Beirut: The American University of Beirut (AUB) inaugurated its new academic year with its annual opening ceremony on Monday, September 7, 2026. Trustees, faculty, staff, students, alumni, and friends of the university gathered in the historical Assembly Hall to mark the start of another year of scholarship, service, and discovery.
According to National news agency - Lebanon, Dr. Fadlo Khuri, AUB president, delivered his Opening Ceremony address, titled "Of Travails and Tipping Points." His speech emphasized the necessity for each generation at AUB to become literate in the language of its own time, highlighting artificial intelligence (AI) as the current lingua franca.
Khuri reflected on AUB's founding in 1866 by Daniel Bliss, noting that the original language of instruction was Arabic, with additional requirements for fluency in Ottoman Turkish, French, or English. This historical perspective underscored Khuri's point that while the languages of education evolve, the imperative to learn them remains constant. He argued that AI and computing are as essential today as design, fine arts, and humanities are for human experience.
Khuri shared his personal journey of embracing AI by engaging with "The AI Starter Kit," a certificate course developed by AUB's Al Ghurair Hub for Digital Teaching and Learning. He reiterated the university's responsibility to guide students, faculty, and staff in becoming literate in contemporary essential skills, as Bliss once did.
In addition to AI, Khuri championed traditional reading, describing his summer spent with numerous books and articles. He advocated for the unique insights and satisfaction derived from reading that technology-based summaries cannot replicate.
The address further emphasized the importance of critical thinking, described as the central mission of higher education. Khuri suggested that in the age of easily accessible information, the challenge lies not in acquiring more knowledge but in learning how to think critically about it. He referenced Malcolm Gladwell's "Revenge of the Tipping Point" to illustrate the notion of achieving breakthroughs through reaching a critical mass of knowledge and confidence.
Khuri concluded his speech with a reference to Homer's "The Odyssey," admiring Odysseus for his capacity to endure and adapt during challenging journeys. This adaptability, termed as metis, was presented as an ideal outcome of an AUB education, equipping students to navigate a rapidly changing world.
In closing, Khuri extended his wishes for the upcoming academic year, encouraging the AUB community to embrace their individual quests and experiences. Drawing inspiration from Bob Dylan's words to Woody Guthrie, he wished everyone a "healthy, immersive, exhilarating, exhausting, and ultimately magnificent academic year ahead."