The University of Balamand is a non-profit and independent institution of higher education. It was founded in 1988 by Patriarch Ignatius IV, Patriarch of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church. Recognizing the noble values of tolerance, co-existence, and mutual respect, Balamand welcomes students and faculty from all over the world.We prepare our students to think creatively and to interact constructively so as to be able to lead by example. Our commitment to Lebanon and the region is to provide Service Education: Education through Doing (SEED). This program teaches students the importance of teamwork, the necessity of having effective communication skills, various conflict resolution techniques and the principle of citizenship. The SEED program serves the University's mission by preparing members of the local and regional communities to meet tomorrow's challenges.