Université Saint-Joseph

Stepping back in time, imagine Beirut in 1875. French Jesuit missionaries, eager to spread knowledge, founded Université Saint-Joseph. It started as a modest expansion of their existing school, a beacon of French education in the Ottoman-ruled Levant. Université Saint-Joseph quickly became a hub of learning, earning the title of “university”. It was even granted pontifical status by Pope Leo XIII in 1881. The university expanded rapidly. Its Institute of Medicine, founded in 1883, transformed into the French Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy. A maternity clinic opened its doors in 1896, followed by the Oriental College in 1902. Université Saint-Joseph stands as a testament to the enduring French presence in the eastern Mediterranean. The university’s reach extended beyond medicine. In 1913, it established the School for French Law under the patronage of the University of Lyon and also the French School of Engineering, later known as ESIB. These two schools merged in 1946 to form the Faculty of Law and Political Science. Interestingly, for many years, Université Saint-Joseph’s engineering program was the sole provider of such education in Lebanon and the Levant. It shaped generations of engineers who went on to build the modern infrastructure of the region. Even today, the Faculty of Law at Université Saint-Joseph holds a unique position, teaching both French and Lebanese law. This reflects the University’s commitment to a multicultural, multilingual approach. Fast forward to the 21st century, and Université Saint-Joseph remains a prominent institution. In 2008, it launched Berytech, a business development center. Later, in 2012, it introduced the Middle East’s first master’s degree in web science and digital economy, further showcasing its forward-thinking approach to education. Université Saint-Joseph is a vibrant institution with over 12,650 students, 2,000 academic staff, and 540 support staff. It boasts 13 faculties, 24 institutes and schools, and five campuses across Beirut. It also has regional centers in Sidon, Tripoli, and Zahlé, and even a campus in Dubai, UAE. It’s fascinating to think that this bustling university, with its rich history and significant contributions to Lebanese society, started as a small school run by Jesuit missionaries. Université Saint-Joseph truly embodies the spirit of learning and cultural exchange. They say “It is Saint Joseph University of Beirut that has healed, legislated, and built Lebanon”. This testifies to its immense impact.