Record Number of Students Choose LAU’s AKSOB for Business Studies
The school reached a milestone enrollment of 3,218 students, reflecting the strength of its programs, research and industry connections.
The Adnan Kassar School of Business (AKSOB) continues to strengthen its position as a leading hub for business education in Lebanon and the region, reaching a total enrollment of 3,218 students across its undergraduate and graduate programs as of the end of the fall 2025 term. This milestone reflects sustained confidence in an academic model defined by rigor, relevance and a deep connection to the business world.
At the core of AKSOB’s approach is an educational ecosystem designed to empower students through both knowledge creation and real-world engagement. Six academic departments provide strong disciplinary foundations across the business spectrum, while a network of student-focused institutes ensures that learning extends beyond theory into professional and societal contexts. Together, they create an environment in which students are taught business concepts and are actively prepared to apply them in complex, evolving markets.
“With a record-breaking enrollment of 3,218 students, AKSOB continues to affirm its excellence and impact,” said AKSOB Dean Dima Jamali, adding that “as we look ahead, we remain committed to reaching new milestones, growing stronger together and shaping the future of business education with purpose and passion.”
This commitment to applied education is reinforced by AKSOB’s strong research culture and scholarly impact. The school is home to 85 percent of Lebanon’s top two percent most-cited business scientists, underscoring its leadership in the national research landscape and its growing global influence. In 2025, 11 AKSOB faculty members were named among the world’s top two percent most-cited scientists in the Scopus Elsevier rankings—representing nearly one-fifth of the school’s full-time faculty. This distinction reflects a culture in which teaching excellence is informed by cutting-edge research and global academic engagement.
AKSOB’s impact is further strengthened by its renewed investment in strategic leadership and external insight. Relaunched in fall 2025, the school’s Advisory Board brings together 20 accomplished leaders from a wide range of industries, each contributing a global perspective and seasoned expertise. The Board serves as a catalyst for progress—shaping strategic direction and deepening institutional partnerships.
A robust program of speaker series, research seminars and policy-focused dialogues connects students and graduates with thought leaders, decision-makers and practitioners from the public and private sectors, enriching learning at AKSOB even more. Initiatives like the Beirut Economics Research Seminar Series and the LAU Economic Policy Talk Series give students direct access to advanced research, economic analysis and policy debate, encouraging critical thinking and informed engagement with regional and global challenges.
By engaging local and international expertise, AKSOB plays an active role in advancing national dialogue and development priorities, supporting stronger public institutions, informed policy frameworks and resilient local communities. Through high-impact platforms such as Innovation, Sustainability and the Future of Industry, the Open Town Hall on Reinventing Government 2030 and the 19th Annual Scientific Conference of the Arab Society for Economic Research, the school brings policymakers, international organizations, industry leaders, faculty and students into meaningful dialogue on reform, competitiveness, economic resilience, labor markets, infrastructure and innovation.
Complemented by workshops addressing local development challenges, such as Jbeil District at a Crossroads: Challenges and Development Priorities, and conversations on philanthropy and socially responsible family enterprises, including The Power of Philanthropy in Family Business: Making a Difference, these initiatives—among many others—translate research and academic insight into action, empowering the next generation to engage critically with Lebanon’s challenges and contribute to shaping a more inclusive, future-ready society.
This integrated model is anchored in AACSB-accredited undergraduate and graduate programs, a distinction AKSOB has held since April 2016.