Beirut, Lebanon (Enmaeya News) — The American University of Beirut (AUB) is launching a School of Computing and Data Sciences (SCDS), expected to open in September 2026. The move is part of AUB’s long-term VITAL 2030 strategy and marks a major step toward advancing artificial intelligence and big data in the region.
“This will be our answer—not a reaction, but a deliberate next step in a shared vision that emphasizes the need to remain agile and forward-thinking,” said AUB President Dr. Fadlo Khuri.
The new school will offer undergraduate, master’s, and Ph.D. programs focused on how data shapes fields like health, environment, and language. It will take a systems-based approach to AI, encouraging collaboration across academic disciplines.
Abdo Kadifa, Chair of the AUB Board of Trustees and a longtime tech leader, said AUB’s goal is to lead globally in the field. “We felt at AUB that we have to drive and innovate and be the leader in this field—not just in this region, but globally,” he said.
Kadifa also announced a $100 million fundraising campaign to support the school. “We intend to amass the expertise, the capabilities, the computing talent, as well as researchers in a variety of fields to deliver a new way for artificial intelligence to prosper—and to deliver prosperity for us here in the region.”
SCDS will serve as a hub for research, education, and data analysis, helping AUB become a major force in AI and data science both in the Middle East and worldwide.