AN ESOL EDUCATION SCHOOL
Universal College - Aley is an Esol Education school
Founded in 1976, Esol Education has spent over five decades building a network of high-quality international schools across the Middle East, East Asia, and the Mediterranean. Headquartered at Dubai Knowledge Park, UAE, the organization operates 10 schools across six countries, serving 12,500 students from over 100 nationalities.
Each Esol school follows an American or British curriculum and is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA) and/or the Council of International Schools (CIS). Nine of the ten schools are IB World Schools. Esol Education is also a strategic partner in and serves on the board of The American University in Bahrain (AUBH)
Every Esol school benefits from experienced leadership, dedicated teachers, and superlative facilities. Esol students go on to attend leading universities across the world, including Harvard, Yale, Stanford, MIT, Oxford, and UCL. Across the network, 100% of graduates go on to university.
“A close-knit community of schools dedicated to the purpose of changing the future of our world for the better.”
KEY FACTS:
In 2026, Universal College – Aley proudly celebrates Esol Education’s 50 year heritage. What began with a single school in 1976 is now a network of 10 schools across six countries, serving 12,500 students, built on our founder, Mr. Walid Abushakra’s singular conviction: an outstanding international education for every student we serve.
THE ESOL EDUCATON ADVANTAGE FOR UCA FAMILIES
Being part of Esol gives Universal College – Aley students the resources and professional support of an established international network, while retaining the distinctive character that sets UCA apart: a dual curriculum – American and Lebanese National – that no other Esol school offers. The network’s breadth, spanning six countries across the Middle East and East Asia, opens opportunities in higher education and global citizenship that extend well beyond Aley.
- Access to MIT RAISE Day of AI, App Inventor, and enrichment programmes across the Esol Education network
- Network-wide professional development connecting UCA educators with colleagues across ten schools
- Esol Education organizational standards and shared best practices across American curriculum schools
- 100% university matriculation, with graduates accepted to universities worldwide
- Annual Esol Education Sportsfest and cross-network student connections
THE ESOL EDUCATON SCHOOLS
Explore the Esol Education global school network by visiting our school sites below:
United Arab Emirates
Bahrain
Hong Kong
Egypt
Cyprus
Lebanon
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: What enrichment programmes does Esol Education provide for students?
A: Esol Education students have access to initiatives such as MSA RAIL, MIT RAISE Day of AI, the Stanford Pre-Collegiate Programme, MIT App Inventor, and the annual Esol Education Sportsfest, an inter-school sports tournament that brings students from across the network together each year. These programmes extend learning beyond the individual campus and connect students with peers from all ten Esol schools.
Q: What does Esol accreditation mean for my child’s qualifications?
A: All Esol Education schools are accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA) and/or the Council of International Schools (CIS). Nine of the ten schools are IB World Schools. These internationally recognized accreditations mean your child’s qualifications are accepted by universities in the United States, United Kingdom, Europe, the Middle East, and beyond. Across the network, 100% of Esol graduates go on to university.
Q: Can my child transfer to another Esol school if our family relocates?
A: Esol Education operates schools across six countries. Families who relocate can request a referral to any of sister schools to discuss their options. Find all school contact details at esoleducation.com.
Q: How long has UCA been part of Esol Education?
Universal College – Aley’s connection with Esol Education dates to 1969, when Esol’s founder Walid Abushakra served as the school’s Director. UCA became part of the Esol Education network at the organization’s founding in 1976, was closed during the Lebanese Civil War, and was restored and reopened by Esol in 2000.
For more information about Esol Education and its schools, visit: www.esoleducation.com