Our History
June 4, 2020
VITAL 2030 Plan Approved
The AUB Board of Trustees approves the VITAL 2030 strategic plan. One of its components is AUB Global, which includes the establishment of twin campuses outside Lebanon.
November 2020
Pafos Outreach
Mayor Phedonas Phedonos contacts President Fadlo R. Khuri about establishing an AUB twin campus in Pafos, Cyprus.
February 2021
Fact-Finding Mission
AUB fact-finding mission (Senior Vice President for Advancement and Business Development Imad B. Baalbaki, then Mamdouha El-Sayed Bobst Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences Nadia El Cheikh, Senior DIrector of Facilities Bassem Barhoumi) meets with Pafos Municipality, Ministry of Higher Education, and CYQAA in Cyprus.
March 2021
Legal Counsel Engaged
AUB engages legal counsel in Lebanon (Abousleiman & Partners), the United States (Patterson Belknap), and Cyprus (Chrysostomides Legal Consultants).
April 2021
Leadership Visit to Pafos
AUB senior leadership team (President Fadlo R. Khuri, Senior Vice President for Advancement and Business Development Imad B. Baalbaki, then Mamdouha El-Sayed Bobst Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences Nadia El Cheikh, and Chief Innovation and Transformation Officer Yousif Asfour) travels to Cyprus and meets with the Mayor of Pafos, Mr. Phedonas Phedonos.
April 2021
ASG Site Analysis
AUB engages the Albright Stonebridge Group to analyze nine countries as possible sites for an AUB twin campus.
September 1, 2021
Executive Director Selected
Dr. Wassim El Hajj is selected to serve as executive director of the American University of Beirut – Mediterraneo to lead and participate in all aspects of the project including strategic and academic planning, local and US accreditation, legal agreements, human resources, communications, finance, procurement, and facilities.
September 7, 2021
Board Vote
The AUB Board of Trustees, then chaired by Dr. Philip S. Khoury, votes unanimously to proceed with opening an AUB campus in Pafos.
October 2021
Proposal to Pafos Municipality
Senior Vice President Imad B. Baalbaki and Founding Rector Wassim El Hajj lead AUB team that prepares and submits a proposal to the Pafos Municipality to establish a twin campus in Pafos.
October 2021 — December 2021
Two Working Groups
WG1–Admin & WG2–Academics established.
October 2021 — March 2022
Space Planning Study
AUB Mediterraneo conducts a space planning study and works on space requirements in coordination with end users.
November 2021
Municipal Approval
The Municipality of Pafos approves the proposal to establish a twin campus in Pafos.
November 2021
Strategic Retreat
AUB holds a strategic retreat with the senior leadership team, including deans, VPs, AVPs, and directors, focused primarily on the strategic geographic expansion of AUB and brainstormed the main opportunities and challenges associated with such an expansion.
December 2021 — January 2022
Programs & Master Plan
Senior Vice President Imad B. Baalbaki and Founding Rector Wassim El Hajj lead AUB team that identifies programs and structure; steps to establish a private university in Cyprus; and works with Dar Group on a master plan.
January 2022 — February 2022
Student Sourcing Study
An AUB team led by SVP Imad B. Baalbaki, Founding Rector Wassim El Hajj, and Deputy Provost Lina Choueiri conducts a student sourcing study in coordination with ASG.
January 2022 — March 2022
Institute for Liberal Arts
AUB Mediterraneo develops an Institute for Liberal Arts to manage the general education offering, house the general education faculty members, oversee the orientation and induction program, provide continuing education, and ensure teaching excellence.
January 2022 — April 2022
Site Sub-License
Senior Vice President Imad B. Baalbaki and Founding Rector Wassim El Hajj lead AUB team that negotiates with the Municipality of Pafos on sub-license agreement for the long-term lease of future site of AUB Mediterraneo campus in Pafos.
April 2022 — May 2022
Dar Group Contract
AUB signs a contract with Dar Group to design and implement the AUB Mediterraneo master plan; made possible by a donation from Dar Group and its CEO, Trustee Talal Shair.
April 8, 2022
Founding Agreement Signed
AUB signs an agreement with the Municipality of Pafos, Cyprus to establish the American University of Beirut – Mediterraneo (AUB Mediterraneo), AUB’s first twin campus outside Lebanon. The signing ceremony is attended by the President of the Republic of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades; US Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs Lee Satterfield; Ambassador, AUB Trustee, and Chairman of the AUB International Advisory Council Frank G. Wisner; Mayor of the Municipality of Pafos Phedonas Phedonos; AUB President Fadlo R. Khuri; in addition to ambassadors and officials as well as other members of the AUB Board of Board of Trustees.
June 2022
Admissions Outreach
The AUB Vice Provost and Director of Admissions visit private schools in Cyprus to assess the local market and raise awareness.
June 2022
Tender Docs Finalized
AUB Mediterraneo finalizes construction tender documents.
August 24, 2022
MSCHE Approval
The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) approves the American University of Beirut – Mediterraneo as a branch campus of AUB pending a substantive change site visit as soon as practicable but no later than six months after the commencement of instruction at the branch campus.
September 22, 2022
Construction & Supervision
AUB announces that JV MAN Enterprise and Atlas Pantou have been selected to construct the American University of Beirut – Mediterraneo campus in Pafos, Cyprus and that Antreas loannou Architects has been selected to supervise the construction.
September 30, 2022
Early Presence Proposal
AUB submits a proposal to the mayor of Pafos to establish a physical presence in Pafos as soon as possible.
January 1, 2023
First Rector Appointed
AUB President Fadlo R. Khuri announces the appointment of Dr. Wassim El Hajj as AUB Mediterraneo’s first rector.
March 15, 2023
CYQAA Accreditation
The Cyprus Agency of Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Higher Education (CYQAA) accredits the American University of Beirut – Mediterraneo as a private institution and accredits all of its departments and programs.
May 8, 2023
First Event
AUB Mediterraneo hosts its first event: a six-day international residency session, part of AUB’s EMBA program, at its temporary location at the Pafos Innovation Center.
May 24, 2023
Founding Deans
AUB announces the appointment of the founding deans of AUB Mediterraneo: Alain Daou (Faculty of Business), Salah Sadek (Faculty of Engineering), and Malek Tabbal (Faculty of Arts and Sciences).
June 2023
Student Recruitment Begins
AUB Mediterraneo begins recruiting for students for the 2023-24 academic year. The initial course offerings are: philosophy, politics, and economics (BA); psychology (BS); computer science (BS); industrial engineering (BS); business administration–management (BBA); business analytics (MS); and engineering management (MS).
June 7, 2023
Foundation Stone
The foundation stone for AUB’s twin campus in Pafos, Cyprus, the American University of Beirut – Mediterraneo (AUB Mediterraneo) is laid. The official ceremony is held at Apostolou Pavlou Avenue, in the presence of the President of the Republic of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides, former President Nicos Anastasiades, Mayor of the Municipality of Pafos Phedonas Phedonos, Dr. Philip S. Khoury, then chairman of the Board of Trustees of AUB, with members of the Board of Trustees, AUB President Fadlo R. Khuri, administrative and faculty members, as well as other distinguished political, diplomatic, cultural, and social figures.
September 6, 2023
Inaugural Opening & First Cohort
AUB celebrates the inaugural opening of the American University of Beirut – Mediterraneo at the Pafos Innovation Center on Neophytou Nicolaides and welcomes its first cohort of students of 53 students from 12 countries. (The ceremony, led by Chief Marshal Amy Zenger, was attended by the Honorable Athena Michaelidou, Minister of Education, Sport, and Youth in Cyprus; then Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the American University of Beirut Philip S. Khoury; AUB President Fadlo R. Khuri; AUB Trustee Huda Y. Zoghbi; US Ambassador to Cyprus Julie D. Fisher; Mayor of Pafos Phedonas Phedonos; ministers and members of parliament from Cyprus; Senior Vice President for Advancement and Business Development at AUB Imad B. Baalbaki; founding Rector Wassim El Hajj; founding AUB Mediterraneo Deans Alain Daou (Faculty of Business), Salah Sadek (Faculty of Engineering), and Malek Tabbal (Faculty of Arts and Sciences); and distinguished guests from Cyprus, Lebanon, and the United States.)
February 15, 2024 — February 16, 2024
MSCHE Site Visit
AUB Mediterraneo hosts the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). Commission Representative and Peer Evaluator Billy Khokhar, head of student support-STEM at the Open University. He meets with students, faculty, administrators, and trustee(s), and tours the campus, facilities, and dormitory.
March 18, 2024
MSCHE Confirmation
The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) confirms the accreditation of AUB Mediterraneo as a branch campus of AUB.
May 15, 2024
Innovation Center Launched
AUB Mediterraneo launches the AUB Mediterraneo Innovation Center in collaboration with the Municipality of Pafos with the strong support of AUB Chief Innovation and Transformation Officer Yousif Asfour and the Talal and Madiha Zein AUB Innovation Park
July 3, 2024
International Investment Award
AUB Mediterraneo is awarded an International Investment Award at the 12th Invest Cyprus International Investment Awards organized by Invest Cyprus under the auspices of HE President Nikos Christodoulides.
September 4, 2024
New Campus Opening
AUB celebrates the opening of its new campus on Apostolou Pavlou Avenue in Pafos, Cyprus and welcomes its second cohort of students in the presence of the President of Cyprus.
September 7, 2024
International Advisory Committee
The inaugural meeting of the International Advisory Committee of the American University of Beirut – Mediterraneo takes place at the AUB Mediterraneo campus in Pafos, Cyprus.
June 17, 2025
Two New Undergraduate Programs
AUB Mediterraneo announces the launch of two new undergraduate degree programs: a BS in Computer Science and Engineering and a BBA in Digital Marketing, starting fall 2025.
September 2, 2025
First Graduate Commencement
AUB Mediterraneo celebrates the graduation of 15 master’s students. Chair Abdo Kadifa is the keynote speaker at the first Graduate Commencement.