The Center for Continuing Education at Université La Sagesse,   in collaboration with Human Capital Management (HCM), organized a free workshop titled “Preparing for Municipal Elections”, held in two sessions on April 5 and 12. The training aimed to prepare prospective candidates to engage effectively in the upcoming municipal elections.

Around one hundred participants from various Lebanese regions and age groups took part. The workshop served as an opportunity to introduce younger participants and university students to the work of local authorities and to highlight the importance of civic engagement. It also provided guidance to prospective candidates on all aspects of the electoral process and what to expect if elected.

The sessions included a series of lectures and workshops addressing the legal framework governing municipal elections, the role of decentralization in local governance, and the importance of collaboration between municipalities and communities to achieve sustainable development and improve public services.

Special focus was placed on the implementation of the Public Procurement Law in municipalities and its role in streamlining local public services. Participants also received training in negotiation techniques, conflict resolution—whether within municipal councils or in interactions between municipalities and citizens or community groups—and media communication skills. The workshop also covered how to plan a successful election campaign using social media effectively and responsibly, with an emphasis on avoiding misinformation.

Dr. Nelly Hobeika, Director of the Center for Continuing Education, emphasized the university’s dedication to community development, particularly as the upcoming municipal elections represent a pivotal opportunity to activate the role of local authorities in enhancing the quality of public service.

 

The Center for Continuing Education, in partnership with HCM, organizes year-round professional and specialized training programs in response to the fast-paced changes in the labor market and the growing need to develop skills and support academic knowledge. These programs are open to students, graduates, and professionals from inside and outside the university and cover fields such as strategic human resource management, accounting and finance, internal auditing, and anti-corruption practices.

Later this month, the Center will launch an 18-month Certified Insurance and Reinsurance Specialist Program (CIRSP) in partnership with Arabia Insurance.