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

AUNOHR is a private, secular, independent and non-profit institution of higher education, created 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? 

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? 

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:

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 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. 
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? 

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 
• Major 2: Social Training and Active Methods
• Major 3: Conflicts and Mediation 
• Major 4: Human Rights Theater
• Major 5: Citizenship and Social Policy
• Major 6: Human Rights  
• 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 many fields of specification)

See: Programs and Certificates

 

9. What are the diplomas obtained? 

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 9 courses without thesis

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

 

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. The tuition fees are regularly fixed according to official circulars.
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. Are there scholarships to encourage applicants?

Students can get a scholarship, if they really need it.
The scholarship percent would be on a minimum of 20% of the tuition fee, and according to each case. 

 

13. Students who have already enrolled: Where do they come from? Who 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 22 to 68, 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. What about the duration of the study? 

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?

Lessons are given on campus, with 20-30% online according to the Ministry of Higher Education (since the online courses are not legally adopted by Lebanon, yet).
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. 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? 

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? Does it have agreements with other universities? 

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.

The first agreements of cooperation established between AUNOHR and other universities: The Lebanese University (2016), BIRZEIT university in Palestine (2021), ANNU university in Naplus - Palestine (2022), Bordeaux Montaigne in France (2023).

 

23. Are AUNOHR majors required in other work fields? Which roles and jobs?

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.
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. 

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