American University of Beirut wins MacJannet Prize for Global Citizenship

The American University of Beirut’s Center for Community Engagement (AUB-CCE) has been awarded the 2026 MacJannet Prize for Global Citizenship. The award, presented by the Talloires Network of Engaged Universities, recognizes the center’s ‘Frontliner Model’ for its ability to integrate academic knowledge with practical skills and ethical guidance to address societal challenges in crisis-ridden contexts.

Developed by Executive Director Rabih Shibli and a team of ten, the model consists of three components: the Engaged Scholars Program (ESP), a Fundamentals in Community Engagement (FCE) course, and Strategic Community Initiatives (SCI). The framework has roots in volunteer efforts following the 2006 July War and has expanded through responses to the Syrian refugee crisis and the 2020 Beirut Port explosion.

Over the last decade, the model’s initiatives in education, mental health, and livelihoods have benefited approximately 40,000 people. Additionally, 4,871 students have contributed over 144,000 volunteer hours through 195 community projects both within Lebanon and abroad.