Qatar University (QU) Student Affairs Sector organized the second edition of the student leadership conference “Taqadam: Tanmeea, Enjaz, Qiaadah” on November 26-27 under the patronage of Her Excellency Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Chairperson of Qatar Museums, Doha Film Institute and Reach Out To Asia.

The 2-day conference, first-of-its-kind in Qatar, is organized in partnership with Community College of Qatar (CCQ), College of the North Atlantic-Qatar (CNA-Q), and Stenden University Qatar, and sponsored by Qatar Development Bank (QDB). It aimed to discuss, share knowledge, and learn strategies on driving change, developing leadership skills, and solving problems in a local, regional and global context. The event brought together over 350 students from colleges and universities across Qatar and the GCC to network and exchange their knowledge and experiences on leadership development in the region.

Attendees included QU President Dr Hassan Rashid Al Derham (pictured left), QU VP for Students Affairs Dr Khalid Al-Khanji, and CCQ Registrar Mr Ihab Iskander in the presence of officials from QU and the partnering institutions, and representatives of the local media. Keynote speakers Qatari Intellectual and Writer Dr Jassim Al-Sultan (pictured right) and QU Consultant H.E. Sheikh Saoud Bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani respectively presented a holistic view of leadership from content to intellect and on how we can produce leadership for the future, and on leadership experiences, while featured speaker QDB Advisory Services Executive Director and Qatari German Medical Devices Board of Directors Chairman Mr Hamad AlKubaisi gave a presentation on leadership development.

The conference agenda comprised concurrent student sessions on “Teamwork through mobile phone applications”, “How to manage tasks and achievement”, “Your achievement footprint for yourself”, “Leading across cultures”, “Leadership circles”, and “Step forward before graduation”. It also included a plenary session and workshop entitled “Student Government Round Table” open to student government members to share common issues, goals and concerns. The session was facilitated by QU Student Representative Board (QUSRB) members.

Also included on the agenda were two professional workshops respectively delivered by Wertaqi Youth Center-Bahrain Founder and Consultant and Aspire Leadership Development Program Director Mr Salah Al Yafei and Qatari Businessman, Author and Leadership Education Coach Mr Mohammed Aljufairy, and “Young Leaders Spotlight” sessions in which successful young Qatari leaders shared their experiences and advice. This was followed by a tour of Doha as well as a site visit to Souq Waqif.

Commenting on the conference, Dr Hassan Al Derham said: “I am proud of QU students’ spirit of responsibility and community engagement, which makes them contribute to building the future of Qatar and to realizing the country’s national vision. Some people consider that leadership skills are innate, while others consider that they are acquired through education, but we all agree that these skills require a fertile environment to grow, otherwise they will be lost, except in rare cases. This event is an important opportunity to highlight the fundamentals, tools and concepts of leadership. It also contributes to enhance and heighten the students’ leadership skills, in line with our commitment to support our students’ talents and to provide them with opportunities to express themselves with transparency. I wish you all success with this conference.”

Dr Khalid Al-Khanji said: “The Taqadam conference provides a unique platform for students to meet with their peers and to share their views on various topics related to leadership. This underlines QU’s commitment to provide its students with invaluable opportunities that contribute to heightening their skills and to fostering their experiences to become the next generation of professionals and leaders who can drive the country’s growth in line with the Human Development Strategy.” CNA-Q President Dr Ken MacLeod said: “The Taqadam Conference is an example of a great inter-collegial initiative designed to build leadership capacity in Qatar’s youth. CNA-Q is proud to be a partner of this event for the second year, and send a delegation of our students to the conference. Congratulations to the organizers on a successful event, and particularly to the students who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to developing their skill set to become the future leaders of this country.”

CCQ president Dr Ibrahim Al Naimi: “The Taqadam conference will give our young people the opportunity to learn more about transformational leadership, not only in theoretical terms, but also in terms of practical application. The most important contribution students leaders can make is not just to the here and now, but to the long-term development of their respective institutions and communities, so that they can adapt, change, grow and prosper.” Stenden University Qatar Executive Dean Dr Ivan Ninov said: “The Taqadam Conference will act as a forum for strengthening the partnership between academic institutions in the State of Qatar and expanding the horizons of faculty and students through providing them with a unique platform to showcase their leadership potential.”

Qatar University (QU) yesterday held a ceremony to launch a Minor in French Language and to receive a donation of around 100 French books, DVDs and magazines from the French Embassy in Qatar.

The event was attended by QU President Dr Hassan Al Derham, Ambassador of France to Qatar H.E. Dr Eric Chevallier and QU VP for Academic Affairs Dr Mazen Hasna, in the presence of QU and embassy officials and representatives of the French Institute, Lycée franco-qatarien Voltaire and Lycée Bonaparte, as well as QU faculty, students and staff.

The Minor in French Language was created by QU College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Department of English Literature and Linguistics with the aim to give QU students access to another foreign language and culture besides English. The Minor program comprises 24 credit-hours and targets students who are beginners or low intermediates in French. It is currently offered only to female students. The number of applicants for the first year is 38, the majority of which are Qataris. Graduates from this program will reach a level of competency that is functional enough to travel to French speaking countries and exchange with Francophones. They will also stand in a good position to pursue their studies abroad in French speaking institutions or to work in a professional setting where French may be required. Basic French is the first course and main entry-point for this program. It became available for the first time in Fall 2016 and it is currently attended by 22 highly motivated students. 

The event’s program featured an overview on the Minor in French Language by QU College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Associate Professor of French Language Dr Paula Bouffard, an overview on the donated books by QU Library (QUL) Director Dr Imad Bashir, and a presentation by QU French Club President Ms Maytha Mohmmed Al-Mansoori on the Club. In his remarks, Dr Hassan Al Derham said: “Universities all over the world are not only committed to providing academic learning and research. They play a pivotal role in building bridges of communication and dialogue between the East and the West, and in disseminating knowledge and ethics in their communities. The new Minor in French Language will contribute to uplift our students’ culture and to advance their knowledge.”

He added: “The Islamic and Arabic culture, and the western culture in general and the French one in particular have in common many moral values. They also have many points of difference that should make the world stronger and united. Initiatives like this one will contribute to strengthening the spirit of dialogue between the East and the West. In this regard, I would like to thank everyone who contributed in the establishment of this program. I would also like to thank H.E. Dr Eric Chevallier for his continuous support to Qatar University, and the French Embassy for its book donation, which will enrich QU Library’s database.”

H.E. Dr Eric Chevallier said: “Today is also an opportunity to celebrate our partnerships in higher education and to congratulate President Dr Hassan Al-Derham and Qatar University as a whole for its spectacular progression in international university ranking, Qatar University being now in the top 600 of the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2016/17. This ranking acknowledges your excellence in teaching, in research, the diversity of faculties and of students, and last but not least, the partnerships with industrials.”

He added: “I personally want to tell you my hope to see the French Minor offered to every student of the university, male and female, and especially for those who began French at school. I would like to emphasize again the need for discovering other cultures and learning other languages, for your studies and your future, for your country and our world. In conclusion, I’d like to say that, I am glad, on behalf on the French Embassy, to participate to the development of the International Corner of the University Library, with this donation of books, DVDs and magazines in French.”

Dr Imad Bashir said: “It is my pleasure to welcome you to this event. Almost one hundred (100) French items including books, magazines and DVDs will be added to the “International Corner” Space in the Library. These items cover subjects mainly in History, education, tourism and literature. Certainly, this number of valuable donated books will not be the last, and the Library is appreciative to the government of France and to his Excellency the Ambassador of France and the Embassy’s team for their attention and interest in the Library and in QU.”

He added: “Your donation today, like the donations before, definitely increases the Library’s collection and supports the library community in enhancing their information and in enriching their knowledge. Also, it contributes to our vision of making QU Library a leading university library in the region.”

ExxonMobil Qatar and Qatar University (QU) recently held a luncheon to mark the fifth anniversary of the annual Qatar University ExxonMobil Teachers Academy. The academy is a joint collaboration between ExxonMobil Qatar, the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, and QU’s National Center for Education Development, and it took place this year from Nov. 27 to Dec. 1.

A number of senior representatives from the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, QU, Teach For Qatar (TFQ) and INJAZ Qatar attended the luncheon. Alistair Routledge, President and General Manager for ExxonMobil Qatar, welcomed the luncheon attendees and spoke to them about the academy, its purpose and its accomplishments.

“It is an honor to stand before you today to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Qatar University ExxonMobil Teachers Academy,” said Routledge. “This is an opportunity for us to commend the hard work of everyone who has been involved with this initiative over the past few years. It is through your dedication that the academy has become the model of success that it is today. I am particularly grateful for the support of our partners the Ministry of Education and Higher Education and Qatar University. Together, we’ve made remarkable progress in our journey to energize education in Qatar, impacting 165 teachers, 150 schools and, most importantly, 7,000 students who will go on to contribute to Qatar’s knowledge-based economy. Moving forward, our challenge is to continue to find synergies across the education sector and to build on our successes, so that we may create the brightest future possible for Qatar’s children.”

The Qatar University ExxonMobil Teachers Academy is a week-long intensive professional development program led by a group of education experts from Doha and the U.S. The program is designed to help teachers from Qatar’s independent schools build on their expertise, enhance their understanding of math and science content, and acquire interactive teaching tools that will ignite their students’ passion for math and science. Workshops for alumni are also held at intervals, giving teachers an opportunity to share ideas, success stories and classroom challenges, as well as provide feedback on the academy.

Qatar University’s President Dr. Hassan Al Derham said: “The Qatar University ExxonMobil Teachers Academy contributes to advancing the students’ interest in various sciences, especially in mathematics and applicable sciences. It also provides students with the opportunity to benefit from the expertise of competent teachers in the areas of sciences, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Our collaboration with ExxonMobil and the Ministry of Education and Higher Education aligns with Qatar University’s vision to enhance knowledge and build a generation that serves the various sectors of the country in line with Qatar National Vision 2030.”

Dr Al Derham added: “Qatar University is committed to building national capacities to contribute to the labor market, and to highlight the role of teachers as the key drivers of the society’s development and growth.” Since the launch of the program, the U.S. and QU education experts have worked closely together to ensure its continued development, while sharing knowledge and best practices from their respective areas. The collaboration begins with a workshop held every summer, where the academy’s activities are planned in accordance with the Ministry of Education’s requirements. This synergy has allowed the academy to evolve with novel content and tailor-made approaches.

Dr. Abdullah Mohammad Hamdan Abu-Tineh, Director, National Center for Educational Development, and a key player in establishing the Qatar University ExxonMobil Teachers Academy, was presented an award at the event for his leadership and ongoing efforts over the past five years. “I am privileged to have several notable accomplishments in my career, and the Qatar University ExxonMobil Teachers Academy is high on this list. I have seen the academy grow from an idea to a dream and now a wonderful annual program that has helped hundreds of students and teachers in Qatar. I am honored for this opportunity, and will always be grateful to ExxonMobil Qatar for providing the support and means to make this idea a reality, and also to my colleagues at Qatar University’s National Center for Education Development for their teamwork,” said Dr. Abu Tineh.

Dr. Ahmed Abdulrahman H Y Al-Emadi, Dean of College of Education Office, had the following to say about the academy, “I am thrilled at how far the Qatar University ExxonMobil Teachers Academy has come over the past five years. We have worked hard to create a change in the way that many teachers go about their work, while building on their existing skills and passion for teaching math and science. These teachers now think in new ways that will offer powerful possibilities for their students and support them to lead more fruitful lives individually and as members of Qatar’s communities.”

“We are extremely proud to be part of these significant changes that are taking place within Qatar’s schools. Thanks to the support of our partners the Ministry of Education and ExxonMobil Qatar, the future of Qatar’s education system is bright,” added Dr. Al-Emadi. This year, the academy shifted its curriculum from primary school to secondary school, with 40 teachers from grades seven to nine participating in the program, including 10 teachers from Teach For Qatar who attend for the first time. This shift broadened the reach of the academy, allowing for more teachers at different levels in Qatar’s education system to benefit from its instructional teaching practices.

The Qatar University ExxonMobil Teachers Academy is part of ExxonMobil’s long-term commitment to building a competitive workforce that can sustain Qatar’s future knowledge-based society, a vision put forth by His Highness the Emir, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani’s. As part of this commitment, ExxonMobil supports the professional development of highly qualified teachers and programs that stimulate students’ interest in STEM subjects. 

Qatar University (QU) yesterday hosted the second day of the “2016 Qatar France Academia-Industry Forum on Energy and Environment” which is held under the patronage of QU, the French Embassy in Qatar and Qatar Foundation (QF) and under the sponsorship of Total, ENGIE, Alstom and Veolia.

The 2-day forum (December 5-6) aimed to reinforce the contribution of French companies in Qatar to knowledge-based economy and capacity building, and to identify opportunities of collaborations in education between Qatari and French institutions. It brought together academics and scientists from QU, QF, and French universities and companies to discuss many areas of research and development (R&D) in energy and environment such as corrosion and coatings, environment and ecology, environmental monitoring, materials and polymer engineering, sustainable urban development, and catalysis and reaction engineering.

QU President Dr Hassan Al Derham was joined by Ambassador of France to the State of Qatar H.E. Mr Eric Chevallier, QU VP for Research and Graduate Studies Prof Mariam Al-Maadeed QU College of Arts & Sciences Dean (CAS) Dr Rashid Al-Kuwari, Suez International General Manager Mr Thierry Dezenclos, as well as QU and embassy officials. The event featured the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between QU College of Arts & Sciences and Suez International. The agreement was signed by Dr Rashid Al-Kuwari and Mr Thierry Dezenclos.

In the terms of the agreement, CAS Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences (DBES) will select one MSc student to work on a research-development project in Qatar involving Suez. The Department will also provide support in performing chemical or microbiological analysis for Suez. The latter institution will host two students from DBES for summer internships, starting next June 2017, will continue to accept short visits of DBES students in the facilities where it performs its activities in Qatar, and will study the possibility of sponsoring student awards. Both institutions will also co-organize each year a workshop on a topic which will be subject of discussion.

The program agenda included a plenary session on “International exchanges and R&D collaborations” chaired by H.E. Mr Eric Chevallier. Presentations were delivered by Prof Mariam Al-Maadeed, ENGIE Technology Director Ms Isabelle Moretti, QU Center for Sustainable Development Manager of Algal Technologies Program Mr Hareb Al Jabri, and QDVC Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Administrator Ms Henriette McCool. They presented on “International collaborations in R&D and education”, “How the academia- industry relationship may help to pass from an idea to an industrial asset: the role of pilots”, and “From Algae Technology Project to Algae Technology Program: an example of public/private partnership”.

Also on the program were parallel work sessions, a visit to QU Research Complex’s labs, as well as an exhibition featuring booths by École Polytechnique, University of Lorraine, École des Ponts ParisTech (ENPC), École Nationale Supérieure des Ingénieurs en Arts Chimiques et Technologiques (ENSIACET), University Pau and Adour, École Nationale Supérieure d’Arts et Métiers (ENSAM), SNCF/KEOLIS, and Total. Students and visitors were briefed on the various programs, services and facilities provided by the participating institutions.

In his remarks, Dr Hassan Al Derham said: “I would like to welcome you all to the “2016 Qatar France Academia-Industry Forum on Energy and Environment”. It is an honor that Qatar University has been selected to host the second day of the 2016 edition. The forum reflects the Qatari-French bilateral ties which play an important role in promoting cultural and economic relations between the two countries. The theme of the forum – Energy and Environment – is a timely one for dialogue among partners in Qatar, the region, and beyond. This is a global concern at a time when the energy industry is the main cause of many environment issues such as pollution, climate change and global warming.”

He added: “Qatar University continues to deliver on its mission to serve as a bridge between academia and industry by building strong partnerships with institutions from the private and public sectors. These partnerships contribute to advancing science and technology in Qatar through R&D, and to promoting academic excellence through strategic investment in human capital, innovative technology and state-of-the-art facilities. They also serve to bolster QU’s efforts to prepare students for the labor market and a knowledge-based economy, and enhance the organization’s position as a key partner in providing applicable and sustainable solutions that reflect community and industry needs, in line with the objectives of Qatar National Vision 2030 and the national research and development strategies.”

H.E. Mr Eric Chevallier said: “The 2016 Qatar France Academia-Industry Forum on Energy and Environment, the first of its kind, is held under the high patronage of Qatar Foundation, Qatar University and the Embassy of France. It brings together during 2 days the best Qatari and French academics and scientists as well as representatives of industry entities, involved in Energy end Environment. Concrete outcomes are expected in terms of collaborations in academia, in training and in research. I am extremely pleased that H.E. Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, Vice-chair and CEO of Qatar Foundation, and Dr Hassan Al Derham, President of Qatar University, honored us with their presence.”

He added: “My strong belief is that universities and higher education institutes should be placed at the center of innovation policies and must engage with industry to enrich the innovation potential and improve the learning and teaching environments. Qatar, through its “National Vision 2030” as well as through Qatar University and Qatar Foundation activities, has engaged in sustainable development, relying on groundbreaking research, innovation and cutting-edge technology. In this perspective, the Qatar France Academia-Industry Forum Initiative is aiming at reinforcing academic and industrial French participation to Qatar’s knowledge-based economy and capacity building.”

Prof Mariam Al-Maadeed gave a detailed overview on QU academic and research background. She also highlighted the criteria of QU strategic research enhancement which include: establishing interdisciplinary centers of excellence as QU hallmarks, providing cluster training of internationally recognized researchers/faculty in these centers, strengthening research in QU colleges by boosting programs of colleges actively engaged in research and by promoting research programs in selected themes, and integrating research in colleges, centers and institutes to strategically contribute to the growth of the centers/institutes and to support research and education needs of the students.

Prof Al-Maadeed also stressed the importance of promoting innovation and entrepreneurship in many areas such as strengthening the culture of impactful discovery and scholarship at QU, increasing emphasis on applied-research in priority areas, advancing basic research to nurture applied research, boosting partnership with industry and stakeholders, and establishing a streamlined system for technology and knowledge transfer.

Qatar University (QU) hosted the 6^th Annual Meeting of The Middle Eastern Association For Cancer Research (MEACR) on December 3-5.

The 3-day conference is organized by MEACR in collaboration with QU-Health (Colleges of Medicine, Pharmacy and Health Sciences), Biomedical Research Center (BRC) and National Center for Cancer Care and Research (NCCCR), and supported by Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF). It brought together clinicians and cancer researchers from Qatar, Algeria, Canada, Egypt, France, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Turkey, UAE, USA, and Yemen. They discussed and shared their research and experiences on a wide range of topics related to human cancers.

The first day’s program featured 4 sessions titled “Cancer Genetics & Circulating Cancer Cells”, “Cancer Genetics & Gene Targets”, “Microbiota/Oncovirus & Cancer”, and “Anticancer Drug Delivery & Treatment”. Presentations focused on a wide range of issues such as “The Impact Of Human Genome Project On Our Lives During The 21^st Century And Beyond”, “Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs) As A Prognostic Biomarker For Disease Progression In Breast Cancer”, “Genomic Profiling Of Thyroid Cancer Reveals A Role For Thyroglobulin In Metastasis”, “HPV Infection And Genetic Predisposition In Cervical Cancer In Saudi Arabia”, “Novel Approach To Target Aggressive Cancer Cells Using Non-Toxic Compounds”, and many more.

The second day’s program included 4 sessions on “Cancer Immunology & Molecular Cancer Classification”, “Cancer Epidemiology & Pathogenesis”, “Cancer Therapy I & Cancer Patients’ Education”, and “Cancer Therapy II & Cancer and Obesity”. Discussions focused on numerous topics such as “Immunotherapy Of Cancer: Opportunities, Obstacles And Impact Of Tumor Microenvironment”, “Natural Killer Cell-Based Immunotherapy For Cancer Treatment”, “Trends in Colorectal Cancer Survival in Arab World, 1990-2009”, “Monoclonal Antibodies As Carriers For Delivery Of Therapeutic Agents In Cancer: Factors Affecting Antigenic Accessibility”, and “P90 Ribosomal S6 Kinase: A potential Therapeutic Target in Lung Cancer”, among many others.

Also on the program were a meeting for the members of the MEACR Executive Committee and a campus tour in which participants were briefed on QU facilities and services. All the abstracts presented during the conference will be published in the 6^th volume of the Clinical Cancer Investigation Journal (CCIJ) which will be issued in 2017.

In his remarks, QU Vice President for Medical Education and CMED Dean Dr Egon Toft said: “It is a pleasure to welcome you to Qatar University and to the sixth Annual Meeting of the Middle Eastern Association for Cancer Research. I am impressed by the number of papers and diversity of topics; and confident that the coming few days will be enriching, stimulating and hopefully also enjoyable. It has since the inauguration been my interest to see the College of Medicine at Qatar University play a role in driving the momentum of collaboration in the medical field across the region. I think there is a lot to warrant such collaboration and even integration. However, the outlook is currently towards markets with a more established legacy in medical education and research, especially the US and Europe.”

He added: “Many of the countries in the region have very ambitious and promising research and healthcare systems, but they are mostly working in isolation from each other. I view meetings like this one, as opportunities to reduce any such isolation. Within the College of Medicine, we are equally committed to this collaborative approach, from the focus on inter-professional education, to the recent formation of a cluster that bring all medicine and health colleges under one umbrella. In closing, I take the opportunity to thank the Middle Eastern Association for Cancer Research for their leadership in bringing together cancer researchers across the region to build bridges, break barriers and foster scientific progress. Cancer is a focus area in Qatar’s National Health Strategy and a key theme in the College’s research strategy.  I hope our collaboration will continue and that we will be able to make significant contributions for the fight against cancer.”

MEACR Founder and Director, CMED Professor and CCIJ Editor-in-Chief Dr Ala-Eddin Al Moustafa (pictured) said: “This year, we are glad to host the meeting here at Qatar University which has recently joined its colleges of health, pharmacy and medicine under one cluster, and which houses the Biomedical Research Center and collaborates with the National Center for Cancer Care & Research (NCCCR) in Doha. On this occasion, we would like to announce the new partnership agreement between the MEACR and its official scientific journal (Clinical Cancer Investigation Journal: CCIJ) and the Health Cluster of Qatar University particularly with the College of Medicine which will help our association and its journal flourish and grow in the future. Our determination to foster cancer research in the region aligns perfectly with the objectives of Qatar University and with Qatar’s National Health Strategy. We hope to continue to build on this mutual interest and create ever-evolving synergies that will serve both cancer research and patient care in the region and beyond.”

QNRF Officer, Biomedical & Health Pillar Dr Fatemeh Darakhshan-Rassam said: “QNRF is always pleased to be able to support events such as this through its Conference & Workshop Sponsorship Program.”

Qatar Foundation (QF) has held a multi-sectoral forum providing leading Qatari and French institutions with the opportunity to identify areas of common interest in the fields of energy and the environment.

The ‘Qatar France Academia-Industry Initiative 2016’, which brought together representatives from industry, academia, and science and research, was jointly organised by QF, the French Embassy in Qatar, Total EP Qatar, and Qatar University (QU). The opening of the forum was attended by Her Excellency Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, Vice Chairperson and CEO of QF; His Excellency Eric Chevallier, French Ambassador to Qatar; and Guillaume Chalmin, Managing Director of Total EP Qatar.

The theme of the forum, which concluded on 6 December, was Energy and Environment, and sought to create timely dialogue among partners in Qatar, the region, and beyond, around global concerns facing the energy industry. Dr Hamad Al Ibrahim, Executive Vice President, Qatar Foundation Research and Development (QF R&D), said: “By bringing together representatives from industry, academia, and science and research, this forum has reflected the essential role of multi-sectoral collaboration in addressing the most pressing challenges facing societies throughout the world.”

Dr Al Ibrahim continued: “Qatar’s dynamic, ambitious research and development ecosystem, focused on innovation and impact, is encouraging industry and academia to recognise the value of their distinct contributions to the development of solutions that bring economic and social benefit. We hope that this opportunity for Qatari and French institutions identifies areas of common interest in the field of energy and environment – one of Qatar’s Research Grand Challenges; will strengthen collaboration between these sectors and pave the way for new skills, capabilities, and knowledge that will drive Qatar’s research enterprise forward.”

The forum saw the participation of academics from top French higher education institutes with a focus on engineering, as well as representatives of French companies with a presence in Qatar including Total, Engie, Suez, Véolia, Alstom, SNCF, QDVC, EDF - and Qatar-based companies Qatalum, Kahramaa, Muntajat, and QAPCO. Dr Hassan Al Derham, President of QU stated: “The Forum reflects the Qatari-French bilateral ties which play an important role in promoting cultural and economic relations between the two countries. The theme of the forum – energy and environment – is a timely one for dialogue among partners in Qatar, the region, and beyond. This is a global concern at a time when the energy industry is the main cause of many environment issues such as pollution, climate change and global warming.”

Workgroups on education, training, and research and development were organised to identify areas for collaboration between the public and private sectors in Qatar and France, and delivered a series of tangible outcomes and projects. In the field of training and education, more than 30 internships in the participating companies will be offered in 2017 to Qatari students. Ecole Polytechnique, the leading French graduate school for science and technology, laid the first foundations for this initiative by proposing tutoring activities by their students.

Research and development opportunities were identified in technology hotspot areas identified through the 10^th cycle of the National Priorities Research Program (NPRP) of Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF), part of QF R&D, such as environmental monitoring and the use of new materials for energy storage and water treatment.

According to H.E. Mr Chevallier: “The Qatar France Academia-Industry Forum Initiative aims to reinforce academic and industrial French participation to Qatar’s knowledge-based economy and capacity building within the framework of Qatar National Vision 2030, which has engaged the country in sustainable development, relying on groundbreaking research, innovation and cutting-edge technology. In this context, we expected very concrete outcomes from this forum, and I am happy the results went beyond our expectations.”

Total’s Mr Chalmin said: “We are honored to have been a part of the Qatari-French Academia & Industry Initiative 2016, which was a platform for fruitful discussion in energy and environment matters. We would like to thank Qatar Foundation and Qatar University, under whose patronage this event took place, and Institut Francais du Qatar, Engie, Veolia, and Alstom for being co-sponsors of the event. Our collaboration not only entails us to help create a dynamic global community where educators and industry stakeholders can work openly to identify common projects, and develop the energy sector, it also enables us to support the building of a knowledge-based economy in Qatar through supporting innovation and sustainable initiatives.”

French engineering schools and universities will develop joint projects with Qatari counterparts at Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI), a research institute of QF member Hamad bin Khalifa University (HBKU), QF partner university Texas A&M University at Qatar (TAMUQ), and QU. These projects will include French and Qatari companies as partners and will be submitted to the 10^th cycle of NPRP and its subsequent cycles. The partnership approach between French industry and Qatari academia was also reinforced during the Forum though the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Suez and QU’s College of Arts and Sciences to develop internships and training. Meanwhile, the event concluded that the outcomes of scientific gatherings should extend into projects involving stakeholders in the public and private sectors, as well as government ministries, in fields including energy efficiency. 

The Centre for Sustainable Development (CSD) at Qatar University College of Arts and Sciences (QU-CAS) recently organized the first international conference on “Sustainable Development: Achieving Food Security in Arid Environments”.

The event aimed to raise community awareness on the importance of investing in the area of food security in the State of Qatar. It brought together experts from all disciplines in the field of food security to showcase their research outcomes, share their experiences, and provide sustainable solutions to overcome the challenges that are facing food and water security in the region.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by QU Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies Prof Mariam Al-Maadeed, Qatar Ministry of Municipality and Environment Undersecretary Assistant for Agriculture Affairs, Livestock and Fisheries Resources Sheikh Dr Faleh Bin Naser Al Thani, CAS associate deans for Research and Graduate Studies Prof Hala Sultan Al-Essa and for Academic Affairs Dr Hassan Abdel Aziz, and CSD Director Dr Hamad Al-Saad Al-Kuwari, as well as QU faculty and staff. The event’s program featured numerous sessions on “Development of integrated system for sustainable food security”, “Economics, Culture and Politics of Food”, “Challenges of existing food production practices”, and “Innovative technologies for food security”.

It also included presentations delivered by speakers from QU colleges of Health Sciences and of Business and Economics, Center for Sustainable Development, and Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, and from George Mason University. They discussed a wide range of topics such as “Biochars from organic materials in municipal solid waste streams for soil fertility and environmental sustainability”, “Life cycle analysis for an integrated seawater aquaculture/agriculture project for food and bioenergy production in the Arabian Gulf”, “Food Safety Culture in Qatar”, “High dependence on food imports from an unstable world: implications and solutions for food security in Qatar”, and “Do Extremely Volatile Food Prices in Qatar and Other Gulf Nations Contribute to Endemic Health Issues?”.

In her remarks, Prof Mariam Al-Maadeed said: “This initiative comes in line with Qatar’s ongoing efforts to overcome the barriers that are facing the achievement of sustainable food security. It also aims to provide efficient solutions to tackle the challenges of desertification, and land degradation and drought, and their negative impact on food security and agricultural development in Qatar.”

She added: “We, at Qatar University, are always seeking to support and promote research in several fields, including the field of food security. It is one of the priority areas within the institution’s research roadmap 2014-2019. The university’s strategy for research and development focuses on the creation of specialized programs in food security and the establishment of an infrastructure to support applied and cognitive research. This will contribute to provide sustainable solutions for issues related to food security challenges in line with the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030.”

Sheikh Dr Faleh Bin Naser Al Thani said: “This conference comes to shed light on how to achieve food security in arid environments, and underlines the significant role of the agricultural sector in reducing the negative effects of arid environments and climate change. It also aims to drive forward the process of sustainable development for the welfare of the community. There are several aspects to take into consideration in food and agriculture in order to achieve food security. They include sustainable agriculture, livestock management, maintaining fisheries, reducing food waste, and preserving natural resources.”

Dr Hamad Al-Saad Al-Kuwari said: “The Centre for Sustainable Development was established to search for and develop new ways to cope with the emerging changes in the Qatari environment in light of the fast-growing development in all sectors of the society. This is achieved by conducting studies and research related to food and water security, and by maintaining the fungal biotechnology life.”

Since its inception in 1973, Qatar University (QU) continues to build on a legacy of solid commitment to graduating students who will contribute to the progress and development of Qatar. With over 17000 students in its ranks, QU is today a beacon of academic and research excellence in the GCC region.

QU is keen to keep abreast of the society’s fast growth by developing new programs, promoting research, and contributing to providing solutions to problems within the society. It provides its students with invaluable opportunities that contribute to heightening their skills and to fostering their experiences to become the next generation of professionals and leaders who can drive the country’s progress in line with the Human Development Strategy. Hence, the university prides itself on the quality of its students and alumni -- its alumni body totals 40,000 members, many of whom are top leaders in the private and public sectors in Qatar.

QU is also committed to providing high-quality education to Qatari and international students in areas of national priority. It offers 74 specializations, the widest range of academic programs in Qatar tailoring them to meet the needs of Qatari society -- 40 Bachelors, 25 Masters, 4 PhDs, 4 Diplomas, and 1 PharmD. Additionally, the organization’s academic programs are aligned with established international standards and best practices. This was achieved through accreditation of many of its colleges, programs and courses by leading international accrediting bodies such as ABET, CCAPP, AACSB, to name a few, the most recent of which were the accreditation awards achieved by the colleges of Education and Law.

Academic, research, accreditation and other achievements and successes over the years have served to propel QU among the top universities in the region and internationally. Official surveys conducted in recent years revealed high percentage rates (84%) on the quality of QU programs, employers attesting to seeking QU graduates to join their respective companies and organizations (80%), and employer perception of QU as a symbol of national identity (95%).

QU is advancing its goal to become a leader of economic and social development in Qatar through signed agreements and strategic partnerships with industry, government, academia, business and civil societyin Qatar and beyond. The university has signed around 59 agreements with local and international institutions in 2015/2016. These collaborations contribute to promoting quality education and research in Qatar and the region. They provide a myriad of opportunities for students to advance in their academic and research experience in their relevant disciplines in line with QU strategies towards improving student outcomes and maximizing their potential.

QU has also signaled a clear commitment to high-quality research that addresses national needs and advances scientific knowledge. Accordingly, an ambitious research roadmap was launched in 2014 to outline a clear and specific set of research priorities that reflect the unique responsibility and commitment of the organization to support research that is responsive to the national priority needs and major challenges facing the State of Qatar. In its roadmap, the organization established a focus on interdisciplinary research projects centered on four areas of excellence: Energy, Environment & Resource Sustainability; Social Change and Identity; Population, Health and Wellness; and Information, Communication and Technologies (ICT).

Community engagement is an area which is at the heart of QU mission and vision. The university is committed to ensuring that campus life is an enriching environment for encouraging academic excellence, volunteerism, civic responsibility and leadership. It also provides a wide range of programs such as Al Bairaq, Life is Engineering Project, Gasna, and the Annual Computing Contest aimed at raising school students’ awareness of their future role in contributing to the country’s development. This year, QU has started its strategic transformation towards the achievement of a “QU Model”.

This strategy focuses on advancing QU role as Qatar’s premier national university that provides high-quality education, and to strengthening its positioning as a social and strategic partner in national development, while maximizing admission opportunities and providing smooth opportunities for students from various cultural backgrounds, as well as various professional and academic interests. The strategy also focuses on the importance of providing academic and research programs that align with international standards and with the principles of the Arabic and Islamic culture and identity. The university aims to prepare distinguished national leaders and to benefit from its resources to develop the national human capital towards building a knowledge-based economy.

The university has also adopted a number of indicators to benchmark its strategic achievements. They include an increase in the percentage of students graduating within the period of 4 years to 60%, the decrease of the period spent by students at the university to graduate from 5.9 years to 4.5 years, the establishment of 5 interdisciplinary research centers for graduate studies, the increase of professor appointments within the faculty body to 25%, and the enhancement of its position in international rankings to become one of the top 300 universities in the world and among the best 200 universities in at least two minors.

Qatar University is advancing in its goal to become a leader of economic and social development in Qatar with a number of partnerships with various organisation. The university has signed some 59 agreements and strategic partnerships with industry, government, academia, business and civil society in Qatar and aboard in 2015/2016, according to officials.

A majority of these collaborations contribute to promoting quality education and research in Qatar and the region. They provide a myriad of opportunities for students to advance in their academic and research experience in their relevant disciplines in line with QU strategies towards improving student outcomes and maximizing their potential.

This year, QU began its transformation towards the achievement of a “QU Model,” that focuses on advancing QU role as Qatar’s premier national university that provides high-quality education, and to strengthening its positioning as a social and strategic partner in national development. QU will also maximise admission opportunities and provide smooth opportunities for students from various cultural backgrounds, as well as various professional and academic interests. The strategy also focuses on the importance of providing academic and research programmes that align with international standards and with the principles of the Arabic and Islamic culture and identity. The university aims to prepare distinguished national leaders and to benefit from its resources to develop the national human capital towards building a knowledge-based economy.

The university has also adopted a number of indicators to benchmark its strategic achievements. They include an increase in the percentage of students graduating within the period of 4 years to 60%, the decrease of the period spent by students at the university to graduate from 5.9 years to 4.5 years. Some five interdisciplinary research centres for graduate studies has been established, professor appointments within the faculty body has increased to 25%, and also its position in international rankings to become one of the top 300 universities in the world has gone up and is among the best 200 universities in at least two minors.

Academic, research, accreditation and other achievements and successes over the years have served to propel QU among the top universities globally. Official surveys conducted in recent years revealed high percentage rates at 84% on the quality of QU programmes. Meanwhile, employers attesting to seeking QU graduates to join their respective companies and organizations are80%, and employer perception of QU as a symbol of national identity is at 95%, according to surveys. QU’s alumni body totals 40,000 members, many of whom are top leaders in the private and public sectors in Qatar. QU offers 74 specialisations, the widest range of academic programs in Qatar tailoring them to meet the needs of Qatari society -- 40 Bachelors, 25 Masters, 4 PhDs, 4 Diplomas, and 1 PharmD.

Over 91 students from Qatar University (QU) College of Pharmacy (CPH) and College of Health Sciences (CHS), University of Calgary in Qatar (UCQ), and College of the North Atlantic-Qatar (CNA-Q) participated in the third IPE activity on Smoking Cessation which was recently organized by CPH Interprofessional Education Committee (IPEC).

The event which was hosted at CNA-Q featured an overview on IPE by CPH Assistant Dean for Student Affairs Ms Alla El-Awaisi and a presentation by CPH Associate Professor of Clinical Pharmacy and Practice Dr Ahmed Awaisu on the role of health care professionals in smoking cessation to ensure a healthier society. It also included a patient-case scenario in which students interacted with a 65-year-old heavy smoker suffering from multiple diseases including Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). The students discussed the case from their professional perspective and made a collaborative management plan to help the patient stop smoking.

Dr Alla El-Awaisi said: “This event aligns with CPH goals to provide students with opportunities in which they can develop and heighten their skills such as communication, teamwork and problem-solving. It also highlights our commitment to offer our students with a platform where they can interact and exchange knowledge with their peers from the health care profession. This contributes to enrich their interprofessional experience as they engage in out-of-the-classroom activities, which ensures their readiness to start working in Qatar’s healthcare system.”

CPH Clinical Pharmacy and Practice Section Head Dr Maguy El Hajj said: “Smoking is one of the primary causes of mortality and morbidity in Qatar and in the world. Smoking cessation can confer significant healthcare benefits including decreased risk of cardiac diseases and smoking-related cancers. Adopting a multidisciplinary approach that includes different healthcare professionals can improve the effectiveness of smoking cessation interventions. In this IPE activity, Qatar health care students had the chance to exchange information about the roles and responsibilities of different team members and they learnt how they can collaborate to help smokers to quit. This activity will serve as an impetus for them to incorporate multi-disciplinary approaches to treat tobacco use in the future.”

CHS Assistant Professor at the Department of Public Health Dr Karam Adawi said: “Through this IPE activity, our students had hands-on experience in patient-focused care where they collaborated with other health professionals to solve a patient case. Furthermore, this collaboration provides a solid base towards continuum and integrated care practices in students’ future careers. I would like to thank all participants, especially the organizers, and look forward to having more successful IPE activities.” UCQ Senior Nursing Instructor Dr Jessie Johnson said: “As a facilitator it was inspiring to see the potential scope for patient care, when future healthcare professionals become truly collaborative, as seen during this IPE event involving students from almost every health care discipline.”

CNA-Q Instructor of Paramedicine Aileen Boyd said: “IPE events such as the smoking cessation exercise are a reminder that in healthcare, we must use a team approach to ensure our patients receive the most appropriate and individualized care possible. When we introduce this concept of IPE to our students, and allow the real time practice of it, it is insurance that future generations in healthcare will adopt this in their profession as the normal approach rather than the abnormal.” 2^nd-year CPH student Iqrah Qurishi said: “We, the health care practitioners, are different puzzle pieces of the same jigsaw puzzle. Alone we do not have a proper aim; together we form a clear picture towards optimizing the care provided to the patient. Also, we learn together and inter-professionally to respect and achieve the best and the highest care for our patients.”

Qatar University (QU) and Qatar Foundation (QF) yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen their existing strategic and research collaboration.

The agreement was signed by QU Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies Prof Mariam Al-Maadeed and Qatar Foundation Research and Development (QF R&D) Executive Vice President Dr Hamad Al-Ibrahim in the presence of QU President Dr Hassan Al Derham, as well as other officials from both QU and QF. In the terms of the agreement, QF will collaborate with QU in the evaluation, protection, maintenance, commercialization and/or licensing of QU inventions, and provide periodic reports of all changes and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). QF will also collaborate with QU in its strategic planning in research tools and methods developed by QF R&D such as pillar diagnostics, KPIs, portfolio analysis, and landscape and hotspot analysis.

As both institutions collaborate on creating a National Knowledge Management Information System, QU will provide QF with access to its database of research activities funded through direct funding, an overview of potential national and international collaborations, and research white spaces. QU will also contribute to the analysis and development of policy frameworks and regulations. The terms of the agreement also include collaboration on co-recruiting professional staff in the areas of intellectual property strategy and management, data analysis, and research and development policy development.

Commenting on the agreement, Prof Mariam Al-Maadeed said: “This agreement will serve to advance QU research, inventions and intellectual property rights, and to establish an information management system that will make research knowledge readily accessible by the community, industry and researchers. “It also highlights QU’s continuous efforts to build collaborations and strategic partnerships with local and international institutions from the private and government sectors and to promoting quality education and research in Qatar and the region.”

Dr Hamad Al-Ibrahim said: “Collaboration between institutions and across sectors, allowing knowledge and expertise to be shared and resources to be maximized, is essential to advancing Qatar’s research and development enterprise, defining strategic direction, and creating tangible impact in the form of commercially-available innovations.

“Through this agreement, the methods and tools developed by QF R&D to support strategic planning and comprehensive research analysis will have wider application, for the benefit of Qatar, and potential new collaborations and avenues of research opportunity will open up. This strengthening of the existing connection between QF R&D and QU will enable both parties to leverage each other’s capacity and intellectual infrastructure to enhance their contribution towards making Qatar a world-class hub of research and innovation.”

Qatar University (QU) colleges of Engineering (CENG) and Business and Economics (CBE) announced the winners of the 4^th Annual Innovation and Entrepreneurship Contest 2016 at the closing ceremony which was held on December 20.

The contest aimed to enhance the students’ entrepreneurial skills, to raise their awareness on the importance of entrepreneurial activities, and to provide them with guidance on the best techniques to develop sound business plans. This year’s competition covered 5 major tracks -- Health Sciences, Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and Technology Based Projects, Energy and Environment, Social Enterprises, and Business Services. It included students from CENG (47%), CBE (43%), and other colleges (10%).

Participating teams were required to present their pitches outlining the essence of their business ideas to a panel of judges. 215 students participated in the contest which drew a large number of business ideas -- ICT and Technology Based Projects, Business Services, Social Enterprises, Health Sciences, and Energy and Environment. 1st-place winners were students Muna Al Remaihi and Lina Selim (CENG). 2nd-place winner was student Raghad Akram Abughazza (CENG), and 3rd-place winners were Mohammed Saad and Mohammed Amaan Sheikh (CENG).

CENG Dean Dr Khalifa Al-Khalifa said: “The College of Engineering is committed to supporting its students and to providing them with invaluable opportunities to equip them with the capacities and skills they need to become the future leaders in the local business sector. Additionally, the college is committed to engaging students in entrepreneurial and innovative activities, which will contribute to producing the future generation of high-qualified engineers to pursue an exciting career within the engineering industry.”

CBE Dean Dr Khalid Shams Al-Abdulqader said: “This contest provided CBE students with an invaluable opportunity to learn from experts and develop their skills in very specialised areas of business. We are delighted to support our students to advance their knowledge and experience towards their future success as entrepreneurs.”

A research project conducted by a team of researchers from Qatar University (QU) and Masdar Institute of Science and Technology (Masdar Institute) showed that an integrated seawater energy and agriculture system (ISEAS) can produce biofuel for the aviation sector with fewer greenhouse gas emissions than its fossil counterpart, along with sustainable aquaculture food products without freshwater. The study was funded by Boeing Corporation.

In a new article appearing online in the International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment (http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11367-016-1215-5), which was co-authored by QU Center for Sustainable Development (CSD) Research Assistant Professor Dr J Jed Brown (pictured), a life cycle assessment (LCA) of a potential ISEAS was conducted. The team quantified the energy and material flows throughout the system and calculated the resulting net greenhouse gas emissions. The LCA results showed that the aviation biofuel produced from this ISEAS system emits up to 68% less greenhouse gases compared to fossil jet fuel and yields an overall positive net energy balance.

In the ISEAS, seawater is pumped into ponds where high value shrimp and fish are grown for human consumption. The nutrient-rich effluent exits the ponds and flows into fields of salt-tolerant plants (halophytes). The team examined a Salicornia bigelovii halophyte -- commonly known as glasswort or samphire -- which produces an oilseeds similar to soybeans.

The oil extracted from the seeds can be processed into a drop-in biofuel for airplanes, Dr Brown said, adding, “The portion of the seed that remains after oil extraction is high in protein and can be recycled into feed for fish and shrimps. The dried straw that remains after the oilseeds can also be used to generate electricity. Water that leaves the halophyte fields flows into a mangrove wetland where most of the remaining nutrients will be absorbed into mangrove biomass. Branches and leaves from the mangroves can be periodically trimmed to generate electricity with the Salicornia straw.”

Dr Brown also highlighted the environmental benefits of the ISEAS system, saying, “In a conventional aquaculture system, nutrient-rich aquaculture effluent is frequently discharged untreated back into the sea, which can have negative impacts on water quality of the receiving water body. In the ISEAS system, the nutrient-rich effluent from the aquaculture ponds serves as a fertilizer source for the halophytes and mangroves, which clean the water by removing nutrients. Mangroves are also used in many parts of the Gulf region to stabilize erosion-prone coastal regions, rebuild habitats for marine life, and provide permanent carbon sequestration in their biomass.”

He added: “As the human population continues to rise in the Gulf region, there is a greater need to provide food, water and low-carbon energy for the populace. Since there is a great scarcity of freshwater in this region, any agriculture or bioenergy projects that rely on freshwater will be unsustainable. However, the countries of the Arabian Gulf have access to seawater and high salinity groundwater. If this saline water can be used to produce food and biofuel sustainably, then limited freshwater resources can be conserved. Integrated Seawater Energy and Agriculture Systems have a great potential to produce food and fuel in the arid Gulf region.”

Masdar Institute Associate Professor Dr Sgouris Sgouridis said: “We hope that the aviation industry will embrace this technology and seek partnerships with aquaculture facilities to deploy such systems. ISEAS is a way to produce sustainable food and biofuel in arid coastal areas without negatively impacting freshwater resources.”

The Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Unit at Qatar University College of Health Sciences (QU-CHS) recently held an orientation session entitled “Orientation to Training Courses in Public Health Program at QU: Field Experience and Health Education Practicum”.

The session was delivered by Dr Ghadir Fakhri Al-Jayyousi, Lecturer and Training Coordinator at CHS Department of Public Health. It aimed to highlight the importance of providing training for supervisors who train students in various health organizations and prepare them to become distinguished health care providers in multiple health systems. The CPD Unit had been accredited by Qatar Ministry of Public Health as a provider of continuing professional development (CPD).

The event brought together many health educators and health care practitioners who supervise and train QU Public Health students during training courses at Qatar Cancer Society (QCS). Dr Ghadir Fakhri Al-Jayyousi gave an introductory presentation on QU Public Health program followed by a discussion about the main objectives of experience-based learning for students. She also highlighted the goals of the Field Experience and Health Education Practicum courses and stressed the importance of realizing these goals during the training programs.

CPD Unit Coordinator Dr Hiba Bawadi said: “The College of Health Sciences is one of the earliest accredited CPD providers for health care practitioners in the State of Qatar. The College continues in its efforts to identify gaps in professional practice and to provide effective CME/CPD programs to stimulate a positive change in knowledge, competence, and performance of health care practitioners.”

Seventy-Five (75) Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISE) students from the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at Qatar University College of Engineering (QU-CENG) participated in a workshop on road safety issues in Qatar. The event is part of a senior level course on Project Engineering partially supported by QU Qatar Transportation and Traffic Safety Center (QTTSC).

The students were divided into 15 groups. They each provided a presentation on road safety issues in Qatar. Highlighted topics focused on driver’s behavior in terms of the use of seatbelts, mobile phone texting while driving, and use of car seat for new-borns and children. Commenting on the event, CENG Dean and QTTSC Director Dr Khalifa Al-Khalifa said: “The event comes in line with CENG commitment to engage students on the importance of road and traffic safety in Qatar. It also underlines the College’s continuous efforts to provide students with various opportunities through which they can strengthen their teamwork, communication and organizational skills which will serve them in good stead in their future professional endeavors.”

CENG Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Professor Dr Shaligram Pokharel said: “Road safety in Qatar is an important issue in terms of public health concern as per the Qatar National Road Safety Strategy (2013-2022). Road safety is a shared responsibility of road users, road and traffic system developers and rule enforcers. The strategy mentions some of the areas of high concern in terms of road users such as the driver’s behavior with regard to the use of seatbelts and child restraints. Therefore, there is a need to continuously raise road users’ awareness on road safety issues.”

He added: “The students presented their projects on Qatar’s road safety to raise community awareness on road safety issues that they face in real life and to provide them with efficient solutions to avoid them. The students are learning the techniques and tools of project management which enable them to translate their projects and apply their knowledge to real life issues.” Student Laila Taha said: “This course is about project engineering and achieving all deliverables at one time taking into consideration the cost and duration. We studied the issue of road safety and identified the main causes of accidents in Qatar.”

Student Sara Al Rumaihi said: “This project engineering course has contributed to supporting my research and to enhancing my presentation skills in a way that will help me to further make more studies in this area.”

Qatar University (QU) Department of Student Services and Activities and Qatar Olympic Academy (QOA) yesterday signed an agreement to establish collaboration in sports-related areas. The agreement was signed by QU Student Services & Activities Director Mr Abdulla Al-Yafei and QOA Executive Director Mr Saif Mohammed Al Naemi in the presence of officials from QU and QOA.

The terms of the agreement include collaboration on the development of administrative and technical qualified cadres who are capable to advance Qatar Sports sector, as well as the exchange of athletes to participate in international sports activities and to share their ideas and experiences in sports-related areas. Both parties will also cooperate on hosting sports delegations and trainers and experts in physical training, and on developing applied sport sciences. In the terms of the agreement, QU will provide QOA with access to its sport and administrative venues to organize training courses. QOA will also provide QU with a platform to conduct future academic and specialized courses and research on sport administration and laws, sports for people with disabilities, sports medicine, and anti-doping.

Commenting on the agreement, Mr Abdulla Al-Yafei said: “Qatar University is keen to create a balanced environment that integrates academic and sports activities and help students to enhance their academic performance and to enrich their experience. QU launched this year the Department of Sport Activities and is currently working to establish more sport venues in both male and female campuses. Being the national higher education institution, QU is increasing its international visibility by encouraging students to participate in international and local sporting events and tournaments.”   

Mr Saif Mohammed Al Naemi said: “We are delighted to sign this collaborative agreement with QU, my alma mater that graduated many leaders in Qatar. Having strong relationships with international sport stakeholders and partners such as the International Olympic Committee does not hinder us from establishing collaboration with Qatar University as an academic institution that gathers hundreds of national youth. The agreement will allow us to set up many training programs in topics related to the Sports sector.”

Qatar University College of Pharmacy (QU-CPH) students achieved a number of wins for their research projects which they presented at two regional forums.

PharmD student Alya Babiker and MSc students Marwa El Bashir and Aisha Osman won first place at the “2nd Intravenous and Parenteral Nutrition (IVPN) Symposium” recently held in Abu Dhabi for their research entitled “Antimicrobial Stewardship in Cancer Patients: A Prospective Audit with Follow Up of Antimicrobial Therapy”. The students were supervised by CPH Clinical Lecturer and Lead Primary Investigator of the study Dr Ziad Nasr, CPH Assistant Professor of Clinical Pharmacy and Practice Dr Kyle Wilby, and Assistant Director of Pharmacy Clinical Services at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) National Center of Cancer Care and Research (NCCCR) Dr Shereen El-Azzazy.

3^rd- year pharmacy students Ola Hussein, Dima Kawas and Licia Shamoun won the third place at the 3^rd GCC Pharma Congress recently held in Dubai for their poster entitled “Improving Patient Care Through the Discovery of  Novel Natural Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors with Potential Medicinal Value for Neurodegenerative Disorders”. The students were supervised by QU Director of Quality Assurance Dr Sherief Khalifa, CPH Associate Professor of Medicinal Chemistry Dr Ashraf Khalil, and QU College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Associate Professor at the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences Dr Talaat Youssef.

Commenting on the students’ achievement, CPH Dean Dr Mohammad Diab said: “Research is an important component of the National Health Strategy and CPH is committed to ensuring our students are equipped with the necessary tools and resources to thrive as researchers, both as students and in their future careers. We are always proud to see our students compete and win in front of such prestigious scientific audiences, and these international conferences offer our students another platform to showcase their talents.”

CPH Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies Dr Feras Alali said: “CPH puts great emphasis on providing a rich research experience to both graduate and undergraduate students. The College considers research as a core skill to achieve and maintain during the students’ academic journey. We are always confident in the strength of our students at the local, regional and international competitions and their performance was again exemplary.” Dr Ziad Nasr said: “This is an important achievement for QU students which indeed gives them valuable exposure both on the national and regional level. Our students demonstrated excellent presentation and communication skills that received special recognition from the judging panel.”

Student Alya Babiker said: “It was a great experience to attend a conference that allocated a full day for antimicrobial stewardship which was the focus of our research. The judges and our competitors were impressed by the efforts we put for conducting our research on antimicrobial stewardship while we were still undergraduate students and we hope our research findings will help improve the rational use of antimicrobials and reduce the fast increasing resistance. As a research team we are proud that we were able to achieve another win for the College of Pharmacy.”

Student Ola Hussein said: “Having the opportunity to present our research findings and interact with experts from the field in a regional conference was a highly valuable experience which would not have been possible without the support of QU College of Pharmacy and our supervisors.” The students’ projects are funded by the Undergraduate Research Experience Program (UREP) of Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF).

The Scholarships and Partnerships Office at Qatar University (S&P Office-QU) yesterday held its 6^th Annual Scholarship and Sponsorship Students’ Gathering. The event aimed to celebrate returned scholars who pursue their education in prestigious international universities and whose experiences inspire current students.

QU President Dr Hassan Al Derham was joined by members of QU leadership, deans and heads of departments. The event was also an opportunity for scholars to provide prospective scholarship holders with an insight into postgraduate education and the benefits and challenges of studying abroad.

A total of 17 returned scholars were given awards in recognition of their commitment and academic achievements while on the program. They included 5 PhD scholars -- Seeta Al Athba (College of Arts and Sciences), Al Anoud Al Maadeed and AbdulAziz Al Ali (College of Engineering), Muna Al Marzouqi (College of Law), and Noora Lari (Social and Economic Survey Research Institute) -- and 12 MA scholars -- Abdulla Al Otaibi, Hayat Al Jabiry, and Dalal Al Dosari (College of Arts and Sciences), Sara Al Rasheed (College of Business and Economics), Rouda Al Marri (College of Education), Sultana Al Nabet, Shaikha Al Saud and Hameda Janahi (College of Engineering), Mohsin Al Marri (College of Law), and Mohamad Al Sai, Abdul Aziz Al Thani and Omar Al Khatib (College of Sharia and Islamic Studies).

The event’s program also included presentations delivered by Dr Mona AlMarzooqi, PhD graduate in Law from the USA, and Ms Aisha AlAmmari, a scholarship student pursuing a PhD program in Law. Dr Mona AlMarzooqi briefed the audience on the phases to achieve the Masters and PhD programs, while Ms Aisha AlAmmari highlighted the various challenges that she faced during her academic journey. In his remarks, Dr Hassan Al Derham said: “We are here today to listen to your experiences while studying abroad and to give you an overview of the objectives of the Scholarships and Partnerships Office at Qatar University. The investment in national competencies gives us the responsibility to contribute to building the future generation of skilled expertise to advance QU’s role in the region and to realize the University’s vision.”

Dr Al Derham also stressed the importance of attracting high-qualified faculty and researchers from all over the world, which contributes to strengthening the university’s global dimension. “This is reflected in QU’s achievement of the first place among 200 institutions worldwide in the International Outlook indicator in the overall Times Higher Education World University Rankings list (THE-WUR) 2015-16”, he said. Addressing the students, he said: “The Scholarships and Partnerships Office gives you the opportunity to pursue your graduate studies at top universities around the world. After graduation, you will contribute with your expertise to adding value to Qatar University, your college, and your department. We look forward to maintaining a real communication between you and the university.”

S&P Office Director Cesar Wazen gave an overview on the Office, noting that 29 students have been selected in 2016 from various colleges and departments across QU to pursue scholarships (27 students) and sponsorships (2 students) at universities around the world. “Currently, 119 students are being managed by the Office -- 46 scholarship students who are pursuing Masters programs, 44 scholarship students who are pursuing PhD programs, 2 under sponsorship,  and 27 preparing to leave for studies abroad”, he said.

Qatar University (QU) and King Saud University (KSU) yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen their existing relations and promote research collaboration among institutions in the GCC.

The agreement was signed by QU Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies Prof Mariam Al-Maadeed and KSU Vice President for Graduate Studies and Research Prof Ahmed Salim Al-Aameri in the presence of QU President Dr Hassan Al Derham, as well as officials from both institutions. The agreement aims to build national human capital, and to strengthen links between researchers and develop research networks in the GCC. The terms of the agreement include exchange of students and visiting scholars, and collaboration in the area of hosting visiting delegations. Both institutions will also cooperate in establishing joint research projects and cultural programs, as well as internship opportunities.

The agreement will contribute to strengthening the GCC-Wide Universities Funding Program which was initiated earlier this year by QU and other universities in the region. The program aims to build bridges and break barriers between institutions in the GCC, create a genuine market for GCC grant challenges, generate more research capabilities and expertise within the GCC, and further enhance regional research networking. Dr Hassan Al Derham highlighted the importance of the collaboration with KSU, which is one of the most prestigious universities in the region, especially in the field of research and community service. He also expressed his hope to establish a joint Research Fund to support the research projects, which are conducted by researchers in the GCC.

Prof Mariam Al-Maadeed said: “This agreement will contribute to build trust and strengthen links between institutions in the region. It will also provide excellent research outcomes and resources to develop the national human capital towards building a knowledge-based economy. “Cross national research projects can only be successfully undertaken when universities join hands and collaborate on such projects. The success of our research outcomes would be deepened when we compare notes and work with colleagues from universities in the region, especially when funding resources are pooled together.”

Prof Ahmed Salim Al-Aameri said: “Today, it is an honor for King Saud University as a comprehensive research university and the first higher education institution founded in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to sign this substantial agreement, aiming at consolidating the joint collaborative relationship between KSU and QU. This MoU will document the closer partnership between the two countries and promote research and academic collaboration between the two distinguished institutions. The MoU will also facilitate the exchange of researchers and students and provide a platform to ease accessibility to graduate students in the GCC for the purpose of R&D training, capacity building and increase the number of outstanding researchers in the  GCC countries.”

He added: “There is no doubt that universities in the GCC are the "think tank" and the main engine for conducting successful research and achieving sustainable development in the GCC. Therefore, these collaborative programs between the GCC universities will establish a strong research culture among university students, improve capacity building and increase the number of Gulf researchers. It will also integrate society and industry in the work of universities, and will provide stabile research funding in the GCC countries. These collaborative programs constitute a real opportunity and an urgent need to bond the GCC countries to achieve their developmental goals and overcome the obstacles and challenges they face in the transition to a knowledge-based economy.”

Qatar University (QU) announced that the registration for the MA and PhD in Gulf Studies, which started in January 2, will continue until April 3, 2017.

QU College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Gulf Studies Center (GSC) Director Dr Abdullah Baabood explained that all applicants to the Master of Arts in Gulf Studies who meet the minimum criteria will be considered for admission. “Applicants should have completed a Bachelor degree with a grade point average of at least 2.8 out of 4.0, or equivalent, from a university or college accredited by an international accrediting association or by the Ministry of Higher Education or comparable in that country”, Dr Abdullah Baabood said. He added: “They also have to achieve a minimum score of 520 on the paper-based TOEFL or equivalent test taken within 2 years of the start of the intended semester of admission, as well as a satisfactory performance in the personal interview with the Admission Committee.”

For the applicants to the PhD in Gulf Studies, Dr Abdullah Baabood noted that they should have successfully completed the 2-year Qatar University MA in Gulf Studies, or a Master’s degree in a related subject, or its equivalent, from an accredited university with an accumulative GPA of 3.0. He also noted that applicants should fulfill the requisite English language standard. “The requirements are that a student earned a previous degree from an institution of higher education in a program where English was the language of instruction, or achieved a minimum score of 520 on the paper-based TOEFL, as well as an acceptable score in the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) ”, Dr Abdullah Baabood said, adding, “The tests should be taken within 2 years of the start of the intended semester of admission and all applicants should achieve a satisfactory performance in the personal interview with the Admission Committee”.

He added that the PhD program has two; a Qatar University only PhD or a dual award PhD with Durham University in the UK. Students who opt for the dual award PhD will have to spend part of the time at Durham University. Dr Abdullah Baabood noted that the Gulf Studies Program is the first of its kind in the region. “The Gulf Studies Program (MA and PhD in Gulf Studies) aims to provide students an in-depth and interdisciplinary understanding of issues related to the contemporary states of the Gulf. It was developed in response to a growing need among stakeholders in the region for highly qualified graduates in the field of Gulf Studies and vastly growing general interest and focus on the Gulf region”, he said.