2026 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Entrepreneurship as a Core Competency: Building Institutional Culture and Capacity in Higher Education

Presented at Entrepreneurship & Engineering Innovation Division (ENT) Technical Session 8- Institutional Programs & Ecosystems

Entrepreneurship is increasingly regarded as a core competency in higher education, not only for business students but for future engineers, scientists, and civic leaders. At an international University, the Strategic Committee on Entrepreneurship and Innovation has developed a university-wide framework to institutionalize entrepreneurial thinking, action, and capacity-building across schools. This paper shares insights from this ongoing initiative, highlighting the key pillars of cultural transformation: cross-departmental coordination, incentive structures for faculty and students, integration with liberal education, and long-term alignment with national and regional development goals. The initiative positions entrepreneurship as a university-wide strategy rather than a siloed track, with implications for curriculum, faculty development, student services, and external engagement. The paper discusses lessons learned, implementation challenges, and strategies for embedding entrepreneurship into the institutional DNA of a comprehensive university.

Authors

Dr. Abbas Tarhini http://orcid.org/https://0000-0002-9441-1649 Lebanese American University [biography]

Abbas Tarhini is an Associate Professor of Information Systems and Operations Management at the Lebanese American University (LAU). His research focuses on artificial intelligence, digital transformation, technology adoption, and the organizational and societal impacts of emerging technologies. He has published in leading international journals. Dr. Tarhini is an active member of the Association for Information Systems (AIS), past President of the AIS Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Chapter, and serves in editorial and guest-editorial roles for several peer-reviewed journals. He also leads industry-funded AI and innovation initiatives and contributes actively to international academic and professional communities.
Dr. Pierre Rahme Lebanese American University (LAU) [biography]

Dr. Pierre Rahme is an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering and the Director of the Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP) Program at the Lebanese American University (LAU). He holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Toulouse, France. From 2017 to 2021, he served as Chair of the Mechanical Engineering Department at the Lebanese University. Dr. Rahme is a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), and his research has been published in several internationally recognized journals.
Michel Elkhoury http://orcid.org/https://0000-0002-2732-4190 Lebanese American University [biography]

Dr. Michel Khoury is the Dean of the School of Engineering at the Lebanese American University (LAU), where he leads strategic initiatives in academic innovation, industry partnerships, and program development. Previously Assistant Provost and Associate Dean, he played a key role in implementing LAU’s strategic plan and launching new programs such as Engineering PreMed and Chemical Engineering. A Professor of Mechanical Engineering, he has led ABET accreditation renewals, curriculum modernization, and major lab expansions. His research focuses on turbulence modeling and CFD for wind energy. He holds degrees from METU and Lehigh University and serves as an ABET evaluator representing ASME.
Dr. George E Nasr Lebanese American University [biography]

Dr. George E. Nasr has been Provost at the Lebanese American University (LAU) since 2018, following his tenure as Dean of the LAU School of Engineering. He holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Kentucky and has published extensively on energy modeling and engineering education. He is an active member of IEEE and ASEE and serves on various international educational committees.
Dima Jamali Lebanese American University

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