The Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK) is a private Catholic higher education institution founded by the Lebanese Maronite Order (OLM) in 1938. In addition to its educational mission in the Middle East, USEK is committed to the preservation and promotion of the Maronite cultural heritage and the creation of a community spirit based on the spiritual, civic, and ethical values of respect for others and their beliefs. In keeping with efforts to democratize higher education, the university is keen on fighting exclusion and abiding by a non-elitist policy, albeit without making any concessions with regard to the quality of education. The establishment of decentralized regional university centers in Zahle, Chekka and Rmeich denotes the wish to expand the right to higher education to peripheral regions.
Located in the heart of Mount Lebanon, USEK has a multilingual tradition as a French- and English-speaking institution. Its network of national and international relations helps it train highly-qualified researchers and professionals.
About Lebanon
- Lebanon is a small Mediterranean country with a surface area of 10,452 km2; it is renowned for its remarkable landscape of high mountains that dive straight into the Mediterranean Sea.
- The capital city is Beirut and the country’s largest cities are Tripoli, Jounieh, Sidon, Zahle, Tyre, Baalbek, and Byblos.
- Lebanon is divided into four distinct physiographic regions that stretch from north to south: the coastal plain, the Mount Lebanon mountain range, the Beqaa Valley and the Anti-Lebanon mountain range.
- The country’s highest peak is Qurnat as-Sawda’, which culminates at 10,128 ft. (3,087 m).
- The population numbers around 5 million.