Only Armenian university in diaspora celebrates 55th anniversary

In the heart of the Mediterranean city of Beirut and in the hearts of current and former students all around the globe lies Haigazian University. Located in a prime business and social area of the Lebanese capital, this jewel has shined for the past 55 years as the only university with an Armenian identity in the entire Armenian Diaspora, reports the Armenian Weekly.

The loving family atmosphere, the exceptional quality and standard of education, and the dedicated faculty and staff make Haigazian a warm and nurturing second home for the hundreds of students passing through its gates every day. Haigazian is open to all students who are academically qualified regardless of race, nationality, or creed, and it has become renowned for graduating open-minded and dedicated young men and women that actively serve their community.

It all began on Oct. 17, 1955, when the Union of Armenian Churches in the Near East (UAECNE) and the Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA) established Haigazian as a liberal arts college to educate future teachers and pastors. Named in honor of the highly respected pastor, educator, philosopher, and a martyr of the Armenian Genocide, Dr. Armenag Haigazian, the university with its single building first opened its doors to 43 bright and eager young minds.

Haigazian University has prospered and grown over the years, transforming into an exemplary educational institution which this year serves a record number of 800 undergraduate and graduate students, as well as a fully qualified faculty of around 100 and a staff of 50.

The academic standards of Haigazian are among the top in the country, with a total of 30 undergraduate and 13 graduate majors offered in the faculties of business administration and economics, sciences, humanities, and social and behavioral sciences.
Haigazian University today occupies six buildings over an area of 6,500 sq. meters in a central district of Beirut. The recent acquisition of the Heritage building, which is a preserved architectural edifice, is another aspect of the university's continued growth and serves a dual administrative and academic purpose.

As a liberal arts university, Haigazian focuses on providing its students with a well-rounded education, respecting a balance between academic and extracurricular activities with the help of its numerous clubs, teams, and societies. Haigazian promotes these clubs on the basis that they build self-esteem, help students acquire new skills, strengthen their character, cultivate their creativity and spirituality, and in general prepare them to become future leaders in their communities.