On rainy Saturday, December 9, 2023, the American University of Technology (AUT) witnessed a historic moment under the auspices of the dynamic Minister of Economy and Trade, Mr. Amin Salam. The grand unveiling of CREATE, the AUT Center for Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship, unfolded at the Issam Fares Auditorium on the AUT main campus in Halat-Al Fidar.
The event seamlessly integrated with the IEEE Computer Society TechX conference, drawing a dynamic crowd of over 120 students from diverse Lebanese universities. Mrs. Ghada Hinain, the president of AUT, took the stage to emphasize the transformative shift within higher education. She illuminated the adaptation of teaching methodologies, with twenty AUT professors actively engaging in an international course. Their mission? To transcend traditional paradigms and immerse students in an active learning experience that not only keeps pace with technological innovation but also fosters a symbiotic relationship with cutting-edge advancements.
Amidst the hum of excitement, Minister Amin Salam addressed the audience, emphasizing Lebanon’s paramount challenge — the exodus of intellectual talent, the nation’s true treasure. He passionately advocated for leveraging technological innovation as the linchpin to revive the economy, creating a fertile ground for new job opportunities in the private sector.
The appointed director of CREATE, chairman of the Department of Computer Science at AUT and chairman of Lebanon’s IEEE Computer Society, Dr. Walid Karam, expressed profound gratitude for the collective effort that brought CREATE into existence. His words resonated with a commitment to fostering an environment of creativity, collaboration, and cutting-edge research within the center. Highlighting the significance of the conference as a testament to the strides made in computing, Dr. Karam announced CREATE as a groundbreaking initiative poised to propel the field further into the
future.”
“CREATE would not only be a hub for innovation but also a melting pot of diverse talents, where experts from various domains would converge to solve complex challenges and explore the untapped potential of emerging technologies.”
The chair of the IEEE Young Professionals Lebanon Elio Aoun expressed excitement about the transformative power of collaboration and knowledge exchange within the TechX conference. He emphasized the role of the younger generation in driving innovation and contributing fresh perspectives to the ever-evolving landscape of technology.
The inauguration of CREATE marks a pivotal moment, where academia, industry, and government converge in the pursuit of a brighter, technologically empowered future for Lebanon. As the curtains closed on the ceremony, the buzz of possibilities lingered in the air, promising a new era of innovation and entrepreneurship at AUT.
