A conference in USEK concerning the Credit System adopted in Europe:
“A system which protects cultural diversity”

A French delegation, gathering Mr. Eric Froment, President of the European Association of the University, Mr Jean-Jacques Durant, Vice-President in charge of the International Relations, at the Université de Rennes I, Mr Bruno Ravaz, President of the Université du Sud Toulon-Var, Mrs Agnès Gros, Assistant in the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Lebanon and the Middle-Eastern countries, visited USEK, in order to clarify several points regarding the new transfer credit system adopted in Europe. After visiting the University library, accompanied by the Rector (Chief Education Officer), Reverend Father Karam Rizk, the delegates met with the teachers and deans of the different faculties so as to explain to them the reform measures that the new credit system is trying to implement in the universities. The system is called “the LMD system”, which means “Licence (BA or BSc), Master, Ph.D.”, corresponding respectively to 3 years, 5 years and 8 years of study. This reform aims at producing a favourable system for students, while establishing optimal coherence among different universities. Through  circulation, this system will provide the benfits of multiculturalism and linguistics, as well as the current standardization.

Notwithstanding the opinion of Professor Gideon Mohasseb, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, and that of the Architect Mr. Alexis Moukarzel, Dean of the Fine and Applied Arts Faculty, Mr. Eric Froment confirmed that the creation of the “Licence Universitaire” (BA or BSc) level, namely, the application of the LMD system in Medicine and Architecture is problematic and controversial. Consequently, it is preferable to grant students having accomplished 3 years of university studies a “Licence” (BSc) of “Executive Medical Personnel” or “Architect Assistant”.

Finally, Mr. Froment said that this reform system aims to run in parallel with globalization, while at the same time preserving national cultures and diversity.

This gathering was held on the margins of a seminar entitled: “France and Lebanon in the European Area of Higher Education”, organized by the Cooperation Service and the Cultural Section in the French Embassy.