Yesterday, AICS Beirut participated in the dialogue forum “Youth Reimagining Education,” organized by UNESCO at the American University of Beirut (AUB). The event, part of the International Day of Education 2026 program, was held under the high patronage of Her Excellency Nehmat Aoun, First Lady of the Lebanese Republic.
The forum adopted a hybrid format, featuring high-level plenary sessions, an interactive “reverse dialogue” panel between youth and policymakers, artistic performances, and an exhibition of student works. A central element of the event was the First Lady’s direct and active engagement in the dialogue with young people, highlighting a strong national commitment to youth participation, education, and citizenship.
The primary discussions aimed to generate youth-led reflections and recommendations on the future of education and citizenship in Lebanon, in response to ongoing social, technological, and economic transformations. Young participants engaged in direct dialogue with institutional representatives and the public in a structured exchange of perspectives. The dialogue focused on four interconnected thematic areas:
- Active citizenship
- Digital learning and media/information literacy
- Inclusion and citizenship
- Education for sustainability and employability
Collectively, these interventions underscored the urgent need to rethink educational systems to ensure they merge digital and technical skills with civic education, inclusion, and abilities fully aligned with sustainable development and labor market demands.
For Italian Cooperation, participating in these collaborative spaces means supporting a modern educational system capable of combining technical expertise with civic engagement. Only by listening to the voices of the youth can we build a more equitable, inclusive, and resilient society.
