The American University of Beirut has won the MacJannet Prize for Global Citizenship, an initiative that recognizes and supports exceptional student community engagement and public service efforts.
Taking home first place, AUB was granted $7,500 in prize money.
AUB was awarded for its Center for Civic Engagement and Community Service, which plays an essential role in developing a "culture of service and civic leadership within the AUB community." The CCESC emphasizes on four key components including volunteer work, community development projects, service-learning initiatives and university scholarship programs.
The center was also recognized for its work with six refugee schools run by AUB, for providing psycho-social treatment to thousands of refugee children.
"This prize is important to us because it emphasizes the positive impact that AUB students, faculty, and staff have been able to create through the CCECS and our community partners as we face one of the worst humanitarian crises of this century," Rabih Shibli, director of CCECS, said in a statement .
"We hope this recognition will encourage the growing civic engagement efforts by institutionalizing the culture of service-learning in all universities across the MENA region."
This year, AUB competed with 48 nominations of other student leadership and civic engagement programs sent from 38 member universities across 18 counties.
Launched in 2009, MacJannet Prize for Global Citizenship is now in its eighth year.
