About Hassan Diab
Change is sure to come
Politician. Executive. Academic. Engineer. Worked over 33 years in Education.
An academic and politician, the preoccupations of Hassan Diab’s decades-long career include youth empowerment, educational reform, and technocratic governance. From Professor to Lebanese Prime Minister, he entered academia then politics to create positive societal change. Meanwhile, his background in engineering informs his practical approach to politics and decision-making.
AREAS OF EXPERIENCE
From experience on to responsibility
Teaching
He was an educator for more than 30 years at AUB, during which he taught over 20 courses in engineering to both graduates and undergraduates, as well as supervised numerous student projects.
Research
With over 160 publications, his research interests range from the different aspects of computer engineering to education in Lebanon and education in general.
Administration
Administrative roles throughout his academic career have included department Chair, Dean, Vice President, and Founding President.
Consulting
Has completed over 600 consulting projects, either independently or as part of an AUB project for regional and international clients. These projects related to academia or to computer engineering and Information Technology (IT). The consulted parties included companies, international organizations like ESCWA and various universities in the Arab region.
Politics
Among the few independent technocrats on the Lebanese political scene, he entered politics in June 2011 and has since held the posts of Minister of Education and Higher Education, President of the Council of Ministers (PCM), and caretaker PCM.
Community Contribution
Founder and President of the Rifca Taji Foundation (RTF) for social justice in Lebanon. He is also a board member for several local and international organizations that service the community.
CAREER & EDUCATION TIMELINE
Change is sure to come
CAREER
Caretaker President of the Council of Ministers
August 10, 2020–September 10, 2021
Resigned in the aftermath of the Beirut Port explosion. Currently functioning in the capacity of caretaker prime minister.
Minister of Education and Higher Education
June 2011 – February 2014
The first education minister with professional experience in education as well as an academic professor and vice president. He was one of very few independents in Najib Mikati’s cabinet.
Founding President
Dhofar University, 2004–2006
Seconded by AUB as the Founding President of Dhofar University (DU) in Sultanate of Oman.
Chairman
American University of Beirut, 1998–2001
Chaired the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Assistant Professor
American University of Beirut, 1985–1991
At the age of 26, became an assistant professor of computer and electrical engineering.
President of Lebanon - Commonwealth Entrepreneurs Club
July 2021- Present
President of the Council of Ministers
December 19, 2019–August 10, 2020
Appointed prime minister of Lebanon and went on to form a cabinet of experts and technocrats. This was the first cabinet of 20 and the first to include a third of the cabinet women ministers. Also, the first cabinet that does not include politicians or partisans.
Vice President
American University of Beirut, 2006–2011, 2013–2020
He was Vice President for Regional External Programs (REP), which represented AUB’s entrepreneurial and consulting arm, with a fourfold increase in geographic outreach during his tenure in terms of REP projects.
Professor
American University of Beirut, 1997–2020
At 38, he was promoted to the rank of full professor, making him the youngest professor at AUB at the time.
Associate Professor
American University of Beirut, 1991–1997
Became an associate professor the same year he became a chartered professional engineer at the Australian NPER (replaced by NER in 2015).
EDUCATION
MSc in Systems Engineering
University of Surrey, 1981-1982
Thesis research required working as a systems engineer at the IBM power plant in Portsmouth, UK.
O-Levels and A-Levels
Homefield College & Bournemouth College of Technology, 1976–1977
Finished five O-levels and three A-levels in one year instead of three by simultaneously attending a day school and a night school in the UK.
PhD in Computer Engineering
University of Bath, 1982-1985
The result of the PhD research was marketed by the university under the trade name DARKSTAR.
BSc in Communications Engineering
Leeds Beckett University, 1977-1981
Graduated the four-year program with honors.
Education in Lebanon
Brummana High School, 1968–1976
Completed grade 10 in the Lebanese education system.
Political Major Decisions For Lebanon
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