Beirut educator joins regional counterparts to explore resilience, innovation and quality in education
Beirut, Lebanon – 24 January 2026: The British Council successfully hosted a school leader from Lebanon as part of the prestigious MENA UK Study Tour 2026, which took place from 18 to 24 January 2026. The Lebanese representative from our Partner Schools network joined 38 distinguished education leaders from Egypt, Jordan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Morocco for an intensive week exploring contemporary approaches to school leadership, innovation, and educational excellence that resonate with Lebanon's educational context.
The 12th edition of the MENA UK Study Tour continued its legacy as a transformative professional development experience for education leaders across the region. Themed ‘Where Vision Meets Practice: Leadership, Wellbeing and AI for Safer, Smarter Schools,’ this year's programme addressed critical priorities highly relevant to Lebanese educators, who navigate complex challenges while maintaining Lebanon's reputation for educational excellence in the region.
Building Leadership for a Changing Educational Landscape
Key priorities included:
- AI in teaching and school operations
- Teacher recruitment, retention and wellbeing
- Inspection readiness and school improvement
- Inclusive teaching and whole-school leadership
- Governance, safeguarding and quality assurance
Participants visited leading UK schools and institutions, engaging directly with practitioners and observing effective leadership and teaching approaches in action.
Throughout the week, the Lebanese delegate explored artificial intelligence applications in resource-constrained teaching environments, evidence-based strategies for teacher retention and professional development, comprehensive approaches to student and staff wellbeing and mental health support, UK quality assurance standards and school improvement frameworks, inclusive education and adaptive teaching methodologies, and effective governance, safeguarding and quality systems.
Mark Walker, Director, English and Exams at the British Council, noted: ‘The British Council remains deeply committed to supporting schools to navigate rapid change, from digital transformation to new regulatory expectations. The 2026 tour created space for learning, reflection, and co-creation of solutions that will directly strengthen teaching, leadership and student outcomes across the region.’
Sofiene Chaouachi, Exams Director, MENA West at the British Council, commented: ‘The MENA UK Study Tour reaffirmed our commitment to empowering Lebanese schools with evidence-based leadership strategies. By connecting educators with UK best practice, we enable schools to adapt confidently to evolving educational demands.’
Programme Highlights
- British Council HQ: Expert briefings on AI in education, safeguarding and teacher retention
- UK school visits: Lesson observations, leadership meetings and pastoral systems
- Workshops and roundtables: Ofsted preparation, digital literacy and inspection frameworks
- Cultural experiences: Exposure to UK heritage and education traditions
- Networking: Cross-regional peer learning and emerging partnerships
A Continued Commitment to Strengthening Education
Through the MENA UK Study Tour, the British Council continues to support Lebanese schools through our Partner Schools network, leadership development programmes and ongoing professional engagement designed to enhance education outcomes for learners nationwide.
ENDS