International Center For Human Sciences
History
In an old heritage house in the center of the old city of Byblos, the “International Center for Human Sciences”, which is unique in the world, is located on a property that was provided by the Ministry of Culture – General Directorate of Antiquities. It took the Center 27 years to see the light, and here it is today in the heart of historical Byblos, overlooking the archeological area that witnessed seven consecutive civilizations, over 7 thousand years. It has regained its leading role in the embrace of scientists, researchers and academics in various scientific and cultural fields, to be the launching point for an international network through which a dialogue between research centers and universities in the world can be achieved, and to work on the exchange of experiences, the publication of studies, holding international forums, and to put Lebanon on the world cultural map.
Basic Phases
In an old heritage house in the center of the old city of Byblos, the “International Center for Human Sciences”, which is unique in the world, is located on a property that was provided by the Ministry of Culture – General Directorate of Antiquities. It took the Center 27 years to see the light, and here it is today in the heart of historical Byblos, overlooking the archeological area that witnessed seven consecutive civilizations, over 7 thousand years. It has regained its leading role in the embrace of scientists, researchers and academics in various scientific and cultural fields, to be the launching point for an international network through which a dialogue between research centers and universities in the world can be achieved, and to work on the exchange of experiences, the publication of studies, holding international forums, and to put Lebanon on the world cultural map.
Basic Phases
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1955: Maurice Gemayel suggested establishing the “International Center for Human Sciences” in Byblos.
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26 April 1970: The Council of Ministers approved the project.
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5 November 1973: The Executive Council of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) issued the Resolution No.(93EX/4.5.3) under which the International Convention between Minister of National Education and Fine Arts, Edmond Rizk and the Organization Director-General, René Maheu was signed. But the events that took place in Lebanon in 1975 prevented the implementation of the project.
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13–14 February 1992: UNESCO held an international conference in Paris to re-launch the project and to establish the Center.
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July 1995: During his official visit to Lebanon, the Director-General of UNESCO, Federico Mayor, signed a “declaration of intent” with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Fares Boueiz, regarding the establishment of the Center, which regained the outline and the basic orientations contained in the 1973 Convention, and confirmed them.
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1996: A project for a new Convention between the Lebanese government and UNESCO was prepared, and the Organization’s Executive Council authorized the Director-General to sign it under the Resolution No. (151EX/Dec.9.10).
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16 June 1997: The Lebanese government approved the terms of the Convention, and UNESCO named Dr. Yoro Fall (Senegal) as Director of the Center, to benefit from the Organization financial and cultural support.
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4 March 1998: The official signing was made in Beirut, between the Minister of Foreign Affairs Fares Boueiz, and the UNESCO Director-General Federico Mayor.
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22 February 1999: The Lebanese Parliament issued law No. 27, which authorizes the Lebanese government to ratify the Convention.
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25 October 2000: Decree No. 4266 was issued, regarding the application of the Convention that was signed between the Lebanese government and UNESCO; the Center was to be developed under the tutelage of the Ministry of Culture. Professor Theodor Hanf (Germany) was appointed as Director of the Center.
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24 April 2007: The Director-General of UNESCO, Koïtchiro Matsuura, signed the new Convention, which ranked the “International Center for Human Sciences” in the second category, and now it is working under the auspices of UNESCO.
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3 May 2007: The Minister of Culture, Tarek Metri, signed the new Convention.
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17 August 2011: Lebanese Parliament issued law No. 135, which authorizes the government to ratify a Convention between the Lebanese government and UNESCO on the Center.
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2012: The Board of Directors of the Center was formed, after consecutive correspondence between the Minister of Culture, Gaby Layoun and the Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova.
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8–9 February 2013: At the invitation of the Minister of Culture, Gaby Layoun, the first meeting of the Board of Directors was held, to develop the basic principles and the new strategic directions for the work of the Center and its activities.
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23 April 2013: The Board of Directors appointed Dr. Adonis Al Akra as Director of the Center, and he started work on the first of May 2013.
Functions
The Center focuses on:
- Launching, organizing and strengthening research and training in the fields of humanities and social sciences, in this context, the Center cooperates with the Lebanese universities, and universities in the region, or any other specialized center in the world.
- Establishing a documentation and information center, and a specialized library.
- Publication and promotion of conducted studies and research, or that fall within the areas of research of interest.
- Organizing, at least, one forum or number of forums per year, that focuses on the results of the conducted researches.
- Giving priority to encourage the building of research networks, and to organize cooperation among them.
- Allocates grants to post-doctoral research, with obliging the researcher, beneficiary of the grant, to submit the results of his research to the Center in order to be published.
Objectives
- The Center aims to study the contemporary man and his relationship with nature and society, in addition to a series of questions, related to development, dialogue and the culture of peace in the world.
- The Center, which applies a group of specializations and means that fall under the comprehensive label of Human and Social Sciences, especially sociology, anthropology, history, political sciences, economics, philosophy, human rights, international law and the study of religions, devotes considerable efforts to elucidate the questions raised by education, sciences, technology, the relationship between man and his environment, coexistence among people of different cultures, languages and social systems, the meeting of ancient and modern civilizations, peaceful relations among nations, maintaining peace and security and promoting them in order to ensure the harmonious, spiritual and material development of human groups and social integration, enhance understanding, international, intellectual and moral solidarity to become better, besides promoting the values of tolerance and justice.
- The work of the Center would enhance the international cooperation in the field of humanities and social sciences, to achieve national, regional and international influence. To this end, the Center uses proven efficient, appreciated and qualified people.
Contact Information
Riad El Solh Square - Beirut
