Entrepreneurship Center

2025–2026 Highlights

Curricular Integration

• Entrepreneurship tutorial for Faculty of Education students. The Center delivered a session titled “Rethink Education, Think Entrepreneurially," introducing entrepreneurial thinking in an education-focused context.
• Ideation sessions for Final Year Project students. Ideation sessions were delivered to approximately 100 Final Year Project (FYP) students from the Faculty of Computer Studies, supporting students in exploring and developing ideas with potential practical application.
• MBA and capstone engagement. The Center continued to support the integration of entrepreneurship-related topics into MBA and capstone work, in line with the objective of connecting academic projects with entrepreneurial practice.

Co-Curricular Empowerment and Student Development

• STEP Sustainable Entrepreneurship Programme. The Center implemented the STEP training phase jointly with Doorways gGmbH and with funding from the DAAD, supported by the German Federal Foreign Office (AA). Students completed a 12-week training programme in sustainable entrepreneurship and presented their products and services during the closing ceremony, where they also received their STEP certificates.
• STEP Training of Trainers. The Center successfully concluded the Training of Trainers phase of the STEP project, strengthening the institutional capacity required to deliver the sustainable entrepreneurship methodology.
• Business Clinic and entrepreneurial support. The Center continued to develop its student-facing support model through one-to-one and group coaching and entrepreneurial guidance, building on the Business Clinic established in the previous reporting period.

Gender-Responsive Entrepreneurship and Economic Empowerment

• The Center joined the Women Empowerment Hub (WE HUB), an EU-funded initiative jointly implemented by GIZ International Services (InS) and Expertise France. Within the socio-economic empowerment component, the Center prepared and delivered a tailored capacity-building curriculum for more than 160 women-led businesses. The training formed part of the Center's contribution to gender equality, decent work, and quality education.
• Women Leading Change. The Center attended the closing conference of WE4LEAD within the Women Leading Change launching event, organised by Aix-Marseille University, Lebanese University, and Antonine University, on 15–16 April 2026 in Marseille, France, through online participation.

Youth Skills and Employability

• Advanced Digital Marketing Programme with Anera. The Center worked with Anera to design and deliver an advanced digital marketing training programme for 25 youth. The programme comprised more than 70 hours of structured learning and hands-on training aligned with current market needs.

Green and Circular Entrepreneurship

The Center strengthened its engagement with sustainable and circular entrepreneurship through participation in the Green Forward Programme, implemented by SPARK and BIAT. AOU-EC was selected as one of four non-mature business support organisations to participate in the programme's tailored support track.

• Six workshops covering sustainability and regeneration, offers and needs, circular economy, business sustainability, solar energy, and green policy and advocacy.
• Four peer-pod sessions on circular economy applications, sustainable business modelling and green value creation, solar energy, and legal structures for green businesses.
• Two individual coaching sessions tailored to the needs of the Entrepreneurship Center, covering workshop design and facilitation and green knowledge and sustainability basics.
• Four group training sessions on impact measurement and reporting, circular economy integration, fundraising and donor engagement, and strategic storytelling and visibility.

Within this framework, the Entrepreneurship Center also signed an MoU with the EcoSwitch Coalition through the BIAT project, further connecting the Center to the green entrepreneurship and circular economy ecosystem.

Community, Public-Sector and Ecosystem Engagement

• Memoranda of Understanding. The Center signed MoUs with the Ministry of Economy and Trade, the Municipality of Beirut, and the EcoSwitch Coalition.
• National dialogue on digital policy. The Center hosted the national dialogue “The Digital Authority Draft Law and its Impact on Entrepreneurship and Innovation." The discussion brought together MP Dr. Razi El Hage, Me. Charbel Chbeir, and Dr. Sarah Sidani, and was moderated by Mrs. Randa Yassir, International Strategist. The event examined opportunities, challenges, and policy pathways related to the development of a dynamic, accountable, and innovation-driven digital economy. The event was featured in Ad Dawra Magazine and Beirut Gate.
• Asmae partnership. The Center is working with Asmae – Association Sœur Emmanuelle within the Youth for Change (YFC2) project, co-funded by the French Development Agency (AFD). The study aims to examine the support provided to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) by humanitarian and development actors, assess existing gaps, and explore how SMEs can contribute more effectively to youth employability and livelihoods in Lebanon.

International Engagement and Knowledge Exchange

• A study visit to Leuphana University of Lüneburg, Germany, was conducted in December 2025 within the STEP programme implemented jointly by Doorways and AOU Lebanon and funded by DAAD.
• The AOU-EC delegation engaged with academics at Leuphana University and entrepreneurs at Impact Hub Hamburg.
• The Center attended the closing conference of WE4LEAD within the Women Leading Change launching event, organised by Aix-Marseille University, Lebanese University, and Antonine University, on 15–16 April 2026 in Marseille, France, through online participation.
  

2024–2025 Highlights 

Capacity Building & Experiential Training

• Soft Opening – AOU Business Clinic (Spring Semester)
  A student-led initiative that delivered over six hours of one-on-one startup consultations. FCS students provided guidance on business models for IT-driven products in a real-world support setting.
• Student Video Series – Entrepreneurship Awareness (January 2025)
  In a creative campaign exploring dilemmas such as “passion vs. income" and “employment vs. entrepreneurship," students engaged in dialogue that helped deconstruct myths and reflect on personal motivations in business.
• Webinar – The Art of Entrepreneurship (January 2025)
  15 participants joined a hands-on session with coach Malak Dagher, focused on entrepreneurial mindset development, creativity, and navigating uncertainty.
• Webinar – Navigating Entrepreneurship (May 2024)
  Dr. Souha Nazir Samrouth shared her personal entrepreneurial journey with AOU students, delivering insights on resilience, startup growth, and strategic decision-making to inspire the next generation of founders.
• Ideation Workshop (March 2024)
  In partnership with Farah Social Foundation and Student Affairs, the center hosted a high-impact workshop for 50 students across disciplines. The session introduced ideation techniques, early validation tools, and team-building strategies.

Strategic Partnerships and Institutional Collaborations

• Medsirat – Tunisia (May 2025)
  Ongoing partnership supporting student access to entrepreneurial resources, mentorship, and investment-readiness tools. Professors have access to Certified Business Coach training program.
• Municipality of Bourj Al-Barajneh – Women Resilience Program (February 2025)
  The center designed and led an 18-hour entrepreneurship and financial literacy course for 10 women affected by the war. Delivered at both municipal and AOU premises, the program concluded with certification and direct financial support to select participants.
• LLWB “Women on Board" Program (December 2024)
  In collaboration with the UK Embassy and LLWB, AOU underwent a gender audit, hosted multiple sessions on gender governance, and participated in the national “Women on Boards" conference. Rector Dr. Yara Abdallah reinforced the institution's role in advancing gender equity in leadership.

Community Engagement and Competitions

• Science Fair 2025 – Lebanese University, Hadath (May 2025)
   AOU recognized two student innovations with the Prince Talal Bin Abdulaziz Award ($2,000), while faculty served on the judging panel of over 100 multidisciplinary projects.
• Annual Conference – Innovate to Rebuild (May 2025)
   The center contributed to planning and hosting AOU's flagship conference on policy, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Sessions featured national leaders in economic resilience, female empowerment, and inclusive innovation. (Report annexed)
• Doorways gGmbH (March - May 2025)
  Worked closely with Doorways gGmbH to submit a proposal to DAAD German Academic Exchange Service.
• Blackbox – Brussels (September 2024)
  Members of the center participated in Blackbox's Elevate Program, a director-focused program targeting startup support organizations. Discussions revolved around catalytic capital and building stronger impact networks, to support the wider ecosystem in MENA.
• Hult Prize Campus Director Applications (2023 – 2024)
   Students applied to lead local versions of the Hult Prize Challenge, activating global entrepreneurship initiatives on AOU's campus.
• Jury Participation – Spark & IdeaLab Competitions
   AOU faculty served as judges and mentors, reinforcing the center's role in Lebanon's national entrepreneurship ecosystem.
• Outreach – Global and Regional Competitions
  The center identified and promoted competitions such as the EdTech-USA “Crossing Bridge" and the Arab Girl in Technology Award. Tailored support was provided to student applicants to boost participation and visibility.
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2026 – 2027 Looking Ahead  

Why Entrepreneurship at AOU? 

In a world shaped by uncertainty, Lebanon’s youth knowledge, but also independence, creativity, and resilience. At the Arab Open University – Lebanon, entrepreneurship is more than a program: it is a mindset, a mission, and a mechanism for building a future grounded in dignity, innovation, and opportunity.