AUB to Open Its First Computing and Data Sciences School in September 2026

The American University of Beirut will open its new School of Computing and Data Sciences in September 2026, making it the university's eighth faculty and its first dedicated home for data and AI research. The school was approved by AUB's Board of Trustees in June 2024 and formally unveiled at a launch event on May 29, 2025. AUB President Fadlo R. Khuri has described it as a keystone of the university's VITAL 2030 strategic plan. What the School Will Teach Plans call for a flagship undergraduate BS in data science, plus master's and PhD programs in computational and data sciences. The curriculum will include multi-disciplinary tracks that connect data work to fields like health, environment, migration, and language. AUB has framed the approach as systems-based, with AI treated as a cross-cutting layer rather than a standalone department. The Price Tag: $100 Million AUB has launched a $100 million fundraising campaign to fund the school. The university has not published a full cost breakdown, but the figure is meant to cover faculty hires, lab infrastructure, and the compute resources needed to train and run modern AI and data systems. Why It Matters for Lebanese AI Talent Lebanon's AI workforce has historically trained through computer science and engineering departments, not a dedicated school. A full faculty with a BS, MS, and PhD pipeline changes the funnel, especially at a moment when local demand for AI skills is climbing and the government has begun targeting AI as a growth sector through its LEAP plan. The school is expected to accept its first cohort in the September 2026 academic term. AUB has yet to publish admissions criteria, program lengths, or tuition for the new tracks.