SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

SDG 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

University Governance

Phoenicia University (PU) is committed to transparent, accountable, and participatory governance as the foundation of effective institutional management. Strategic and operational decisions are guided by clearly defined policies, ethical principles, and the active participation of key stakeholders. Governance responsibilities are distributed across the Board of Trustees, the University Council, academic leadership, and administrative units, each operating within clearly established roles. Faculty, administrative staff, and students contribute through formal representation on committees and consultative bodies, ensuring diverse perspectives inform institutional planning and policy.

This governance framework is reinforced by dedicated institutional bodies with defined oversight mandates: the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, the Risk Management & Compliance Committee, and the Institutional Review Board, which oversees the ethical conduct of research involving human subjects. Institutional data governance is further supported by PU's Data Protection Policy, which sets standards for the responsible handling of personal information across the University.

For more information: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee | Risk Management & Compliance Committee | Institutional Review Board | Data Protection Policy 

Elected Representation

PU's Board of Trustees combines appointed members with representatives elected from among the University's faculty and staff, enabling the academic community to participate directly in institutional governance rather than through consultation alone. This strengthens accountability by ensuring academic and administrative perspectives shape discussions on strategic direction and long-term development.

Students' Union

Student participation in institutional life is facilitated through the Clubs and Societies Board, the University's principal representative body for student organizations. Comprising the presidents of officially recognized clubs and societies, the Board gives students a structured channel for communicating views, proposing initiatives, and engaging directly with University leadership on matters relating to student life and campus engagement.

Identifying and Engaging Local Stakeholders

PU actively collaborates with public institutions, civil society organizations, schools, municipalities, and community partners to address local needs. Among its most significant long-term partnerships is its collaboration with the Lebanese Welfare Association for the Handicapped (LWAH), through which PU has implemented mobile medical clinics, vocational training programmes, public health awareness campaigns, and educational outreach benefiting communities across Lebanon.

The University also engages public institutions through knowledge-sharing and policy dialogue — for example, a public discussion with Dr. Mohamed Abo Haidar, Director General of the Ministry of Economy and Trade, on consumer protection, economic development, and Lebanon's digital transformation agenda; an engagement with Nader Gaspard, former President of the Beirut Bar Association; and a series of events held in partnership with ABAAD, a Lebanese civil society organization focused on gender equality and protection.

For more information: Interview with Dr. Mohamed Abo Haidar on Consumer Rights and Economic Development 

Participatory Bodies for Stakeholder Engagement

Each College maintains an External Advisory Board composed of representatives from relevant professional sectors, industry, and alumni, providing structured input on curriculum, professional requirements, and research priorities. The College of Engineering's board, for example, includes the former Chairman of the Lebanese Petroleum Administration, an advisor to the Dean of Engineering at AUB, and senior industry professionals from companies including QatarEnergy and Touch Lebanon.

For more information: Terms of Reference for the College of Engineering External Advisory Board 

Principles on Corruption and Bribery

Integrity and ethical conduct form the cornerstone of PU's governance framework, set out in a comprehensive Ethics Policy covering conflicts of interest, corruption, bribery, and responsible decision-making. Oversight is provided by the Strategy and Ethics Committee, whose Annual Ethics Committee Report for AY 2024–2025 documents its advisory role across ethical oversight, policy advice, crisis governance, and institutional integrity — including its guidance during the 2024 conflict in Lebanon on equitable access to learning and exam fairness, and its advice on AI-use policy and grading governance.

For more information: Ethics Policy | Annual Ethics Committee Report, AY 2024–2025 

Academic Freedom

PU protects academic freedom as a fundamental principle of higher education. Faculty are supported in pursuing independent teaching, research, publication, and scholarly discussion, with principles set out in the Faculty Handbook and Research and Advancement Policy.

For more information: Research and Advancement Policy | Faculty Handbook 

Financial Transparency

PU publishes its annual financial accounts, providing stakeholders with access to information on financial performance and resource management.

For more information: Financial Annual Report 

Working with Government

PU works with government institutions to support national development through education, research, capacity building, and knowledge exchange. In July 2026, PU signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of State for Technology and Artificial Intelligence, establishing a framework for joint training and research initiatives and building digital-economy skills.

Beyond institutional partnerships, PU staff contribute their expertise directly to local government through participation in municipal committees. Faten Mhanna, Director of the Media Department at PU, and Moustafa Khalifeh, Finance Officer at PU, serve on municipal committees, contributing their expertise to local governance and community development.

This direct participation in local governance reflects the University's commitment to making academic and professional expertise available to public institutions in support of informed, For more information-based decision-making at the municipal level.

For more information: Ministry of State for Technology and Artificial Intelligence and PU Sign MoU on Technology and AI 

International Engagement

PU extends its engagement beyond national institutions by contributing to international professional initiatives that promote knowledge exchange, research, and the sharing of specialized expertise. Through faculty participation in global organizations and projects, PU contributes to international discussions and initiatives that support the development of professional and academic fields.

PU faculty contribute their expertise internationally through participation in global professional initiatives. Dr. Dima Basma, Dean of the College of Law and Political Science at PU, contributes to the International Trademark Association (INTA)’s Novel IP Rights Project, supporting international discussions and research on emerging intellectual property rights and contributing her legal expertise to the development of global IP frameworks.

Neutral Platform to Discuss Issues

PU serves as a neutral academic platform for open dialogue on issues of public importance, hosting public lectures, panel discussions, and roundtables that bring together government, civil society, the legal profession, academia, and the wider community.

In April 2024, PU's Faculty of Law participated in the Oxford moot court competition, where student competition was paired with an open-table discussion on contemporary human rights challenges, convening judges, practicing human rights lawyers, NGO staff, government representatives, and academics from multiple international institutions. PU's Faculty of Law has also participated in the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition, where students argue before panels of judges, practicing international lawyers, and legal scholars.

Recent examples of PU's role as a discussion platform include a Cyber Attacks Roundtable (2024–2025), hosted by Dr. Luna Farhat and Dr. Mohamad Jaber, examining the legal and technical dimensions of cybercrime; a Sports Arbitration Workshop (2024–2025), led by Reem Bashir, exploring dispute resolution mechanisms in sports law; and "Beyond Beauty: Law Meets Aesthetics" (2024–2025), organized by Dr. Raed Rteil and Dr. A. Rammal, examining legal and medical considerations in aesthetic practice regulation.

For more information:

GDG Community at PU Hosts Inspiring Tech Session with Dr. Mohammad Jaber | Phoenicia University 

Beyond Beauty:Law Meets Aesthetic | Phoenicia University

Proportion of Graduates in Law

PU contributes to strengthening legal institutions by preparing graduates for careers in the legal profession and related sectors that uphold the rule of law. According to University graduate records, approximately 6% of PU's graduates enter the legal profession, contributing directly to Lebanon's justice sector.