On Thursday, October 29, the Sagesse Faculty of Business Administration hosted the First Vice Governor of Lebanon’s Central Bank (BDL), HE Mr. Raed Charafeddine, who gave a lecture entitled “Employment in Lebanon: Challenges and Opportunities” . The event was attended by Fr. Khalil Chalfoun, Sagesse University President, Pr. Rock-Antoine Mehanna, Dean of the Faculty of Business Administration, Fr. Daniel Sarkis, the University Treasurer, a number of top executives and senior bankers from the private sector, members of the Business Faculty Council, Faculty members, staff, and students from the MBA in Human Resource Management (HRM) program.  The event was organized by the HRM department in the Faculty of Business.  The event started by a visit to the renowned “BLF-Sagesse Smart Center” (a unique concept in Lebanon) that was recently launched by the Faculty of Business Administration, where Dean Mehanna and Mr. Johnny Geagea made live presentations on how this advanced simulation laboratory works within the paradigm of real industries, companies, major international financial markets, and political economic environments.  The seminar started right after this tour, where Mr. Dori Daw introduced the speakers; then, Dean Mehanna explained how the objectives of these Lecture Series are instrumental to our Faculty’s mission of excellence, leadership, entrepreneurship, scholarship, creativity and citizenship.  Finally, Vice Governor Charafeddine gave a stimulating lecture on how education is the most important driver and ingredient for any successful economy, especially the knowledge economy.  He explained how students should work hard on creating new business concepts with the financial opportunities that they are made avail through either tapping subsidized loans issued by the central bank or partnering with commercial banks in new technological ventures, as new financial regulation allows such banks to become partners in this sector of the knowledge economy.  Mr. Charafeddine was very impressed and applauded the “Smart Center” initiative and the quality of Sagesse business students.  The event was followed by a reception.