About Us

About This Project

The budding relationship between Ohio University (OU) and Lebanese International University (LIU) is continuing with the on-line collaboration between the Global Leadership Center (GLC) at OU and the Communications Art Department at LIU. This blog is one realization of this promising academic partnership.

The focus of this project is to facilitate cross-cultural dialogue and understanding of the complex social, cultural, religious, security, economical and political issues in the Middle East and the American understanding of and involvement with these. The goal of this blog is to foster meaningful conversation in an open and respectful forum. To this end, students from the GLC and the Communications Art Department at LIU are developing a robust and respectful dialogue by using this Across Cultures blog. This blog provides them with a platform to tackle controversial issues, showcasing each party’s strong beliefs. This clash of opinions synthesizes an intellectual dialogue in which commonly-held stereotypes are challenged, providing a framework for students and the general public to educate one another through informative, objective information. Our hope is to spread this dialogue across cultures, providing people from around the globe an opportunity to respectfully express their thoughts and learn from one another.

 

The Global Leadership Center

The Global Leadership Center strives to develop internationally-minded, locally-engaged leaders in all walks of life by offering a two-year undergraduate certificate that prepares students to become lifelong learners in order to serve as internationally-minded, skilled, attuned, professional and experienced leaders in all walks of life (commercial, governmental and nongovernmental, educational, etc.). The program prepares students to think critically and creatively, communicate clearly and logically, be flexible and non-dogmatic, embrace ambiguity and complexity, and understand the world’s challenging commercial, political, religious, and cultural issues. In the Global Leadership Center, students work in teams comprised of both Ohio University and foreign-based international students on real-world projects, usually with real-world clients (both in the USA and abroad), in a community-based education experience.

To learn more about the Global Leadership Center: http://www.ohio.edu/glc/

Lebanese International University 

After experiencing real-time face-to-face exchange of ideas, it has become obvious that this is more engaging than strictly virtual communication. This is why the Communication Arts Department at Lebanese International University strives to allow its students to partake in similar programs, in an attempt to encourage creative and critical thinking. LIU also wants to empower them to develop awareness and engage in cultural and environmental sustainability through maximized resources. The university disseminates diverse learning experiences and skills in an environment that enables the dynamic interplay of thoughts and ideas.

To learn more about Lebanese International University: http://www.liu.edu.lb/lb/index.php