Phoenicia University Awarded Five Stars by QS in a Major International Milestone

Phoenicia University has received an overall Five Stars rating from QS Quacquarelli Symonds, a world-leading organization in higher education assessment, rankings, and insight. Awarded in April 2026, the rating represents a major international milestone for the University and places its institutional performance within a globally recognized framework for assessing quality in higher education. According to QS, an overall Five Stars rating reflects “excellent overall performance.” PU is the only university in Lebanon currently recognized with an overall Five Stars rating in the QS Stars system.
The QS Stars university rating system is based on an in-depth, evidence-based assessment of university performance across a broad range of criteria. It examines key aspects of institutional performance and the student experience, including teaching and the learning environment, employability and graduate outcomes, facilities, global engagement, good governance, diversity, equity, inclusion, academic development, social impact, entrepreneurship, and innovation.
Commenting on the achievement, Phoenicia University President Dr. Imad Zbib said: “We are pleased that QS Stars has recognized Phoenicia University’s excellence, as well as the quality and progress achieved across the institution. For us, this achievement is meaningful because it reflects more than one area of performance; it affirms that the University’s trajectory is aligned with the expectations placed on institutions that seek to contribute meaningfully to higher education.”
Throughout its journey, PU has focused on building the structures of a modern higher education institution while continuously engaging in external academic and institutional evaluations. Most recently, despite the difficult circumstances facing Lebanon and the region, the University earned accreditation from the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE), adding to its growing portfolio of international accreditations and global memberships. These milestones form part of a broader institutional direction centered on quality assurance, continuous improvement, and alignment with international standards, as PU continues to strengthen its role within higher education in Lebanon and the region.
At the same time, the University has increasingly positioned technological advancement as an academic priority. This is reflected in the integration of Artificial Intelligence into academic development, particularly through the MBA program’s focus on Artificial Intelligence and Data Science. AI, Data Science, cybersecurity, and education and learning technologies also feature among the University’s areas of research focus.

President Zbib added: “Phoenicia University’s growth is the result of deliberate institutional choices and the dedication demonstrated every day across the University, despite the obstacles and difficult circumstances facing Lebanon. This Five Stars rating is a responsibility. It sets a standard that we are committed to sustaining and advancing as we continue to build an institution worthy of the community, the country, and the region it serves.”
This direction reflects a wider understanding at PU that universities are not only responsible for transmitting existing knowledge, but also for responding to how students learn, how industries evolve, and which skills graduates will need in an increasingly digital and rapidly changing world.