The Académie Libanaise des Beaux-Arts (Alba) is the oldest national institution for higher education in Lebanon. Since its creation in 1937, Alba stands out as a leader in the field of Fine Arts and Design in the Middle East. In 1988, it joined the University of Balamand. Alba has been a pioneer in implementing innovative study programs, maintaining its curricula at the leading edge of progress; these include: Architecture, Fine Arts, Interior Architecture, Global Design, Graphic Design, Cinema and Television, Urban Planning, and Landscape Architecture. This variety of programs offers students a unique educational experience, utilizing a multidisciplinary teaching approach to stimulate their creativity.

Teaching at Alba is undertaken by prominent local and international professionals and academics from various renowned institutions, to which Alba is connected through several cooperation agreements which serve to promote students’ mobility. Moreover, the participation in international workshops in Lebanon and abroad gives the students the opportunity to challenge their ideas and discover new ways of sound analytical and critical thinking methods.

In 2004, Alba adopted the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) in order to align its programs with existing international educational platforms.

Teaching in Alba is mainly project-driven thus encouraging students to combine both theory and practice in a critical approach. This method is nurtured by several research programs implemented in various departments. Classes at Alba are reasonably sized which allows students to receive a tailored and personalized attention.

Alba is strongly committed to excellence, innovation, and social activism. The institution is a major actor of the Lebanese society; it is constantly taking part in public and private initiatives.

Alba’s long-established professional network provides students with high-end employment opportunities tailored to local, regional, and international labor markets. Through their internationally renowned projects and the prizes awarded to them, Alba’s graduates and Alumni alike bear witness to its acclaimed success.