Qatar University (QU) research team has been ranked 1^st and 2^nd in the Real-time Summarization track at the 25^th annual Text REtrieval Conference (TREC 2016) which was recently organized by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Maryland, USA.

The research team, which is led by Dr Tamer Elsayed (pictured), Assistant Professor of Computer Science at QU College of Engineering (CENG) and which included 2^nd-year PhD student in Computer Science Maram Hasanain and 2^nd-year MSc student in Computing Reem Suwaileh, has achieved the 1^st place in the mobile notification task among 19 international teams, and the 2^nd place in the email digest task among 15 international teams.  The competition in the Real-time Summarization track brought 19 research teams from universities and research labs in Qatar, Australia, Canada, China, France, Hong Kong, India, and USA. QU team is the only team from an Arabic country to participate in the competition this year.

The team developed a real-time software system that processes a stream of live tweets. The user of the system describes a topic of interest and the system notifies him/her whenever a novel and relevant tweet to the topic is posted. The system pushes the tweets to the user’s mobile (push notification task) or sends him/her an email of all interesting tweets at the end of the day (email digest task). More than 50 topics were tested during 10 days. The system’s output was judged accurately by a committee of judges from NIST.

Commenting on the team achievement, Dr Tamer Elsayed said: “We are proud of our students’ achievement, which is the result of their dedication and hard work. Being part of such an international competition is a motivating experience for our students and drives them to apply their skills beyond the classroom. This underlines our commitment to provide our students with opportunities to meet and interact with their peers and world-class researchers to share and advance their knowledge and research skills. It also demonstrates our continuous efforts to offer them a wide range of activities that unlock their potential and help them invest their talents in the spirit of competition, shared knowledge and teamwork.”

Maram Hasanain said: “It was a great honor to participate in a world-class competition like TREC. This helped me learn how to work under pressure and as an active player in a software development team.” Reem Suwaileh said: “Our participation in such a prestigious venue has several benefits. The major one is that we managed to prove to ourselves that if we are dedicated to our goals we are capable of achieving the best results.”

Three (3) 4^th-year pharmacy students from Qatar University College of Pharmacy (QU-CPH) completed a training course in Scotland, UK as part of their Structured Practical Experience Placements (SPEP) program in CPH. One student trained at PAMIS, a community charity providing support for people with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD), while two other students trained at Rowlands Pharmacy, one of the largest and longest established UK chain of local community pharmacies.

The trip is part of a collaboration which was established last year between CPH and Aberdeen’s Robert Gordon University (RGU).

The students -- Nawal Bensmail, Noora Al Hamad and Amani Faisal Al Haddad -- completed a one-month rotation in Scotland. They spent their time shadowing the pharmacists, learning about pharmacy procedures for dispensing medications to patients as well as performing pharmacy administrative and legislation related tasks. Under the supervision of their preceptors, they provided direct care to patients including reviewing prescriptions and counseling patients about their medications. They also collaborated with RGU faculty and students.

The students also had the opportunity to meet with Lord Provost, Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant Queen’s Representative of Aberdeen with whom they discussed their academic journey at QU and Qatar’s developments in the recent years. CPH Dean Dr Mohammed Diab said: “The College of Pharmacy at Qatar University puts great emphasis on providing students with a wide range of learning opportunities and experiences to enrich their education. Maintaining strong relationships with our international partners allows our students to gain professional experience and enhance their education. It also provides them with an opportunity to network with their peers and mentors in the global professional community.” 

CPH Assistant Dean for Student Ms Affairs Alla El Awaisi said: “International SPEP experiences are great opportunities for our students to gain various perspectives on pharmaceutical care and practice in different countries. CPH is committed to providing students with the best opportunities to broaden their learning experiences and travelling internationally is one of them. Our students continually excel, locally and abroad and are always great ambassadors of the College.” Professor of Transdisciplinary and Technology Enhanced Learning at RGU School of Pharmacy and Life Sciences and student rotation Supervisor Prof Lesley Diack said: “The students showed high standards of professionalism and dedication. They have worked hard engaging with various pharmacists and patients. It has been a privilege to work with them over the last four weeks, and I would like to congratulate the College of Pharmacy at Qatar University for the level of quality of its studentship.”

Amani Faisal Al Haddad said: “I have learned that pharmacists should understand all aspects related to patients’ life such as medication history and psychological situation. I have also noticed that hospitals and health care centers in Qatar are advanced and equipped with cutting-edge technologies that are not found elsewhere.” Nawal Bensmail said: “Pharmacists in Scotland are seen as doctors who are eligible to make medical diagnosis and write prescriptions. We learned how to interact and respect patients from different cultures, which contributed to enriching our learning experience.”

Noora Al Hamad said: “What I liked about the pharmacy system in Rowlands is the unified database that shows the medication history of patients. This facilitates the pharmacist’s job and ensures the provision of the appropriate medication.”

Qatar University (QU) yesterday signed an agreement with Qatar Media Corporation (QMC) to strengthen their existing relations in the field of research and training.

The agreement was signed by QU President Dr Hassan Al Derham and QMC Chief Executive Officer H.E. Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Hamad Al-Thani in the presence of officials from both institutions, as well as QU faculty and staff. The agreement aims to establish a strategic collaboration between both institutions in the field of training and research to benefit QU students and QMC employees. It will also serve to attract QU national students and alumni to work in various positions within the field of media such as directors, journalists, presenters, sports commentators and/or analysts, TV producers, photographers, and bilingual editors and translators.

In the terms of the agreement, QU will select students to receive training courses under the umbrella of QMC in many TV channels and radios such as Al Kass Sports Channels, Qatar TV, Qatar Radio, and Sout Alkhaleej FM. QU will also host QMC to attend lectures, activities and events organized by the Department of Mass Communication at the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS). QMC will provide training opportunities to QU students and alumni within the duration for not less than two months and not to exceed six months. QMC will also provide full-time employment opportunities to the trainees who pass the probation period. The Corporation will also collaborate with QU students and faculty to conduct research projects.  

Commenting on the agreement, Dr Hassan Al Derham said: “Over the past decades, media has become more influential and impactful. Hence, it is crucial that we prepare highly qualified national competencies to lead and develop the field of media in Qatar. The agreement will contribute to empowering national students with media skills and talents, and to providing them with training and research programs to meet the needs of the local labor. It will also serve to encourage and motivate them to develop a professional experience in various print and broadcast media.”

H.E. Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Hamad Al-Thani said: “Qatar has contributed to promoting the field of media at the regional level at the time when H.H. the Father Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani launched Al Jazeera Channel, which comprised numerous national competencies. The collaborative agreement between Qatar Media Corporation and Qatar University comes in line with the vision of both institutions to realize the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030. We look forward to implementing the terms of the agreement in order to shape national competencies and ensure their employment at QMC and the various print and broadcast media outlets.”

The terms of the agreement will be implemented at QU through its Career Services Center (CSC), Center of Continuing Education (CCE), and Department of Mass Communication at CAS.

Qatar University (QU) signed on January 15 a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Aspetar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital (Aspetar) to establish collaboration in the field of medical education and research.

The MoU was signed by QU Vice President for Medical and Health Education and College of Medicine (CMED) Dean Dr Egon Toft and Aspetar Acting Director General Dr Mohamed Ghaith Al Kuwari in the presence of officials from both institutions, as well as QU faculty, staff, and students.

In the terms of the agreement, Aspetar will provide highly qualified international faculty to educate QU medical students in Sports and Exercise Medicine (SEM) at Aspetar clinics. Faculty from QU and Aspetar will also work jointly to establish an undergraduate SEM curriculum for medical students. Other areas of collaboration include the joint provision of Continuing Medical Education and Continuing Professional Development programs to benefit local and regional health care practitioners, as well as joint research projects in relevant areas.

Commenting on the MoU, Dr Egon Toft said: “Partnering with Aspetar will definitely enrich our curriculum and serve our students in their journey towards becoming distinguished health professionals. At QU, we recognize the important role that SEM has in promoting health and preventing disease and injury, and we are always committed to serve the needs of the community by building capacity in clinical practice, medical education and research. We are optimistic that the collaboration with Aspetar will be helpful in all these areas.”

Dr Mohamed Ghaith Al Kuwari expressed his pleasure in visiting CMED, saying, “I would like to thank QU Health for this collaboration in providing the undergraduate medical education in SEM. This agreement is considered as a step forward to attract students to SEM as a specialty in the near future.”

Qatar University (QU) yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Qatar Football Association (QFA), Aspire Zone, and Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy to establish and implement an academic program for talented athletes.

The MoU was signed by QU President Dr Hassan Al Derham, QFA President H.E. Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Bin Ahmed Al-Thani, Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy Secretary General Mr Hassan Bin Abdullah Al Thawadi, and Aspire Zone CEO Mr Mohammad Khalifa Al-Suwaidi in the presence of leaders and officials from QU, QFA, Aspire Zone, and Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy as well as QU faculty and staff. The MoU aims to support and develop talented athletes, and to drive forward the spirit of innovation in sports in Qatar. The terms of the MoU include collaboration to establish, implement and support an academic program for talented athletes and football professionals in Qatar. This will contribute to building the future generation of football professionals and to modelling the coming stars in the run-up to the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar and beyond.

Commenting on the MoU, Dr Hassan Al Derham said: “We are pleased to sign this MoU with Qatar Football Association (QFA), Aspire Zone, and Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, which will contribute to building national capacities for the sports sector and to fulfilling the needs of the labor market in the field of sports. This MoU is aligned with Qatar’s continuous efforts to organize and host world sports championships, and with QU’s commitment to build collaborations and strengthen links with local institutions to advance and support the sports sector and to provide the labor market with talented athletes based on the guidance of His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and the relevant parties.” Dr Al Derham noted that this MoU will contribute to establishing a Bachelor of Sports Education at QU following approval by the Board of Regents. He also noted that a Steering Committee comprising members from the partnering institutions will establish the admission requirements for the new program.” 

H.E. Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Bin Ahmed Al-Thani said: “Our partnership with Qatar University will have a positive impact on the sports sector in Qatar. This MoU will contribute to uplifting the talents of athletes while ensuring their stability on the academic and artistic levels, which will be for the benefit of their sporting club and national team. The new program aligns with the one provided by Aspire Academy for high school students. It offers football players the opportunity to continue their education while in Qatar. It also provides talented athletes with the chance to join Qatar University, which is one of the leading universities in the region.”

Mr Hassan Bin Abdullah Al Thawadi said: “This new MoU will provide athletes with an unparalleled educational opportunity to develop and grow their managerial skills in the sports industry. In spirit of the partnership, through Josoor Institute we will provide the athletes the opportunity to attend executive education, professional development workshops and certificate and diploma programs that are currently being offered by Josoor Institute, a center of excellence developed by the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy. In the build up to the 2022 FIFA World Cup, we are committed to building the human capital of the sports and events industries by empowering the talents of the region and equipping them with the skillset they need to unleash their full potential and to help create a lasting legacy for the region.”

Mr Mohammad Khalifa Al-Suwaidi said: “We are pleased to partner with Qatar University, Qatar Football Association (QFA), and Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy. This MoU will contribute to upholding the academic learning of talented athletes, especially football players, in Qatar by investing all capacities and competencies to shape a sporting generation able to promote Qatar’s reputation in world sports championships.”

Health care students at Qatar University (QU) colleges of Pharmacy (CPH), Health Sciences (CHS) and Medicine (CMED) were joined by their peers from University of Calgary in Qatar (UCQ), College of the North Atlantic-Qatar (CNA-Q) and Weill Cornell Medicine - Qatar (WCM-Q) at the 2^nd Interprofessional Education Student Society (IPE-SS) Research Day which was recently held at QU Research Complex.

Themed “The Second Annual Research Day for Healthcare Students”, the event was organized by the Interprofessional Education Student Society (IPE-SS). It was designed to engage students from various health care disciplines in interprofessional workshops and best poster and oral presentation competitions.

The program’s agenda included 5 oral presentations delivered by Nermin Al-Hasan and Omnia GadAllah (CPH), Sondos Kader and Monireh Fouladi from (CHS), Jawaher Hassan, Omar Tahir, Soubiya Ansari and Mennatalla Abdelkader (CMED), Martina Estrada (CNA-Q), and Rawan Ali, Jameela Syed and Yaman Shahrour (UCQ). They presented a variety of health related issues such as “Correlation between Social Support and Stress on College Students”, “Mathematics for Medication Administration”, “Geriatric Education in Schools of Pharmacy: Perspectives from Qatar and Canada”, “Molecular Genotyping and Sub-Grouping of Cryptosporidium Species Isolated from Hospitalized Pediatric Patients in Qatar”, and “Creativity and Art in Medicine”. It also included an IPE workshop on “Get Involved, be a researcher and do it as a team” presented by Myriam Jaam, IPE-SS President. The workshop focused on “What is Research?”, “Why do we do it?”, “Different types of research?”, “Steps to do it” and “Things to consider”.

The students were randomly divided into 9 multi-professional groups in which they worked together on various research cases UREP Project: Perceptions of Shisha Smokers, Efficacy of Protein Diet in Weight loss, Effect of Curcumin on Mice Kidney Cells, Prevalence of Multiple Sclerosis in Qatar, and Perception of Students about Drugs in Sports. Under the supervision and guidance of facilitators, they presented a total of 27 posters to a panel of judges comprising CPH Professor and Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies Dr Feras Alali, CHS Assistant Professor of Public Health Dr Farhad Hana, CMED Assistant Research Professor Dr Nadia Al Banna, UCQ Nursing Instructor Ms Kathleen De Leon-Demare, and CNA-Q Pharmacy Technician Lead Instructor Dr Norman Wong.

The event also featured the distribution of awards for the winners in the best poster and oral presentation competitions. First place winner in the Oral Presentation Competition were CPH students Nermin Al Hasan and Omnia Gadallah. In the Poster Presentation Competition, CPH students Farah Zahra and Nawal Bensmail won the 1^st place, CHS students Redwana Bari and Esra Moosa won the 2^nd place, while CNA-Q student Martina Estrada won the 3^rd place.

QU VP for Medical Education and CMED Dean Dr Egon Toft said: “I was very pleased to attend the IPE Student Society annual event. It was a great day and great that this activity can bring all major providers of health care professional education together in a positive and constructive spirit giving rise to new collaborations and friendship across our institutions. The event was a huge success with a great turnout of around 100 participants. The event’s program included 5 oral student presentations, 27 student posters from the five health care colleges in the country and an interactive student workshop on the process of research.”

CPH Dean Dr Mohammad Diab said: “This 2^nd annual Interprofessional Research Day offers students across all health care colleges the opportunity to showcase their research, to share their experiences and ideas, and to understand each other’s professions more clearly. CPH has played a pivotal role in developing interprofessional education in the Middle East. The College continues in its efforts to promote collaborative interprofessional workshops and research days to enable our students to further develop their skills and abilities as future health care providers providing the most optimal patient care.”

CHS Dean and QU Biomedical Research Center (BRC) Director Prof Asmaa Al-Thani said: “IPE is a cornerstone in the educational system and it integrates the different health disciplines for a streamlined education, which will reflect on the students’ professional careers in the future. CHS has been working on IPE since 2011 and this event has demonstrated the synchronization of the efforts of the three colleges to enhance interprofessional and multidisciplinary research. More than 10 students from CHS participated in the IPE Research Day showcasing their research projects and engaging in the different activities in addition to interacting with students and faculty from various colleges.”

CPH Assistant Dean for Student Affairs and Chair of the Interprofessional Education Committee Dr Alla El-Awaisi said: “I am very proud of the great efforts of IPE student society members in organizing this event for the second consecutive year. The executive team is gaining important leadership skills and opportunities to interact with other health care students in this unique society. The event provides the students from various disciplines with a platform to share their research experiences, and we hope this will encourage students and faculty to conduct interprofessional and multidisciplinary research together in the coming future.”

IPE-SS President and CPH MSc student Myriam Jihad Jaam said: “The purpose of the research day is to bring students from different professions together, and give them the opportunity to share their knowledge and skills with individuals from different perspectives. This year, we had a great turnout and the event was much better and bigger than last year. Without the support from all the colleges this would not have happened. I take this opportunity to thank every person who has contributed to this great success.”

Over 40 year 1 and 2 students from Qatar University College of Medicine (QU-CMED) visited on January 15-16 Al Emadi Hospital, Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) - Forensic Medicine and Mortuary Section, and Qatar Biobank.

Organized by CMED in collaboration with QU Career Services Center, the visits align with the College’s commitment to provide its students with practical experiences in which they get the opportunity to interact in their early academic years with patients, physicians and practitioners from other sectors.

Commenting on the visits, QU VP for Medical and Health Sciences and CMED Dean Dr Egon Toft said: “These on-field visits serve to enhance our students’ personal and communication skills, exposing them to the hospitals’ environment and enabling them to accumulatively build up their expectations and knowledge for medical professions.” Head of Dermatology and Senior Consultant Dermatologist at Al Emadi Hospital Dr Adel Mohamed Kamaledin said: “I was happy to see motivated, confident and broad-minded future doctors with good potential, who will definitely excel in medicine and life with the appropriate guidance and education given at Qatar University.” 

Scientific and Educational Manager and Acting Director at Qatar Biobank Dr Nahla Afifi said: “We are very happy to welcome Qatar University students to Qatar Biobank to gain an insight into our facility and the research we are conducting.” After visiting HMC’s Forensic Medicine and Mortuary Section, year 1 medical student Umar Bin Rashid said: “Being in close proximity to those who passed away motivated me to study harder and push myself to become a better doctor.” Year 2 medical student Menatalla Hashem Abdelkader said: “These visits served to introduce us to the reality of life as future doctors.”

Extension of the Memorandum of Understanding between Qatar University (QU) and Qatar Corporate Social Responsibility network (CSR) for three years until 2020 was announced recently.

The extension of the MOU came in continuance of the successful cooperation, especially to inspire university students concerning the concept of social responsibility through numerous initiatives that took place during the past three years under the supervision of QU CSR Committee Head Dr. Bader Abdullh Al-Esmael, such as the National CSR report, the academic studies and researches, specialized lectures and workshops, and the CSR exhibition.

Chairman of Qatar CSR network Sheikh Khaled bin Faleh bin Saud Al-Thani said: "Our partnership with Qatar University is a pride and an honor. We are keen to provide continuous support for the fruitful CSR march filled with achievements in Qatar University. The success of the partnership gives us a greater responsibility to promote that success. We will always be ready to meet the requirements of this partnership, which was culminated last year in funding a research study conducted by the CSR Committee at Qatar University with the participation of the university students to develop their abilities and sharpen their talents in the fields of research and surveys."

He also said "The CSR research’s recommendations are a source of pride as it proved Qatar as one of the leaders in the region in the field of social responsibility and supported Qatar National Vision 2030, and revealed the CSR initiatives of the Qatari companies as an important part to increase competitiveness, and a successful tool to stimulate awareness of brand and help build positive relations between their employees and the surrounding community. The research outputs also revealed that the Qatari companies are aligned well with the needs of CSR towards the government and interact positively with it”.

Qatar CSR network publishes the National CSR report since 2012; and QU hosts the launching ceremony annually with high level presence. Contribute in the report ministers, ambassadors and leading figures; and it promotes QU students’ capabilities as a result of their participation in its preparation. The National CSR Report is sponsored by major institutions, and distributed locally with newspapers to the various institutions. It also honors CSR leading organizations with wide media coverage.

Qatar University (QU) recently launched the Centre for Law & Development within its College of Law (LAWC). The establishment of the new Centre will contribute to building awareness of laws in Qatar and to promoting the exchange of ideas for policy development and implementation.

The new Centre will provide clinical education and training programs especially designed to meet the needs of the Qatari society, and aimed at building national capacity in the field of law in line with the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030. The Centre currently runs two clinical legal education programs -- an Environmental Law Clinic on climate change and a Trade and Investment Law Clinic, both designed to provide students with the opportunity to work on live cases for real beneficiaries. The Centre is also producing a wide range of publications relevant to legal areas of national economic and environmental development, such as financial regulation, energy, and environmental protection.

The Centre will conduct research projects in areas of interdisciplinary law and policy, which will contribute to promoting national economic growth in a sustainable manner as required by Qatar’s Permanent Constitution and National Development Strategy. The Centre currently manages two research projects funded by the Qatar National Priorities Research Program (NPRP) and designed to build legal capacity in Qatar. The projects are: “Legal Innovation to Empower Development: Designing and Building an Online “TradeLab” in Qatar” (Trade and Investment Legal Advisory Broker) and “Legal Education and the Skills Market in Qatar”. It also runs a range of other research grants related to Qatar’s environmental law, climate change, legal education in Qatar, and Islamic finance. Collectively the grants it manages are worth over $1.5 million.

The Centre includes two divisions: an Energy and Environmental Division and an Economic Development Division. The Energy and Environmental Division seeks to build community awareness of and promote the dissemination of timely and neutral information related to climate and energy challenges while partnering with established multi-stakeholder initiatives to better educate regional consumers and encourage regional businesses to reduce their energy use and carbon footprints. The Economic Development Division seeks to promote efficiency, accessibility, fairness, transparency, and stability of domestic and global financial systems, and stands out as the focal point of financial centers in the region.

Commenting on the establishment of the new Centre, LAWC Dean Dr Mohammed Bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi said: “At Qatar University, we are focusing efforts on developing infrastructure, as well as increasing our research outcomes and the number of training programs to achieve our strategic goals and contribute to realizing the objectives of Qatar National Vision 2030. The Centre for Law & Development is one of those efforts. The Centre will provide research covering many areas of interest that are important to the Qatari society and aimed to achieve Qatar’s sustainable model for economic and human development. Through its training programs, the Centre will also provide our students with invaluable opportunities to uplift their capacities and gain hands-on experiences based on local market needs.”

Centre for Law & Development Director Dr Jon Truby said: “We established an inclusive center which offers activities in a wide range of law-related subjects, and we will work with our faculty and partners to contribute to achieving the legal requirements of Qatar National Vision 2030. Delivering excellence in our law and policy research center requires the highest performance and ambition of our team and partners. Our first priority is to deliver effective solutions for the needs of Qatar, and we are open to build networks and innovate to succeed. The development of Qatar’s economy and industry goes hand-in-hand with environmental protection.”

Qatar University’s (QU) Department of Information Technology Services (ITS) yesterday celebrated renewal of its ISO/IEC 27001:2013 Accreditation Certificate for Information Security Management System Standard for three additional years. This achievement reaffirms QU’s commitment to protecting the confidentiality, integrity and availability of its information assets.

The certificate was presented to QU President Dr Hassan Al Derham by the British Ambassador to Qatar H.E. Ajay Sharma in the presence of officials and dignitaries from QU, the UK Embassy to Qatar, and the British Standards Institution (BSI) Group Qatar.

In his remarks, Dr Hassan Al Derham said: “Qatar University sought to achieve the ISO certificate for Information Security Management System Standard through adhering to information privacy and security management while ensuring its compliance with the adopted procedures and regulations. In this context, the ITS Department at Qatar University achieved the ISO/IEC 27001:2013 Accreditation Certificate for Information Security Management System Standard in December 2013. Three years later, the Department has been awarded renewal of its ISO accreditation certificate for three additional years. This achievement is a testament of the high quality services that QU offers to its members.”

He added: “Today’s achievement is not the first to Qatar University. The University has notched up a number of ISO certifications over the last 5 years for its research labs, IT systems, quality management, and environmental, health and safety management systems. This comes in line with the University’s ongoing efforts to enhance its services and develop a knowledge-based economy in line with the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030.”

H.E. Ajay Sharma said: “I am pleased to be here today at Qatar University to see the dynamic learning environment that sets the University apart. It has a proud track record of achievement and offers numerous academic programs to the community. It is always a pleasure to meet students and faculty members especially to celebrate successes like this achievement. I would like to thank Qatar University for selecting the British Standards Institution (BSI) Group, which underlines the contribution of the UK government, institutions and business in shaping the future in Qatar and in realizing the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030.”

QU ITS Department Acting Director Mr Mohamad Eljazzar said: “The need to access information from anywhere at any time introduces various challenges such as protecting our privacy and maintaining the confidentiality and integrity of our information and systems. Today’s event is a testament that Qatar University has risen to the challenge.”

BSI Qatar Business Development Manager Mr Jamal Dalli said: “I am delighted to celebrate this achievement with Qatar University today. On behalf of BSI, I offer my congratulations on their certification to ISO/IEC 27001:2013 for an Information Security Management System. To achieve certification to this standard, an organization must show a continuous structured commitment towards assessing security risks, managing sensitive information and ensuring a holistic plan is in place to respond to any potential disruptions. I applaud Qatar University for leading by example with their commitment to best practice.”

A pioneering research project led by a team of Qatar University (QU) researchers and external collaborators is using underwater video to survey the abundance of sharks and rays in the coastal waters of Qatar.

Led by QU Center for Sustainable Development (CSD) Research Assistant Professor Dr J Jed Brown, a team of  researchers from QU and the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) conducted a research project entitled “Underwater Video Survey of the Elasmobranchs of Qatar: A first step towards conservation”. The project is part of an agreement signed between CSD and AIMS in January 2017. It is funded by a QU internal grant awarded to Dr Brown and the Global FinPrint project -- a 3-year project sponsored by Microsoft Co-founder Mr Paul Allen to study tropical reef ecosystems for sharks and rays.

The team used Baited Remote Underwater Video Cameras (BRUVS) to study the abundance of sharks and rays in the coastal waters of Qatar. The BRUVS attract and record fish life in the immediate area. Additionally, one of the unique highlights of this study is that one of the camera systems that are being deployed is actually a 3D virtual reality camera housing, which houses six individual cameras. Footage from this camera housing can be viewed on virtual reality head-sets or other systems such as the virtual reality cave in QU virtual reality lab.

The team has completed over 100 deployments of the BRUVS in Northern and Southern Qatar. Preliminary results show that very few sharks and rays have been observed. However, the lack of observations is useful data in and of itself. It provides a baseline for future studies and may be a sign that sharks are no longer found in habitats where they should be due to overfishing or habitat destruction. Sharks and rays are of particular conservation concern due to their vulnerability to overfishing, and to their slow growth and reproductive rates, Dr Brown said, adding, “the research outcomes can be used to guide conservation and/or restoration efforts for vulnerable species, such as sawfishes, which have been heavily overexploited in the Gulf.”

He added: “This is one of QU’s research activities that highlights its core role in addressing important environmental issues. It also demonstrates QU’s commitment to knowledge-sharing and to providing expertise for multidisciplinary research, education and learning in line with its research priorities and in contribution to the objectives of Qatar National Vision 2030, the National Research Strategy, and other national development strategies.” AIMS Postdoctoral Research Scientist Dr Conrad Speed said: “We welcome these types of partnerships that help us carry out the Global FinPrint project. Working with collaborative institutions such as Qatar University has enabled us to gain local knowledge and expertise, which are invaluable to our research. We hope that this collaboration will foster additional research in the future and build local capacity for carrying out marine surveys using BRUVS in the Gulf.”

Qatar University (QU) staff, faculty, students and their families joined people all over Qatar yesterday in celebrating National Sports Day, in line with the Emiri decision for the day to be observed on the second Tuesday in February each year.

Through the Sports Activities Department, QU conducted a series of sporting and fitness events on its campus and at Katara Cultural Village (Katara) as part of its contribution towards the national effort to promote sports and healthy lifestyles throughout the community. Themed “Sports Unite Us”, the activities were organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Municipality and Environment, Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya), Community College of Qatar (CCQ), and Katara, the official host.

At QU Female Sports Hall, QU female students and staff participated in a friendly football match with their colleagues from CCQ. The program also included a march activity, fitness, aerobics, Zumba and yoga sessions, and children were catered with games and sport-related activities. Also on the program was an exhibition featuring healthy nutrition booths, and health awareness and medical and nutrition awareness corners. At Katara, the activities program included a walking march for kids and adults around the area of Katara, a paragliding show performed by a team from QU Air Sports Club, cultural and traditional games, and beach activities such as volleyball and football, as well as sports activities for adults and kids.

A sideline exhibition featured sports booths presented by QU coaches, faculty and students, and a health booth and healthy nutrition corner presented by members from the Physiotherapy and Sport Injury Unit at QU Sports Activities Department in conjunction with QU colleges of Health Sciences, Medicine and Pharmacy, and the Sport Science Program at QU College of Arts and Sciences. Visitors were briefed on the importance of exercise for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. They got free testing of body composition, vital capacity, upper body strength, lower body power, core body muscular endurance, and agility.

Qatar Minister of Municipality and Environment H.E. Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Rumehi said: “The National Sports Day, which is celebrated since 2011, is an initiative to encourage the practice of various sports activities within the community, in line with the objectives of Qatar National Vision 2030. It also aims to shape the generation of future athletes who are equipped with the capacities to host and organize the FIFA World Cup 2022. We, at the Ministry of Municipality and Environment, are keen to support the National Sports Day by providing sports equipment and facilities in a number of public parks across Qatar and by creating an environment that encourages the members of the community to practice sports. In this regard, I invite everyone to participate in the activities of the National Sports Day and to contribute to raising awareness on the health benefits of sports and physical activity.”

QU Vice President for Administration and Finance Dr Khalid Al-Khater said: “The National Sports Day aims to promote the culture of sports within the community and to highlight the health benefits of sports. It also aims to motivate and encourage the community members to exercise and practice sports in their daily life.” 

QU Chief Strategy and Development Officer Dr Darwish Al-Emadi said: “In celebrating the National Sports Day, we demonstrate the importance of sports in the State of Qatar and we raise the community awareness on the benefits of sports and physical activity at the health, psychological and behavioral levels. This national event also contributes to highlighting the importance of integrating sports in the everyday life. In this context, Qatar University continues to be a key partner in advancing a culture of sports among students throughout their academic journey.”

QU Student Services and Activities Director Mr Abdulla Al-Yafei said: “We are proud to be part of this national event which demonstrates QU’s commitment to strengthening strong links with the society and to raising the community awareness on the importance of exercise for a healthy lifestyle. In sharing these activities on this special day, QU is contributing to highlighting the health benefits of sports and fitness in line with the National Health Strategy and Qatar Vision 2030.”

CCQ President Dr Ibrahim Al-Naimi said: “The Community College of Qatar is keen on participating in the Sports Day celebrations every year to stress the importance of sports and their vital role in shaping every individual’s life and the society as a whole. Moreover, the Sports Day provides a great opportunity to promote team spirit and further enhance social ties among CCQ faculty, staff and students. The theme of this year’s celebrations is of a special nature, with a variety of heritage-based physical games aiming at reviving those games and passing them on to the younger generations. On the other hand, CCQ will also organize special entertainment activities, in collaboration with Qatar University, for women and children. Needless to say, this year’s celebrations witnessed unique and valuable contributions from the Ministry of Municipality and Environment, Qatar University and the Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya).”

Lieutenant at Lekhwiya Mr Nasser Al Jaber applauded the efforts of QU and the partnering institutions in organizing the events to celebrate the National Sports Day. He said: “Sport is at the top of the priorities of the growth and development process led by His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Sport has become a lifestyle at a time when social and health changes are taking place in the society. It is one of the main pillars to build a community, an essential component of the public culture, an influential element in the development of a country in various fields, and a tool to produce a better future.”

Qatar University (QU) has chosen H.E. Mr Salah bin Ghanim Al-Ali, Minister of Culture and Sports, as CSR Person of the Year 2016 in honor of his CSR leadership that is inspiring the youth and promising generations, and in recognition of his contribution to the dissemination of intellectual and cultural creativity.

The National CSR Report, which is produced under the supervision of QU, monitors the achievements of the inspirational figures that show outstanding leadership in the CSR matters. The report is issued by QU in partnership with Qatar CSR Network. It has achieved unprecedented success to become the annual National CSR Book. In 2015, the report started to be issued under the patronage of H.E. the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, who is honoring the report by writing its introduction.

The report is also sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs -- distribution partner to Qatar embassies around the world -- with the contribution of ministers, ambassadors and leading figures; and is sponsored by the major institutions. The report chooses the CSR Person of the Year where H.E. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of Qatar Olympic Committee, was selected as the Person of the Year in 2015, and H.E. Abdullah bin Hamad Al Attiyah, President of the Administrative Control and Transparency Authority, as the Person of the Year in 2014.

QU President Dr Hassan Al Derham said: “The CSR Person of the Year is chosen in recognition of his achievements that include setting new boundaries in the social work; presenting initiatives dedicated to achieve sustainable development in addition to his leadership in the community development, particularly in youth issues; playing a key role in supporting disabled people; participating in boosting the national efforts to achieve Qatar National Vision 2030; building bridges between cultures; and having abiding faith in the dialogue of civilizations.”

Minister of Culture and Sports H.E. Mr Salah bin Ghanim Al-Ali said: “It is a pride to have the privilege to be honored by such prestigious national institution as Qatar University. Choosing me as the CSR Person of the Year for 2016 gives me more responsibility. It is our honorable national obligation to move forward in the march to achieve Qatar National Vision 2030. Qatar University has always been the main source of qualified Qatari youth who are entrusted to play a major role in promoting CSR in the country’s national institutions.”

QU hosts the launch ceremony of the report in the presence of senior officials and academic personalities. The report enhances the abilities of QU students through their contribution in its preparation. It is an academic book that monitors the CSR progress in Qatar and highlights the achievements of the major economic bodies in social responsibility. The report, which is distributed locally with newspapers to various institutions, honors CSR leading institutions and enjoys a wide media coverage. The award ceremony includes unveiling a painted picture of the person of the year by a reputable painter to be held permanently at a dedicated place on the QU campus in addition to granting a trophy and a certificate made of fine wood.

Four teams are set to compete in the semi-finals of the University League this weekend. The first match will kick off at 6pm on Thursday at Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development’s (QF) Recreation Center, pitch 1.

Last season’s football champions, Qatar University (QU), will take on Hamad bin Khalifa University (HBKU) after claiming first place in Group A with nine points. HBKU, Group B’s second place team, collected a total of four points. The second semi-final of the night will kick off at 7pm. Group A’s second place team, Qatar Aeronautical College (QAC), who have six points, will play Group B’s first place winner, Northwestern University in Qatar (NU-Q), who have four points. The tie breaker between NU-Q and HBKU was the win recorded by the former during their unique encounter in group stage matches in which NU-Q won HBKU 3-1.

Launched in 2013, the four-month competition brings together eight colleges and universities from across Qatar. The winners of the semi-finals will play the third place decider and final on February 23 at 6pm and 7pm, respectively. The University League is a joint collaboration between the Qatar Football Association (QFA) and QF. The league supports both organizations’ desire to encourage young people to lead healthier, more active lifestyles through playing football. The QFA entered into a strategic partnership with the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) in 2013 to support the University League and encourage greater community participation in football ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup™ in Qatar.

A large number of government officials, industry professionals, policymakers and academics were engaged in a “Roundtable on Energy and Economic Diversification Policies” on February 15-16.

Organized by Qatar Leadership Centre (QLC) in collaboration with Qatar University (QU), the Ministry of Energy and Industry, and the Baker Institute of Rice University, the event aimed to highlight and provide efficient solutions to the regional energy, economic and environmental challenges. The event’s program focused on four main themes “Energy Subsidy Reform”, “Economic Diversification in Energy Exporting Nations”, “The Energy-Food-Water Nexus”, and “Climate Change”.

In his remarks on behalf of QU President Dr Hassan Al Derham, QU Chief Strategy and Development Officer Dr Darwish Al-Emadi said: “The Baker Institute has a long and distinguished record of engaging with our region through critical analyses of the pressing issues that challenge both policymakers and the public. I do not think it is an exaggeration to say that the issues listed on today’s agenda are matters of existential importance. From economic diversification and subsidy reforms to the energy-food-water nexus and climate change, the sustainability of our way of life and indeed our very survival depend on the approach we take and the progress we make in managing our energy resources, and dealing with their social, economic, political, and environmental impacts. Indeed, the single most important lesson from the recent decline in oil prices may have been the need for new ways of thinking and innovative policymaking. Today’s agenda, for example, will be addressing subsidy reforms and other difficult, yet imperative, approaches to dealing with the consequences of declining oil prices in a region where more than 80% of revenue for some countries comes from oil.”

He added: “Qatar University has enjoyed a wide range of collaboration models with the energy sector, including industry chair positions, sponsorship of students, research funding and collaborations, student internships and training opportunities, and participation in program advisory boards. Together we have worked to provide students with educational and training opportunities that contribute to the energy sector and beyond. At the heart of our strategy is a focus on key attributes that will ensure that our graduates are ready for a fast-changing economic reality. We are re-thinking our programs to focus on producing students who are well-rounded, competent, entrepreneurial citizens prepared to be lifelong learners and who have a keen sense of their ethical and social responsibilities. To that end, our strategic plan is committed to making the academic and administrative investments needed to serve that outcome. At the same time that it serves as the main producer of the labor force, the University is also a think tank for the country and a reservoir of innovative research.”

QU College of Law Oil and Gas Law Assistant Professor and IRL Editor-in-Chief Dr Talal Abdulla Al-Emadi, who is also member of the organizing committee of the event, stressed the importance of energy for economic growth and the betterment of the standards of living. The energy sector faces numerous challenges at the global level, he said, adding, “The challenges facing the GCC region are ultimately linked to those in Asia, Europe, North America and Africa. This requires the setting up of common goals between nations and the implementation of a flexible approach to overcome the global energy challenge. This event provides a platform to discuss the global energy, economic and environmental challenges that are occurring in the region, the development and growth of Qatar’s economy, as well as the country’s role in addressing global energy needs and associated market challenges.”

Qatar University (QU) students from 18 nationalities came together to celebrate the organization’s diversity of backgrounds and traditions in the 10^th annual Cultural Village. The theme of this year’s event is “Our Village Lanes”.

Organized by QU’s Student Activities Department, the 5-day event (February 19-23) is an annual festival showcasing cultural and folkloric displays, theater and dance performances, traditional costumes shows, exhibitions, art, poetry, food, singing and music. It aims to bring students together to celebrate and share their culture, heritage and traditions. It is also an opportunity for students to unlock their potential and demonstrate their teamwork, volunteerism and interpersonal relations skills. The festival was opened yesterday by QU Director of Student Services & Activities Mr Abdulla Al-Yafei in the presence of Iraqi Interim Chargé d’Affaires to Qatar Mr Salah Mahdi Hussein, as well as QU leaders, staff, faculty, students and members of the wider community.

The 5-day event which will be held in the Activities Buildings on the male and female campus, will feature 6 booths on the male campus and 18 booths on the female campus representing Qatar, Bangladesh, Chechnya, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Japan, Jordan, Korea, Mauritania, Oman, Palestine, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. Commenting on the event, Mr Abdulla Al-Yafei said: “The Cultural Village reflects QU mission to highlight the cultural diversity within its community. It also demonstrates the students’ efforts to organize and participate in such significant event that aims to familiarize QU members with various traditions and customs.”

Student Activities Department Section Head of Events and Campus Activities Ms Salwa Darwish Zainel said: “Over the years, QU Cultural Village has attracted members within and outside QU community to learn about different cultures. What makes this annual event so special is the fact that it is a students’ creation that reveals their imagination and communication skills.” QU College of Engineering student and participant in the Qatari booth Abdullah Saeed Al Harandi said: “The Qatari booth showcases the heritage of our ancestors. Visitors will be familiarized with the fishing and diving tools that have been used many years ago.”

QU College of Engineering student and participant in the Palestinian booth Abdulrahman Kasem said: “The booth design demonstrates the aesthetic dimension of the Islamic architecture. Visitors will have the opportunity to watch Al-Aqsa Mosque through a virtual reality headset.” QU College of Business and Economics student and participant in the Egyptian booth Osama Tareq said: “Our booth highlights the different eras of the Egyptian History through showcasing the remarkable landmarks of each period such as The Karnak Temple Complex, Salah Al Deen Al Ayoubi Mosque, and the Pharaonic inscriptions and drawings.”

Qatar University (QU) Health Cluster recently held its 1^stAnnual Retreat that brought together around 80 faculty and staff to discuss the future structure and operations of the cluster following the reorganization and restructuring process at QU. 

The QU Health Cluster, which comprises the colleges of Health Sciences (CHS), Medicine (CMED) and Pharmacy (CPH), and the Health Clinic, was launched in January 2017 to provide closer alignment between the three health colleges. The cluster will foster a service-oriented, inter-professional and interdisciplinary culture, will provide administrative and operational support for the colleges, and will deliver tangible benefits to both faculty and students. This will lead to strategic synergies as well as efficiency gains. 

Areas of collaboration and consolidation at the QU Health Cluster level include research and graduate studies, clinical affairs, student affairs, continuous professional development, inter-professional education, outreach and engagement, and business operations. The event included the distribution of certificates of appreciation to the members of the thematic groups for their contribution in the integration of the member colleges. It also included presentations related to the different functions of QU Health Cluster and their operations, as well as a discussion forum that engaged cluster faculty and staff.

In his remarks, QU Vice President for Medical and Health Sciences and CMED Dean Dr Egon Toft said: “Through close integration of research, teaching activities and clinical care, innovative capacity and productivity of the cluster will flourish and will be more aligned with the future needs of Qatar. The collaborative operations will also include the key external stakeholders and partners which will result in further extending the scope and fields of collaborations.” CHS Dean and QU Biomedical Research Center (BRC) Director Dr Asmaa Al-Thani said: “As a cluster, we will grow into a dynamic and diverse family of inspired and highly qualified individuals from a broad variety of backgrounds, united by a shared vision to build a successful holistic health entity right here at Qatar University.”

CPH Dean Dr Mohamad Diab said: “Joint forces and efforts in various areas will surely maximize our impact on medical and health education and research; therefore serving our vision to become a catalyst for the development of health care in Qatar and be the institution of choice for students and scholars.” CHS Professor and Chair of the QU Health Cluster Establishment Taskforce Dr Mohamed Ahmedna thanked all the members of the different thematic groups for their contribution in developing strategic concepts for the organizational integration of the member colleges.

  QU Health Clinic Section Head Dr Hafsa Hashad said: “The Health Clinic is proud to be a member of the QU Health Cluster. We are looking forward to collaborating with the other colleges and strongly believe that with our combined facilities, skills and efforts, we can greatly benefit the QU community, broaden health awareness, and promote healthy lifestyles throughout our community.”

Qatar University College of Medicine (QU-CMED) Professor of Biochemistry Prof Bared Safieh-Garabedian (pictured) was invited as a special speaker at the Joint Molecular Biosciences and Biomedicine Seminar Series, which was recently organized and hosted by Cardiff University School of Biosciences. Prof Bared gave a lecture entitled “Targeting unresolved neuroinflammation: Can Thymulin related peptide (PAT) come to the rescue?”.

Dr Bared noted that inflammation, as part of the innate immune response, plays an important role in homoeostatic processes such as tissue repair. He also noted that chronic inflammation is tightly linked to neurological diseases, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic diseases, chronic inflammatory diseases, and cancer. He explained that the non-resolution of inflammation has many causes, which are not clearly understood such as an uncontrolled production of proinflammatory mediators, a failed phenotypic switch in macrophage and T cell population, an inadequate production of resolution mediators, a persistent stimulation by microbes and allergens, and a prolonged or excessive response or  a subnormal response.

Over the last 20 years, the functional autonomy of the immune and nervous system has been challenged, Dr Bared said, adding, “The central nervous system (the brain) and the immune system are intimately linked and do not function as independent systems. During inflammation these interactions are more prominent. Understanding these pathways of communication has important clinical consequences for neurodegenerative diseases”. Furthermore, Dr Bared noted that the communication pathways between the immune and the nervous system are bidirectional, intricate and not well defined.

It is difficult to define physiological and behavioral signs of central nervous system (CNS) inflammation, Dr Bared said. He added: “Chronic hyperactivation of brain immune cells can result in neurotoxic actions due to excessive production of several pro-inflammation mediators.” He went on to discuss the importance of developing new animal models for neuroinflammation and during the talk he described one such model developed by his group.

Dr Bared stressed the importance of establishing and implementing new approaches such as elucidating inflammatory reactions in the CNS, identifying the main players that can act as therapeutic targets (microglial cells), determining biomarkers for disease such as cytokines and neurotrophic factors, and characterizing molecular targets such as blocking toll-like receptors (TLR) expressed in the CNS. Dr Bared went on to the discuss the development of the PAT with powerful anti-inflammatory actions. This molecule has been patented by his group and undergoing clinical trials. He discussed the potential use of this drug as a novel therapeutic agent for use in neurodegenerative diseases.

Qatar University College of Medicine (QU-CMED) hosted  the International Foundations of Medicine (IFOM) and International Oversight Committee (IOC) taskforce meetings on February 19-23.

Organized by the National Board of Medical Examiners^® (NBME^®), the meetings are first of their kind in the GCC. They are part of the collaboration between CMED and NBME^®, a leading US academic organization in service to the public and health professions. The meetings included a workshop held by NBME^® on February 20. Around 50 faculty and senior clinicians from various health institutions in Qatar and the Gulf region were engaged in the workshop. They were briefed on the methodologies and tools to write test items and assessment of medical competencies using multiple-choice questions.

QU Vice President for Medical and Health Sciences and CMED Dean Dr Egon Toft said: “We are very proud to host the IFOM and IOC meetings and NBME^® workshop here at Qatar University. We are always working to serve the community of Qatar and ensure alignment of our curriculum with international standards. The continuing professional education workshop aims to improve the competency of faculty in constructing quality multiple-questions for medical students.” NBME^® Vice President for International Programs Dr Brownell Anderson said: “It is very exciting to hold the NBME^® meetings here in Qatar and at Qatar University. This is the second time I have come to the College, and I am glad to have the opportunity to observe the progress of the College over the period of the last few months.”

The NBME^® was founded in 1915 in Philadelphia, USA with the mission to protect the health of the public through state-of-the-art assessments worldwide, along with a major commitment to research and development in evaluation and measurement.  The NBME^® develops and manages the United States Medical Licensing Examination^® (USMLE^®). Carrying out the NBME^®’s mission, the IFOM examinations measure the core knowledge expected internationally of students at critical points in their undergraduate medical education.

The Center for Entrepreneurship (CFE) at Qatar University College of Business and Economics (QU-CBE) organized and hosted the “Entrepreneurship Day 2017” on February 22, aimed at introducing QU students to entrepreneurship and at familiarizing them with the various services and activities provided by CFE.

The event, which was sponsored by the Commercial Bank of Qatar, was attended by CBE Dean Dr Khalid Shams M A Al-Abdulqader, CFE Director Dr Mahmoud Abdellatif, and AGM Head of Sadara Commercial Bank Ms Bouchra Sebbata, and other officials from the Commercial Bank as well as CBE faculty, staff, and students. The event’s program included an opening speech by Dr Khalid Shams M A Al-Abdulqader, a presentation on CFE activities in 2017 by Dr Mahmoud Abdellatif, entrepreneurs success stories by five entrepreneurs from QU, and an entrepreneurship feedback workshop.

It also included the distribution of awards to the winners of the three best entrepreneurship success stories. 1^st place winner was QU Recruitment Specialist Mr Othman Al-Minhas for his story entitled “Xdensity”, 2^nd place winner was QU Associate Professor of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Dr John-John Cabibihan for his story entitled “Tin Can Wearable Technologies”, and 3^rd place winner was Fatima Jafar Qaedi for her story “QU ID”. In his remarks, Dr Khalid Shams M A Al-Abdulqader said: “This event demonstrates the continuous efforts of Qatar University in general and the College of Business and Economics in particular to support entrepreneurship within and outside the University, and to promote the relationship between QU students and entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship institutions in Qatar.”

He added: “Qatar University is committed to contributing to the fulfillment of the objectives of Qatar National Vision 2030. In this regard, the University continues to deliver on its mission to drive forward human development by offering high-quality academic programs, which contribute to building the generation of future national leaders. Additionally, the organization is well-placed as a key partner in the achievement of a sustainable economic development. This is reflected in its efforts to establish an economic diversity, to invest in research to create a knowledge-based economy, and to support entrepreneurial initiatives and SMEs.”

Dr Mahmoud Abdellatif said: “This event reflects CFE’s efforts to support SMEs and the national economy and aspirations towards a knowledge-based economy.” Commercial Bank of Qatar CEO Mr Joseph Abraham said: “As Qatar’s first private sector bank, the Commercial Bank of Qatar is pleased to support the invaluable initiatives of Qatar University to promote a culture of entrepreneurship and innovation among youth. The Commercial Bank of Qatar is committed to supporting entrepreneurial projects in line with Qatar National Vision 2030 and the national aspirations towards a knowledge-based economy.”