We Have No Choice but to Win

Lina Abirafeh discusses her work as director of the Arab Institute for Women, an academic/activist institute at Lebanese American University. Abirafeh describes the work of the Institute, the first women’s institute in the region (covering 22 Arab states)—and one of the first globally. She explains how she engages in gender-based violence prevention and response, and how individuals, academic institutions, and governments can participate in creating justice for women globally. Abirafeh offers her vision for creating feminist Arab states.

LEBANESE HERITAGE: PRESERVING VALUES TO BUILD IDENTITY

The urbanization of the populated Lebanese centers, along with the urgent requirement to provide homes and services for local people, immigrants and war refugees, altered the appearance of the historic center of many cities, damaging the historic public buildings and gravely threatening their survival. Affecting the direction of the rapid urbanization is a permanent conflict, between the creation of a new, post-modern cultural identity and the promotion of traditional architecture as a tentative way to establish new connections with the Lebanese historical heritage. Traditional culture and ancient architectural constructions are the results of historical processes and the products of the Lebanese society that need to be preserved and transmitted to future generations. Understanding the past is an indispensable tool for the comprehension of the Lebanese society. How can we preserve the values of the Lebanese heritage and transfer them to the future in building up the new country identity? The paper presents research conducted at the Lebanese American University School of Architecture and Interior Design by assessing the values of Lebanese heritage to be transferred to future generations.

Inquiry-oriented differential equations: a guided journey of learning

This study conducted at the Lebanese American University in spring 2018 reports on an inquiry-oriented differential equations class where the course curriculum falls within the realm of Realistic Mathematics Education. The focus of the study is on some curriculum tasks and how they assist students reinvent successfully key mathematical notions covered in most introductory differential equations courses. While the results show remarkable cognitive gains in understanding and thinking, reinventing knowledge was demanding and in some cases required the intervention of the instructor to control and lead the discussion. Results also show that the lack of appropriate mathematical knowledge was sometimes an obstacle for the reinvention process, and the traditional view of mathematical learning a hindrance for accepting that an inquiry-oriented approach can fulfil the course outcomes.

(Re)defining the First Mark of Development: Lebanese Feminist Discourse in Al-Raida, 1976–1985

This article is a feminist history of Al-Raida, a Lebanese feminist journal launched in 1976 by the Institute for Women’s Studies in the Arab World at the Lebanese American University. The article outlines the journal’s role in the foundation of modern Lebanese feminist discourse, and in particular traces the dominant strand of discourse on development during the journal’s first decade. By situating this strand within both dominant and local historical contexts, the article analyzes the ways in which the journal positioned arguments for development, presented research studies, and employed methodologies in order to forge solutions to Arab women’s issues while maintaining international visibility through the use of normative and transnational language.

HOW TO IMPLEMENT SIMULATION BASED EDUCATION IN A NEW MEDICAL SCHOOL

BackgroundSimulation based Education has become an integral part of medical education from undergraduate to postgraduate levels.Summary of workThe integration of simulation into a medical curriculum requires informed implementation in ways that take advantage of simulation's unique ability to facilitate guided application of new knowledge. Simulation offers an experiential learning environment that is ideally suited to the goal-directed learning needed in undergraduate and postgraduate education. Various types of curricula might be developed such as cognitive, communication and procedural skills. Also, a broad range of simulation methodologies can be employed to service the specific educational programs. Part-task trainers, mannequin-based simulation, virtual reality, in-situ techniques, hybrid configurations, screen-based simulations and encounters with ‘standardized’ patients, nurses or physician colleagues all can play a role in the anaesthesia curriculum. Determining which components of a curriculum are enhanced using simulation-based education, and incorporating the exercises into the existing model, result in more goal directed and sustained use of the tool.Summary of resultsExamples of the integration of simulation based education in the undergraduate and postgraduate curriculum at the Lebanese American University-School of Medicine will be discussed.ConclusionsTo optimize both the learning and assessment experience of simulation, educators should remember the principles of effective simulation, the advantages/disadvantages of simulation as well as the goals-tools match.

Democratic transition and sectarian populism: the case of Lebanon

Despite being considered as one of the oldest constitutional democracies in the Middle East, Lebanon has been confronted with periodical institutional crises and civil violence. A protracted transitional period towards democracy has threatened the autonomy of deeply fragmented sectarian groups, and has instigated a polarizing struggle over nationhood. Fearing the degradation of their power to a majoritarian order, sectarian leaders have resorted to various mobilization strategies to obstruct the emergence of a unifying national identity and democratic state. Consequently, a chronically weak state has emerged, divided along antagonistic sectarian loyalties with power shared according to sectarian consociationalism. In order to reveal the tenets of sectarian populism in Lebanon and their impacts on nation-building, the state and democratic transition, a nationwide opinion survey was conducted by the Lebanese American University (LAU), Beirut, during January of 2011 with a random sample of 586 Lebanese respondents divided along sectarian affiliation. The survey examined differential populist mobilization among major sectarian groups and revealed potential explanatory variables. The results shed light on the formation of populism in a divided society and the challenges it poses for democratic transitions in Lebanon and perhaps in transitional Middle Eastern states.

IWSA W Celebrates its 25th Anniversary

The Empowerement of Arab Women was the title of the two day conference organized by the Institute for Women's Studies in the Arab World at the Lebanese American University on December 3 and 4,1998.

Fourth Annual Film Festival

The Institute for Women's Studies in the Arab World at the Lebanese American University - in consultancy with Cine-Club Direct Line - organized its fourth annual film festival entitled "Profiles".