students have courses on campus, according to an academic calendar.

See: Academic calendar

 

8. Does that mean that the university provides one major i.e. non-violence and human rights?

Of course, No. The higher studies curricula at AUNOHR consist of nine majors (9), most of them are the fruit of local and pioneering innovation in university education.

• Major 1: Non-Violence Education and School Management Skills
• Major 2: Social Training and Teaching Active Methods
• Major 3: Conflict Prevention, Mediation and Positive Management
• Major 4: Educational Non-Violence Theater
• Major 5: Civic Education, Citizenship and Social Policy
• Major 6: Human Rights Culture and skills Teaching 
• Major 7: Philosophy and Strategies of Nonviolent Action
• Major 8: Non-Violence Communication and Media Skills
• Major 9: Culture of Non-Violence and Human Rights (with 5 fields of specification)

See: Programs and Certificates

 

9. What are the diplomas obtained? Are they equivalent to other diplomas granted abroad in similar institutes?

The university grants two types of higher education diplomas now:

1. A Master’s degree: each major includes 10 courses and a thesis
2. A university diploma: each major includes nine courses without thesis

And soon, a Bachelor’s degree will be granted; and later a PHD’s degree will be established.

 

10. Is it a credits system?

Yes. Courses are taken in credits with each academic credit equaling 15 hours of studies, and every course equals 3 academic credits i.e. 45 hours.

Every MA major consists of 10 courses, each consisting in turn of three credits, a thesis (6 credits), totaling 36 academic credits.

The university diploma consists of nine courses without thesis, which totals 27 academic credits.

 

11. How much are the annual tuition fees?

Unfortunately, Education is not free, but it is the lowest fee according to the local postgraduate’s systems. The fees cover the cost of the academic credits taken in higher education.
Every academic credit amounts to $350 and every course consists of 3 academic credits.
In order to allow students to specialize in the culture of non-violence and human rights, AUNOHR administration is pleased to provide financial support to facilitate the payment process in the most suitable ways.

 

12. Many would certainly like to join AUNOHR after understanding the majors, we need that sort of education in our region, too. Are there scholarships to encourage applicants?

Students can get a scholarship, if they really need it.
The scholarship covers 20% to 50% as a maximum of the fees of the first 12 academic credits.
After completing the 12 academic credits, the scholarship can be raised to a maximum of 70%.
That number can be exceptionally raised to 90% after the completion of 24 academic credits.

 

13. Students who have already enrolled: Where do they come from? Who are they? How old are they?

The postgraduate students came from various Arab countries. The first students were from Palestine, Iraq, Syria, Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon. Their ages range from 20 to 65, and they practice different professions: university teachers; school principals, teachers and educators; educational program coordinators; social trainers; administrators; technicians in the theater, the arts, psychology and philosophy; workers and cadres in banks, corporations, ministries and public utilities; managers and officers in associations and global, regional and local civil organizations and associations; activists in religious culture and citizenship; managers of civil campaigns and political activists; lawyers and lawmakers; reporters and technicians in the medias as well as directors of media and political programs; researchers; religious clerics; decision-makers at national and local levels etc.

See: Students and Alumni

 

14. If students wish to join the university now, how, where and who should they contact?

Registration is possible by filling an application form.

For further queries, the students’ affairs office is available on the following numbers: 0096101445333 – 0096170111382 – 009613111445

Or e-mails can be sent to: university@aunohr.edu.lb

 

15. Are there specific prerequisites to accept students? What type of studies or diplomas should they hold?

For further information on the registration terms and conditions, students should refer to: Rules and Admission.

Any student, with any previous studies, can apply at AUNOHR, since its majors benefit and develop other professional and academic majors and fields. Basically, there are no previous studies or university diplomas for non-violence majors, therefore AUNOHR welcomes students of all majors and examines applications for approval.

 

16. How do you accept in MA classes students who have no background whatsoever on non-violence and human rights?

AUNOHR offers a preliminary program in which the students prepare academic work at home before joining the university campus. These extracurricular projects cover topics on the philosophy of Non-Violence and Human Rights foundations. This program is related to the major, allowing students to be prepared and learn about the basics of their studies and major in a new academic field.
On the other hand, AUNOHR provides a reading program of major references and papers on non-violence and human rights, which students can follow continually after their registration.
The academic administration organizes evaluation meetings with each student (personalized system), to discuss his/her needs and hisher understanding of the new non-violence majors, as well as his/her most suitable options. It outlines the steps to follow.
 

17. How are lessons given? What is their duration? How are they distributed?

AUNOHR offers three methods to pursue a MA or a university diploma.
Students can choose any of the three according to what suits best their professional and social status. They can also benefit from more than one method:

1. Annual lessons, for those who reside in Lebanon. Every course is provided during an academic semester of 15 weeks, with each given in three consecutive hours once per week, in the afternoon and evening. This allows professionals to register and study in parallel with their work. Students can register in one or more courses during one academic semester.
2. Courses can also be taken in short and multiple periods throughout the year. In this case, every course is given five hours per day, for 10 full days, probably on Saturdays.
3. There are also intensive courses, given in two periods over two years, in summer, for five to six consecutive weeks. In this case, every course is given in a full day for six consecutive days.

• Every MA major consists of 10 courses requiring 2 to 3 years (according to the student’s desire or capacity). As to the university diploma, it consists of 9 courses requiring 1 or 2 years (according to the student’s desire or capacity).

See: Programs and Certificates

 

18. Is distance learning possible?

Not yet, it is not legally adopted by the Lebanese ministry. Lessons are given on campus. There is also, as previously mentioned, a program of preliminary and practical work at home that is related to the major program.

 

19. Some cannot enroll for a full academic year, or do not pursue a MA, but would like to follow one specific course or program. Is there an option offered in this matter?

AUNOHR offers an individual courses  with the opportunity to register for one or more courses, without commitment to any higher education majors. The academic administration announces every semester a list of the available courses for an open degree program.
It is also possible to pursue a university diploma to complete the courses one after the other, without the need to submit a thesis.

 

20. Who provides the lessons? Who are the teachers?

The teaching faculty includes instructors, professors and lecturers from all over the world, including of course Lebanon and the Arab region. These consist mostly of pioneers who contributed during the past five decades, in building, writing, publishing and creating training on these issues as well as forming relevant academic courses unique in the field.

See: The Faculty

 

21. What is the official language used at AUNOHR? Are there foreign teachers who give lessons in their mother tongue?

The official language used at AUNOHR is Arabic; in addition to lessons in English and French.
Since priority is commonly given to foreign languages to the extent that these languages prevail currently, and with the gradual loss of the Arabic language proficiency, AUNOHR committed to providing special support to help students recover the ability to draft in Arabic.
Thus, the lessons are given in Arabic, and some in English or French with translations for those who desire. Students are also allowed to sit for exams and draft their thesis in the three languages.

 

22. Does AUNOHR have branches in the Arab world? Does it have a plan to set up courses or sections for non-violence majors in other universities? Has any institution shown interest so far?

AUNOHR has been recently created. However, since its creation it has received numerous requests from universities and public institutions in the Arab region and Europe to create a section, institute or branch for AUNOHR. Some requests were quite serious and work is ongoing in the matter. 

AUNOHR is more than happy to support higher education in Lebanon and the Arab world and to provide courses from its curricula, therefore it invites other institutions to send their teachers, lecturers and trainers to study at AUNOHR, earn higher degrees in its new majors, and consequently master the ways to handle these courses in their own institutions.

 

23. Are AUNOHR majors required in other work fields? Which ones and what roles do they play?

The importance of AUNOHR majors lies in the fact that they intersect with other majors and professions, and help students acquire qualitative theoretical and practical skills.
Knowing that it is a new kind of academic institution, it will take society time to discover its practical benefits and fields of implementation. It is like any innovative scientific study that takes time…

The needs in Lebanon and the Arab world are increasing and he who fathoms the meaning of studying at AUNOHR is quite assertive of its importance and indispensability to relevant professional fields. Moreover, since AUNOHR serves the entire Arab world and has students enrolled from all corners of the region, work fields become vast and varied.

There are many supporting examples where students who have studied at AUNOHR discovered new work fields yet unknown to them, and are now being hired in institutions and even chosen among other applicants. Their professional status improved with financial income increasing sometimes in the same work field. Had they kept their former jobs, they would have noted an improved performance, too.

See: The students’ Testimonials

See: Jobs and Opportunities

 

24. You claim that the main goal is essential for self-change. Is it the goal of universities? Does the AUNOHR curricula and work with students reflect that?

Absolutely. Maybe we are not used to a university curricula and policies that promote self-reeducation and personal change in addition to professions and degrees.

As Walid Slaybi, the founder, says: “Our true self is born with us. It is loving, non-violent and generous, like any living soul that seeks upon birth positive integration in the world. However, the false alternate self - which relinquishes little by little its essence and drowns in compensation, greed, power, famous, submission and even violence - is later formed under social and educational pressure and repression to fulfill the basic vital needs; it is a violent and hostile self. These “two self” are in constant conflict within every human. AUNOHR’s goal seeks to promote the original true self.”

Consequently, the AUNOHR curricula include academic courses and methodologies dedicated to help students “reconstitute” their true self, through scientific majors, group dynamics methods, social psychology, education for joy, theatre and techniques of the arts.
The environment at AUNOHR was conceived and constructed as such.

Consequently, all students acknowledge that studying at AUNOHR was a “turning point”, “the best choice of their lives,” that “AUNOHR changed their lives,” and “gave them hope in themselves and in people,” that “non-violent culture lies in every aspect of relations,” and that “AUNOHR must play a uniting role in all universities”…

See: The students’ Testimonials