Antonine University (UA) and the Lebanese Kodály Society signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on June 24, 2026, establishing a strategic partnership to advance music education, teacher training, research, and cultural development in Lebanon and the wider region.

Signed by UA Rector Fr. Michel Saghbiny and the Founder and Director of the Lebanese Kodály Society, Dr. Ibrahim H. Baltagi, the agreement aims to strengthen academic, cultural, and professional cooperation through the development and implementation of the first university-based Kodály Certification Program in Lebanon and the Arab world, creating a new benchmark for professional music teacher education in the region.

The partnership establishes a framework for certification programs, professional development initiatives, workshops, seminars, summer schools, choral projects, and specialized training in music pedagogy inspired by the Kodály philosophy and other internationally recognized approaches, including Orff Schulwerk and Dalcroze Eurhythmics.

The agreement seeks to advance excellence in music teacher education, support research and scholarly exchange, promote Lebanese and international musical heritage, and create opportunities for educators, musicians, researchers, and students from Lebanon and across the region. It also aims to establish Lebanon as a leading center for music education and professional training in the Arab world.

A key objective of this collaboration is the creation of internationally recognized certification pathways that will equip music educators with professional qualifications grounded in contemporary educational research and best practices. Through this initiative, both institutions aspire to contribute to the preparation of highly qualified music teachers capable of serving schools, universities, conservatories, and cultural institutions throughout the region.

The academic and professional initiatives envisioned under this MOU will be coordinated through UA’s Faculty of Music and Musicology (FMM), under the leadership of Prof. Nidaa Abou Mrad, Dean of the Faculty, in collaboration with the Lebanese Kodály Society. The Kodály Certification Program will be directed by Dr. Baltagi, who will serve as Founding Program Director.

UA’s FMM is a leading academic institution in Lebanon and the Arab world dedicated to teaching and research in the musical traditions of the Mašriq and Europe, musicology, music education, neuromusicology, music therapy, and music technology. Through its accredited academic programs, the Faculty prepares students for a wide range of professional careers in music and related fields.

Founded in 2000, the Lebanese Kodály Society is a pioneering nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the Kodály philosophy of “Music for Everyone.” Through teacher education, curriculum development, research, publications, certification programs, and international partnerships, it has played a leading role in advancing music education in Lebanon and the Arab world while fostering musical literacy, artistic excellence, and lifelong engagement with music.

Through this partnership, UA further reinforces its role as a regional hub for excellence in music education, connecting academic knowledge, artistic practice, cultural heritage, and professional development in service of Lebanon and the wider Arab world.