Future Business Leaders Discover Their Path and Earn Scholarships at AKSOB
A week of discovery, collaboration, and real-world challenges helped high school students explore business disciplines while gaining the confidence to make informed academic and career choices.
For 45 high-school students, choosing a university major became less about uncertainty and more about discovery during the Future Business Leaders Summer Camp at the LAU Beirut and Byblos campuses.Designed to immerse participants in the realities of modern business, the week introduced them to disciplines ranging from management, finance, and accounting to marketing, hospitality and tourism, entrepreneurship, and innovation, while offering a firsthand experience of the collaborative learning environment that defines the Adnan Kassar School of Business (AKSOB).
Their achievements were recognized with scholarships awarded to six participants. At each campus, the top-performing student received a 20 percent scholarship, while the second- and third-place winners earned 15 percent and 10 percent scholarships, respectively, in recognition of their academic excellence and active engagement.
“Choosing a major is a significant decision, and students should have the opportunity to explore different disciplines before making that choice,” said Associate Professor and Chair of the Information Technology and Operations Management Department Manal Yunis. “Students gained a better understanding of what each field offers while discovering how technology, data, innovation, and collaboration bring them together.”
The high schoolers moved from exploring business disciplines to solving real business problems. Working in teams, they tackled business challenges, assumed decision-making roles, and experienced the pace and collaboration that characterize today’s business environment.
“In just one week, they experienced the collaborative reality of modern business,” said Associate Professor and Chair of the Hospitality and Tourism Management Department Rania El Haddad. “Supported by faculty and alumni, they did not simply learn theory. They lived it.”
Beyond the classroom, participants discovered AKSOB’s innovation ecosystem through visits to the EduTech Lab and Creative Space, where they interacted with faculty members and peers before presenting their ideas during the Mini Shark Tank competition.
For Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Management Studies Grace Dagher, the camp encouraged students to view business as a field of opportunities where innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship come together.
“Through workshops, business simulations, and the Mini Shark Tank competition, they developed problem-solving, teamwork, and entrepreneurial skills while discovering the many opportunities a business education can offer,” she said.
The program culminated in finance and accounting simulations that challenged participants to manage companies, analyze financial scenarios, and make strategic decisions under realistic conditions.
“What distinguishes the AKSOB learning experience is that students are encouraged to think and act like decision-makers rather than passive learners,” said Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Finance and Accounting Mustafa Dah. “By combining academic rigor with experiential learning and close faculty interaction, students gain an integrated understanding of business while preparing for future professional success.”
The final presentations revealed the participants’ growth over the course of the week. They approached each challenge with greater confidence, worked collaboratively to solve complex problems, and presented their ideas with the assurance of emerging business leaders.
“Students quickly shifted from passive learners to strategic decision-makers,” said Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Marketing Omar Itani. “They showed agility, teamwork, and an entrepreneurial spirit that gives us great confidence in the next generation of business leaders.”
As the week ended, participants were left with a clearer sense of where their interests lay, a stronger understanding of business, and greater confidence in the academic journey ahead.
“AKSOB’s summer camps combine classroom learning with hands-on experiences, real-world simulations, and active mentorship,” said AKSOB Dean Professor Dima Jamali. “By connecting classroom concepts with practical experience, we prepare adaptable, forward-thinking, and impact-driven leaders who are ready to contribute to tomorrow’s global economy.”