Chemical/Petroleum Engineering at University of Balamand
What is Chemical Engineering?
Chemical Engineering involves the application of scientific disciplines (math, physics, and chemistry) for the conversion of raw materials/chemicals into more useful or valuable forms. Chemical Engineering is different than chemistry: a chemist works on a laboratory scale, while a Chemical Engineer works on an industrial scale and is responsible of designing multi-disciplinary processes to convert raw materials into more useful products at the maximum conversion and the minimum cost. Chemical engineering is often called “universal engineering” because of its wide range of applications.
What are the national and international demands for Chemical Engineers?
For the Lebanese market, industries are in need of skilled Chemical Engineers for the development of competitive products. With the recent developments on Lebanese offshore oil and gas, the demand at the Lebanese market is expected to grow. For the regional Middle Eastern market, the demand is mainly due to petroleum and natural gas industries. As for the international market, the demand is multi-disciplinary (cosmetics, food, energy, materials etc.).
Why pursue Chemical Engineering at the University of Balamand (UOB)?
The University of Balamand (UOB) has a panoramic campus in North Lebanon that is spacious, modern, easily accessible, with vast open spaces, green areas, and a clean environment. It is accredited by the ACQUIN association.
UOB was the first University to launch the Chemical Engineering program in Lebanon in 2008. The department of chemical engineering was selected as one of the partners in the Gas and Oil Processing: a European and Lebanese Cooperation (GOPELC) project. The tuition fees are counted on credit basis. Facilities are housed in a highly equipped and state-of-the-art building of 5000m2.
Degrees offered:
The Chemical Engineering program offers the
following degrees:
• Bachelor of Science (BS) degree: 3 years; 109 credits
• Bachelor of Engineering (BE) degree: 4 years including summer semesters; 146 credits
• Masters of Science (MS) degree: 2 additional years; 46 credits
The BS program provides students a solid background enabling them to join a master program or professional career. The BE program provides excellent principles and technical skills allowing them to pursue leadership positions nationally and abroad. The MS program will add an in-depth academic coverage and field training in essential specialists. The MS options are: petroleum, food technology, and general chemical manufacturing processes.
Note: To enroll in the Order of Engineers in Lebanon, students must have i) both BS and MS degrees or ii) a BE degree.
Opportunities and laboratories:
The Chemical Engineering Department at UOB offers students direct contact with leading industrial institutions and companies and prepares them to become leading engineers in a region where the need is ever-increasing.
In addition, the department gives students different opportunities for internships and trainings. For instance, possible trainings can be at Petrofac in the Middle East, or the Petroleum-Gas university of Ploiesti Romania within the GOPELC project.
There are also possibilities for collaboration with international institutions for research (MS thesis/PhD co-tutorship), in particular with La Rochelle University in France and Polytechnique Montreal.
To provide students with a hands-on experience and to enhance their research skills, the Chemical Engineering Department has 10 state-of-the-art laboratories: petroleum, nanotechnology, transport phenomena, chemical reactions, food technology, unit operations, fluid mechanics, computer, materials & corrosion, and process control.
Where can I get more information?
For more information, kindly contact Dr Henri El Zakhem (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; Chairperson-Chemical Engineering Department), Dr Rima Manneh (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; Assistant Professor-Chemical Engineering Department), or visit us at the following website: www.balamand.edu.lb/Academics/Faculties/FOE/Departments/Chemical/Home/Pages/default.aspx
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