Mission

The IDEES Multidisciplinary Research Group, emerging from the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at USEK, is committed to advancing academic research for the development of Lebanese society. Through scientific experiments, action-based studies, and research-driven initiatives, IDEES follows professional and standardized peer-reviewed methodologies. It promotes the emergence of a work attitude that prioritizes research topics and issues rooted in the daily experiences of Lebanese communities. Ultimately, IDEES aims to cultivate critical thinking and foster innovation in sustainable development.

Vision

IDEES aspires to be a pioneering multidisciplinary research hub, driven by a diverse team to develop impactful solutions for a brighter, more sustainable future for Lebanon. By bridging academic excellence with societal impact, IDEES fosters continuous innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship in research.

Objectives

In line with our mission, the IDEES Multidisciplinary Research Group sets forth the following objectives:
• Establish research-based and action-based studies across multiple interdisciplinary fields.
• Ensure the publication of scientific articles for each research project in national and international peer-reviewed journals, indexed on Scopus and other recognized platforms.
• Operate within an interactive framework that connects three axes: Universities to academic research and expertise; municipalities to drive developmental actions within local communities; and associations (NGOs, national and international organizations) to implement research-driven solutions. Additionally, schools may serve as spaces for investigation and implementation of pilot projects, depending on the research focus.
• Cooperate with similar research organizations and universities on both national and international levels.

Impact of IDEES

• Serve the community through multidisciplinary research and diverse pilot projects that advance societal progress.
• Act as a catalyst for positive change, both in academia and society, by promoting community-driven initiatives that align research efforts with real-world needs and aspirations.
• Foster sustainable development by offering new perspectives on longstanding issues, contributing to environmental, social, and economic sustainability.
• Uphold ethical research standards, ensuring the protection of human participants, while maintaining trust, confidentiality, and integrity in all research activities.
• Expand the impact of research findings by facilitating global knowledge exchange and increasing accessibility to research outcomes.

Majors Functions of IDEES

• Conduct interdisciplinary research aligned with the IDEES mission, addressing societal challenges while promoting academic excellence.
• Foster collaboration among senior and executive researchers from multidisciplinary fields, promoting interdisciplinary approaches for societal development.
• Ensure ethical research practices by adhering to HRPP and IRB ethical standards.
• Strengthen partnerships by working within an interactive framework, collaborating with universities, research organizations, NGOs, and international institutions at both national and global levels to maximize research impact.
• Influence policy decisions by sharing research findings and recommendations with policymakers, helping shape policies that address critical societal issues.
• Assess and improve research methodologies and strategies to enhance the IDEES efficiency, effectiveness, and overall impact.

Guidelines, Standards and Norms

Guidelines:
- Promote responsible ethical conduct of research.
- Ensure the privacy and confidentiality of research participants' data, in accordance with the IRB principles.
- Ensure compliance with data protection and privacy regulations.
- Follow assigned procedures for data collection, storage, and sharing.
- Communicate research findings in an accessible and culturally sensitive manner.
- Promote effective communication among interdisciplinary research teams.

Standards:
- Adopt Quality Assurance standards for research design, data collection, analysis, and reporting.
- Encourage data sharing, open access, and reproducibility of research.
- Uphold inclusivity and diversity standards in team and research composition.
- Promote research topics that address underrepresented issues and populations.
- Ensure impartial resolution of conflicts within IDEES.

Norms:
- Commit to ethical practices, integrity, and responsibility in all research endeavors.
- Align with international humanitarian and development norms.
- Adhere to the values, principles, and procedures of the HCR concerning research at USEK.
- Ensure compliance with local and international regulations and legal norms governing research.
- Encourage constructive and transparent engagement with stakeholders, including policymakers, NGOs, and community representatives.
- Foster a culture of continuous improvement by regularly reviewing and updating guidelines, standards, and research practices to align with evolving methodologies and ethical norms.

Fields of Study:
Research axes and topics according to USEK’s research priorities:
● Municipal Action and Sustainable Development
● The Responsible Family in Lebanon
● Protection and Preservation of Intangible Cultural Heritage
● Global Barometer for Religious and Cultural Pluralism (in progress)
● Interpersonal Separations in Times of Crisis
● Participation and Inclusion of Individuals with Disabilities
● Youth and Women Empowerment

IDEES Projects

1. Past Projects
Activities 2011 – 2016
• Launch of the "Baladiyyat" project in collaboration with partner municipalities.
• Organization of a competition focused on intangible cultural heritage.
• Integration of municipal action into general training courses, especially the course on civic and citizen engagement.
• Development of a training module on community health focusing on home accidents.
• Monitoring of accreditation processes for community health initiatives within municipalities.
• Oversight of the development of ecological projects in partner municipalities.
• Conducting sessions on active citizenship.
• Development of a pilot model for a city friendly to people with specific needs.

Activities 2017 - 2022
• Preparation of the first publication of the "Baladiyyat" project in the "Initiation to..." series, titled "Municipal Space and Sustainable Development."
• Launch of the research/action project titled "Responsible Families" with the following objectives:
 Promoting marriage and family life as the foundations of social life in Lebanon.
 Highlighting a family vision that considers the integrity (ontological) and dignity (values) of the individual and perceives the family institution as an identity framework in Lebanese society.
 Designing an action strategy involving ecclesiastical, educational, university, municipal, and associative spaces as partners in the preservation of the family in Lebanon.
• Frank Capra Screenings funded by the US Embassy in collaboration with the School of Law and Political Sciences at USEK.

Activities 2023 - 2024
• International Barometer of Cultural and Religious Pluralism – In collaboration with PHAROS and ADYAN, the USEK research team conducted meticulous ethnographic research on cultural and religious pluralism in Lebanon, in parallel with research in France. The objectives of this project include: defining pluralism through academic and ethnographic research; evaluating the typology and level of pluralism across diverse communities; surveying religious and cultural pluralism qualitatively and quantitatively within the Lebanese community; developing a Barometer that can serve as an index of a society’s engagement with its pluralistic nature and its level of tolerance and acceptance of pluralism.
• Interpersonal Separations Within Lebanese Families During the Current Crises: A Research-Action to Mitigate the Repercussions of Lebanese Crises and Conflicts –Supported by the APA Peace Psychology Division, this project explored the subjective experiences of separation among Lebanese families who lost a loved one due to the 2020 Beirut Port Explosion or through emigration. The objective was to pave the way for future interventions and peace initiatives.
• Survey for the Annual Colloquium of Catholic Schools on Citizenship – A survey conducted in collaboration with the General Secretary of Catholic Schools in Lebanon on the topic of citizenship and citizenship education, designed for the annual Colloquium of Catholic Schools on Citizenship.

Current Projects

a. Research Operations for the Ongoing Synod on Women and their Presence in Church and Society
This project aims to empower them and strengthen their presence in both Church and society. It entails multiple levels, including: (a) an invitation to assess the reality of women in Church and society; (b) an exploration of the calling of women from human, ecclesiastical, societal and other perspectives; (c) reinforcement of women’s active commitment in the Church and society; (d) empowerment and education of women to enhance their role in administration, leadership, education, liturgical and pastoral services; and (f) a means to promote partnership and complementarity in responsibility and decision-making. IDEES in responsible for conducting the research operations required for this project.

b. The Changing Role of Women in Lebanese Society and the Catholic Church
Supported by Missio, The Institute of Missiology, this project aims to investigate the evolving role of women in Lebanese society and the Catholic Church, focusing on the impact of social transformations as well as cultural and religious traditions.

c. Enhancing Citizenship Education in the New Lebanese Curriculum
Research conducted with the National Center for Research and Development (CRDP) aiming to enhance citizenship education in the official Lebanese curriculum.

d. Participation of Youth with Cerebral Palsy in their Life Project
In collaboration with SESOBEL, this project aims to enhance the implication of the people with CP in their life project actively and not receptively. It will also guide professionals, families, and other important stakeholders on how to respond people with special needs and support them through their journey.

e. Strengthening Families in the MENA Region
Working alongside the SOS Children’s Village to adapt the international guidelines document on Family Strengthening to the Middle East and North African region.

f. Women as Agents of Peace
This project aims to capture and share the personal experiences and stories of individuals affected by the Lebanese Civil War. Through first-hand narratives, this initiative seeks to document how individuals, families, and institutions have adapted, innovated, and demonstrated resilience during times of crises. By preserving these narratives, the project honors the resilience, bravery, and sacrifices of those who endured the instability of war.

Members of IDEES

Coordinator: Prof. Mirna Abboud Mzawak

Assistant coordinator: Chantale Ibrahim

Members:
- Mirna Abboud Mzawak – Department of Psychology and Social Sciences
- Karine Nasr Démerjian – Department of Philosophy
- Randa Abi Aad – Department of Philosophy
- Joanna Azar – Department of Psychology and Social Sciences
- Nathalie Estephan Nemer – Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
- Christelle Hayek – Department of Languages and Literature
- Léna Gebran – Department of Performing Arts and Theater
- Marina Ivaniceva – Department of Communication Arts
- Nadine Zalaket – Department of Psychology and Social Sciences
- Rima Soueidi – Department of Education
- Odile Khoury – Department of Design and Digital Media
- Yonna Sakr – Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences
- Paul Zgheib – Department of History
- Youssef El Rayess – Agriculture and Food Engineering Department

Associated members:
- Souraya Bechealany – Center for Religious Studies Research, Faculty of Religious Sciences – Saint-Joseph University (USJ)
- Christian Taoutel – Department of History and International Relations – Saint-Joseph University (USJ)
- Céline Merheb Ghanem – Faculty of Political Science and International Relations - La Sagesse University (ULS)
- Lina Bitar – SOS Children’s Village – National Office
Partners:
- Adyan Foundation
- Sesobel
- Anta Akhi
- OFRA Association for women empowerment and family support
- ORSEF Observatory
Executive Researchers:
- Chantale Ibrahim (MA) – Department of Psychology and Social Sciences
- Anthony Maksoudian (MA) – Department of Psychology and Social Sciences
- Rudy Younes (MA) – Department of Psychology and Social Sciences
- Clara Moukarzel (BA) – Department of Psychology and Social Sciences

A Word from the Coordinator of the Multidisciplinary Research Group IDEES

As the coordinator of IDEES, I've witnessed the remarkable power of interdisciplinary collaboration. The fusion of our team's expertise and dedication constantly redefines what's possible. I want to express my gratitude to each and every member for their invaluable contributions to this collective journey. Furthermore, I wholeheartedly invite you to join our team, as together, we embark on a journey towards success, growth, and personal development.
Mirna Abboud Mzawak

If you are interested in joining IDEES in its mission and vision, you can submit your application through one of the links below:
Membership – Research Experiment – Project Proposal

Contact Information

For any inquiries, do not hesitate to contact us at: mirnamzawak@usek.edu.lb