Antonine University (UA) participated in the Beauty & Wellbeing Forum 2026, held at Forum De Beyrouth from May 14 to 18, 2026, reaffirming its long-standing commitment to mental health, holistic well-being, and integral human development. The forum brought together institutions, professionals, public figures, and visitors around themes related to wellness, self-development, and human flourishing.
As part of its participation, UA attended the opening ceremony and hosted an interactive booth showcasing the University’s leading initiatives dedicated to mental health, wellness, student development, and community support. Throughout the forum, the University’s booth welcomed a wide range of visitors, including public figures, celebrities, professionals, families, and young people interested in discovering UA’s human-centered educational approach.
During the opening ceremony, Fr. Jean Al Alam, Vice Rector for Integral Human Development, represented the educational sector through a speech highlighting the growing psychological and emotional challenges faced by younger generations today. Emphasizing the important role of schools and universities in shaping healthier and more supportive environments, he stressed that mental health can no longer be treated as a secondary or optional issue. Rather, he highlighted the responsibility of educational institutions to create environments that support students not only academically, but also emotionally, socially, spiritually, and personally.
Reflecting on the realities of today’s world, Fr. Al Alam spoke about the pressures, crises, rapid transformations, and uncertainties affecting young people’s ability to learn, grow, and remain connected to themselves and others. He underlined the importance of shifting from reactive approaches toward sustainable and proactive support systems that help individuals develop resilience, purpose, and adaptability.
In this context, Fr. Al Alam reaffirmed that mental health and integral human development have been embedded within UA’s educational vision since 2018. He also highlighted the University’s commitment to forming individuals capable of facing life’s challenges while remaining grounded in meaning, values, and hope.
The speech further shed light on the UA Plus Program, a university-wide initiative designed to complement students’ academic journeys by strengthening interpersonal, emotional, and professional competencies. Through this program, UA seeks to prepare graduates who are not only academically qualified, but also capable of thriving personally and professionally in a rapidly changing world.
Fr. Al Alam additionally reflected on the evolution of the Wellness and Mental Health Week initiative, launched by UA in 2018 as an annual platform dedicated to dialogue, awareness, and personal growth through sessions and workshops led by local and international specialists. He announced the fifth edition of the initiative, themed “The Power of Hope: Let Your Mind and Heart Bloom,” which will be organized in collaboration with the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Regional Office in Beirut from October 5 to 10, 2026.
At the forum, visitors were invited to explore UA’s various wellness-related initiatives and discover the University’s vision of education rooted in integral human development. They also had the opportunity to meet Sunbula, UA’s mascot inspired by ears of wheat that bend with the wind without breaking. Throughout the event, Sunbula quickly became a source of interaction and enthusiasm among visitors, reflecting the spirit of resilience, hope, and perseverance that lies at the heart of the Antonine educational mission.
Through its participation in the Beauty & Wellbeing Forum 2026, UA continued to strengthen its role as a university that places human flourishing at the center of education, while contributing to broader conversations surrounding mental health, hope, and sustainable well-being within society.