The Executive Authority of the Association of Full-Time Professors at the Lebanese University held a meeting today, chaired by Dr. Antoine Charbel and attended by its members. After the meeting, a statement was issued indicating that "the efforts made by the authority in recent months contributed to a noticeable increase in the university's budget and improvements in its operational capabilities, achieving the demand for full-time professors' inclusion in the ranks, relatively enhancing financial income, affirming the uniqueness of university professors, and supporting the budget of the solidarity fund to enable it to provide health, hospitalization, and social assistance services to current and retired professors, while acknowledging the commendable efforts of those managing this fund."
The authority confirmed that it "continues its diligent and effective work, committed to supporting the Lebanese University and its community, and activating its academic and national pioneering role. It insists on retrieving the university's rights from PCR funds and approving the file for the full-time status of hour-based contracted professors who meet the conditions, as it protects the university and ensures its sustainability. It is unacceptable for 70% of its professors to be contracted on an hourly basis. The government's approval of the full-time status file will contribute to the regular operation of the university and bolster its academic staff while ending the drain of competencies that our university is rich in. Finalizing this file has become an urgent national necessity in favor of higher education in Lebanon and for university professors, and it is a right for the Lebanese University."
The authority emphasized that it "will never spare any effort in following up on this file, as it has always done with all responsible parties, until it is approved as quickly as possible." It pointed out that "the commendable efforts of the university administration to expedite this file should also be matched by speeding up the granting of fair financial rights to hourly contracted professors, which they rightfully deserve, without delay, and by regularly following up on the payment of previous dues."
It expressed gratitude for "the responsiveness of those concerned in the legislative and executive branches to the university's chronic files," reminding of "the need to approve the remaining urgent files, including the five-year law and the 68 law, for example. These proposed laws are considered essential for the job stability of university professors."
