Four students from the Faculty of Engineering and one from the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at the University of Balamand (UOB) were selected on April 15th 2024 to attend the prestigious International Summer School at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay. IIT is the top university in India and ranks 118 according to the recent QS World University Ranking 2025. The IIT Summer School took place from June 24 until June 28, 2024, offering an intensive curriculum that included advanced topics such as Aerodynamics, Dynamic Mode Decomposition (DMD), Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (POD), and much more.

The selected students, Rachelle Mouawad, Ralph Achkar, and Joseph Ajhar, all majoring in Aeronautical Engineering, Ghassan Dib, majoring in Civil Engineering, and Raphael Semaan, majoring in Computer Science, represented UOB with distinction at this international academic event. Their participation highlights the high caliber of UOB's engineering and science academic programs and its commitment to providing students with global learning opportunities.

This opportunity was made possible through the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between the University of Balamand and IIT Bombay back on 17 October 2023. This partnership underscores UOB's dedication to fostering strong academic collaborations with leading institutions worldwide, enabling UOB students to benefit from cutting-edge research and industry insights.

Reflecting on his experience at IIT Bombay, Ralph Achkar stated, “When I first heard of the IIT Bombay Summer School, my hopes of attending were low. However, the Dean of Engineering, Professor Rami Abboud, shared his own experience in India, which inspired me to apply and I was accepted alongside four other UOB students, whom equally were encouraged to go by the Dean. Upon our arrival in the vibrant city of Mumbai, we studied "Data-Driven Modelling of Flows" under Professor Aniruddha Sinha. The course was both engaging and challenging, and the overall learning experience was exceptional. IIT impressed us with its deep research initiatives and extensive academic resources. Meeting international students and discovering Mumbai's rich culture and vibrant atmosphere together made the experience unforgettable. The campus environment was inspiring and I am grateful to UOB for providing me with this invaluable opportunity and experience”.

Vice President for Internationalization and Engagement and Dean of the Faculty of Engineering Professor Rami Abboud commended the team of UOB students for their outstanding performance at the summer school. He highlighted that their participation in the IIT Bombay Summer School not only enhances their academic experience but also strengthens the ties between both esteemed academic institutions, paving the way for further research collaborations and students exchanges.









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