Launched in Beirut in 2018, The Alternative Academy (AA) is on a mission to offer knowledge to the larger public, in line with the belief in open access to information and lifelong learning.
The AA is a multi-disciplinary space for critical thinking, discussions and learning. It was born out of a shared quest for intellectually stimulating, affordable and open courses in the country. It provides alternative viewpoints and perspectives on various subjects while encouraging people to revisit and rethink mainstream concepts and ideologies. Ultimately, the AA aims at contributing to building a more open, just and inclusive society.
The academy offers a wide range of courses, from social and political sciences (anthropology, sociology….) to natural sciences (physics, climatology, entomology…) as well as architecture and arts. They are led by university-level instructors or experienced individuals that are experts in their fields. Classes are accessible for all age groups and backgrounds, highly engaging and interactive, in an attempt to promote alternative teaching methods and pedagogies, one of the long-term objectives of the AA.
The Alternative Academy (“AA”) is a joint-initiative by Lebanon Support, a leading research center dedicated to civil society, and Jibal.
انطلقت
الأكاديمية البديلة في بيروت في عام 2018، مهمتها تقديم المعرفة لجمهورأكبر، بما
يتماشى مع الإيمان بالوصول المفتوح إلى المعلومات والتعلم مدى الحياة
الأكاديمية البديلة مساحة متعددة التخصصات للتفكير النقدي والمناقشات والتعلم. وقد
ولدت من سعي مشترك لدورات محفزة فكريا وبأسعار معقولة ومفتوحة في البلاد. وهي توفر
وجهات نظر ووجهات نظر بديلة حول مختلف المواضيع, مع تشجيع الناس على إعادة النظر
وإعادة التفكير في المفاهيم والأيديولوجيات السائدة. وفي نهاية المطاف، تهدف
الجمعية إلى المساهمة في بناء مجتمع أكثر انفتاحاً وعدالةً وشموليةً
تقدم الأكاديمية مجموعة واسعة من الدورات، من العلوم الاجتماعية والسياسية
(الأنثروبولوجيا وعلم الاجتماع….) إلى العلوم الطبيعية (الفيزياء، علم المناخ،
علم الحشرات…) وكذلك الهندسة المعمارية والفنون. يقودها مدربون على المستوى
الجامعي أو أفراد خبراء في مجالاتهم. الفصول الدراسية متاحة لجميع الفئات العمرية والخلفيات، وهي
تفاعلية وممتعة للغاية، في محاولة لتعزيز أساليب التدريس والتربية البديلة، وهو
أحد الأهداف الطويلة المدى لهذه الأكاديمية
الأكاديمية البديلة هي مبادرة مشتركة من قبل لبنان للدعم، وهو مركز أبحاث رائد
مخصص للمجتمع المدني، وجبال
| Course Name | Fields | Instructor | Location | Dates & Time | Number of Sessions |
| Switch Perspectives: New Approaches to Media Production, Journalism and Storytelling | Anthropology, Sociology, Communication | Jenny Gustafson / Ibrahim Nehme / Angela Saade | Mansion | March 13 , 14 9am-3pm | 2 sessions – 6 hours each |
| Thinking in the era of Fake News | Neuroscience, psychology | Samah Karaki | Lebanon Support | July | 1 session – 2 hours each |
| Understanding and nurturing children: A neuroscience perspective | Neuroscience, psychology | Samah Karaki | Lebanon Support | July | 2 sessions – 2 hours each |
| Introduction to Permaculture | Science, Agriculture, Design | Rita Khawand | Mansion | May 1, 2 10am-4 pm | 3 sessions – 3 hours each |
| First Steps Towards Sustainability in Architecture | Architecture, Urbanism | Eliesh | Mansion | May/June (check details online) | 6 sessions – 2 hours each |
| Discovering the world of insects (Introduction to Entomology) | Science | Wael Yammine | Lebanon Support + Horsh Beirut | March 30, 31 April 1 | 3 sessions – 2 hours each |
| Claiming the City: An interactive course to discover what shapes your city | Architecture, Urbanism, Environment | Abir Saksouk, Nadine Bekdache, Monica Basbous | Mansion | March 31 / April 7, 14, 21, 28 /May 5, 12, 19 | 8 sessions – 2 hours each |
| A Brief Introduction to the Economics of Post-Civil War Lebanon | Political Sciences, Economics | Kevork Baboyan | Lebanon Support | To be announced | 6 sessions – 1:30 each |
| Design for change: An introduction to visualizing research and information | Research | Lea Yammine | Leban0n Support | April 15, 16, 20, 27,30 4pm-6pm | 5 sessions – 2 hours each |
| An Introduction to the Environmental Crisis: Origins, Impacts and Alternatives | Science, Political Sciences Technology | Ounsi el Daif, Nadia Moukaddem, Katherine Shabb, | Lebanon Support | June 3/10/17/246pm-8pm | 4 sessions – 2 hours each |
| Organizational Development and Change | Management, Behavioral Science | Pierre Haddad | Mansion | March 28 / April 11 & 1810am-4pm | 3 session – 6 hours each |
| Filmmaking for amateurs | Art | Marie-Jean Malek | Mansion | March 16 / 23 4pm-6pm | 2 sessions |
| Financial Management for Civil Society Organizations | Management | Samer Aoun | Lebanon Support | April 22 / 29 / May 6 / 13/ 20/274pm-6pm | 6 sessions 2 hours each |
Download the catalogue.
For registration, use this form. Should you have any questions, send us an email at alternativeacademy(at)jibal.org .