Qatar University (QU) launched a plan to accommodate the national students who have been affected by the Qatar-Gulf crisis.

During the crisis outbreak, the national students at the siege countries (Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain) were enforced to leave immediately their country of residence. Hence, they were not allowed to pursue their studies at universities in Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain.

QU VP for Student Affairs Dr Khalid Al-Khanji (pictured) noted QU Student Affairs Sector is currently assessing, in collaboration with QU Academic Affairs and in coordination with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, the status of the affected students to find the efficient solutions that are of the benefit of the University and the students. He said: “Meanwhile, QU has implemented a primary admission plan to enroll the national students at the siege countries as visiting students at QU for the Summer and Fall semesters, until a final solution is defined.”

He added: “QU is the premiere national institution of higher education in Qatar. It offers high-quality academic programs that contribute to equipping its graduates with the abilities and skills that enable them to build the country’s future.”

The Aquatic Center at Qatar University (QU) Sports Activities Department launched an underwater version of the iconic Tamim Al Majd (Glorious Tamim) billboard. The new billboard was established in the swimming pool at QU Male Water Sports Complex, in collaboration with QU Diving Club, Aspire Academy, Civil Defence, Coast and Borders Security Department, Elite Dive Academy, Freediving Association, Hamad Aquatic Centre, Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya), and Poseidon Dive Center.

QU members will be able to access the underwater Tamim Al Majd (Glorious Tamim) billboard till August 13. Professional divers will be on hand to assist them. QU Vice President for Student Affairs, Dr Khalid Al Khanji, said: “This initiative reflects our role and social responsibility as a national university that actively interacts with the current circumstances. This new billboard will provide QU members with the opportunity to express their appreciation and loyalty to Qatar. It also reflects the country’s social solidarity and unity during the current situation.” Manager of Sports and Recreation Activities, Asmaa Al Naemi, said: “We, at the Sports Activities Department, thought of a creative way to express our love to our beloved country and its wise leadership. We came up with the idea of launching an underwater Tamim Al Majd billboard to voice our belonging and support to His Highness the Emir and to Qatar.

All QU members are encouraged to express their sincere appreciation and gratitude to our generous country.” QU Diving Club Head and third-year student (QU College of Business and Economics) Mohammed Al Bourshid said: “This initiative reflects our solidarity and loyalty during the current situation in Qatar. I would like to express my gratitude to QU administration for welcoming and implementing the underwater billboard idea. I would also like to thank all the institutions that supported and participated in this event.” Sport Science Program student (QU College of Arts and Sciences) Bahaa Mohammed said: “The underwater billboard reflects QU support to the country’s wise leadership. I came here today to express my appreciation and gratitude to the country that raised and educated me.”

Qatar University (QU) will hold a seminar titled “The Gulf Crisis” on August 28 at the Sheraton Doha Resort & Convention Hotel, Salwa Banquet Hall.

Organized in collaboration with Brookings Doha Center, the event aims to discuss the impact of the blockade imposed on Qatar by Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE on the Gulf region’s security and stability and its socio-economic growth. The seminar will start at 6:30 pm and is open for the public. The event draws the participation of many experts and researchers from Qatar and Kuwait. They are QU College of Sharia and Islamic Studies Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies Dr Nayef bin Nahar, Director of Research at Brookings Doha Center Dr Nader Kabbani, Professor of Political Science at Kuwait University Dr Shafeeq Ghabra, and Associate Professor at Doha Institute for Graduate Studies Dr Ibrahim Fraihat.

The seminar is moderated by QU Gulf Studies Center (GSC) Director Dr Abdullah Baabood. The program agenda features four sessions on the impact of the Gulf crisis on the Gulf Cooperation Council’s system, the economic impact of the Gulf crisis on the region, the impact of the Gulf crisis on the Gulf region’s system, and the impact of the crisis on the Gulf region’s stability and security.

Qatar University (QU) was awarded the largest number of grants in the 10th cycle of National Priorities Research Program (NPRP), a flagship program of Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF).

29 proposals out of a total of 85 submissions have achieved awards, translating to 34% of the total awarded proposals -- the highest among awarded institutes in Qatar. The 29 proposals cover the areas of translational research, experimental development, and applied research. These include 19 proposals by the College of Engineering (CENG), four proposals by the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), three proposals by the Center for Advanced Materials (CAM), two proposals by the College of Business and Economics (CBE), and one proposal by the Biomedical Research Center (BRC).

Additionally, QU was awarded USD513,195 for 25 proposals in the 21st cycle of QNRF’s  Undergraduate Research Experience Program (UREP). The awarded proposals cover various areas such as natural sciences, engineering and technology, medical and health sciences, and social sciences and humanities. A total of 54 researchers and staff and 111 students across QU colleges and centers are engaged in these proposals.

Commenting on this achievement, QU Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies Prof Mariam Al-Maadeed noted that QU is very active in addressing the research areas of the Qatar National Research Strategy. She said: “I congratulate our faculty and students for this great achievement. This proves that the University is moving in the right direction through its research by tackling topics of national priorities. This is also a step towards the realization of the vision of His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani who, in his latest address to the nation, expressed the need to develop academic institutes and to focus on research and innovation. I am thankful to QNRF for recognizing the true talents of our faculty and students.”

Director of Research Support at Qatar University Dr Aiman Erbad said: “QU has nine colleges and five main research centers that tackle issues of national priority and train the new generation of researchers to help Qatar to fulfill the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030. The Qatar National Research Fund has been supportive of QU throughout the development of its research infrastructure and the achievement of cutting-edge research.” He added: “QU has managed to build a large research network with collaborators from different parts of the world. The NPRP’s 10th cycle has more focused research priorities and encourages the co-funding of industrial partners to help increase the research impact. Critical areas such as cyber security, diabetes, oils and gas, and entrepreneurship are part of the new research priorities.”

Over the past years, QU has achieved a steady progress in its research activities and the number of grants awarded by various entities. Over the last five years, QU’s research program has witnessed a tremendous growth with the faculty output being doubled between 2013-2017.

Qatar University (QU) yesterday held a seminar to discuss the blockade imposed on Qatar by Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE and its impact on the Gulf region’s security and stability and its socio-economic growth.

Themed “The Gulf Crisis and the Region”, the event is organized in collaboration with the Brookings Doha Center. It was held at the Sheraton Doha Resort & Convention Hotel, Salwa Banquet Hall. Attendees included QU President Dr Hassan Al Derham, VPs, politicians, prominent figures, and a large number of academics, researchers, and representatives of the local and international media, as well as QU faculty, staff and students. The seminar was moderated by QU Gulf Studies Center (GSC) Director Dr Abdullah Baabood, and drew the participation of experts and researchers from Qatar and Kuwait.

The program agenda featured four sessions titled “the impact of the Gulf crisis on the Gulf Cooperation Council’s system”, “the economic impact of the Gulf crisis on the region”, “the impact of the Gulf crisis on the Gulf region’s system” and “the impact of the crisis on the Gulf region’s stability and security”. They were presented by QU College of Sharia and Islamic Studies Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies Dr Nayef bin Nahar, Director of Research at Brookings Doha Center Dr Nader Kabbani, Professor of Political Science at Kuwait University Dr Shafeeq Ghabra, and Associate Professor at Doha Institute for Graduate Studies Dr Ibrahim Fraihat.

In his remarks, Dr Abdullah Baabood said: “This is the first seminar that Qatar University organizes as part of a series of sessions, workshops, and researches that the University is going to conduct during the upcoming academic year for the purpose of understanding the current Gulf crisis and give QU students an opportunity to exchange their ideas with experts and researchers. This seminar reflects the mutual relationship between academic and research institutions in Qatar that aims at investigating the current Gulf crisis and its impact on the GCC countries and the region”.

Dr Nader Kabbani said: “The economic aspects of the crisis not only have political implications, but economic costs across all parties. This crisis draws attention away from impending strategic, economic, and security challenges that need diplomacy between the countries involved in order to find long-term resolutions”.

Dr Nayef bin Nahar said: “Since over 36 years, the leadership of the GCC countries meet annually to discuss regional and international issues but they are not acting as a cooperation. The GCC countries are not agreed on specifying their enemy which causes security conflict between them. There unavailability of a clear definition of security among the GCC countries. The biggest mistake that GCC countries committed during this crisis is not solving the conflict within the GCC house. Shifting the conflict from local to international level helps escalating the crisis in a negative way”.

Dr Shafeeq Ghabra said: “During this crisis, we have realized that there will be no future for the GGC without having an effective mechanism to solve crisis with effective involvement of people. From my perspective, it is not logical when we revisit the crisis to say that Al Jazeera is the reason behind this crisis. This is nonsense. Al Jazeera causes no harm and negative consequences of the GCC crisis have been popped up when the blockading countries have imposed political and social monopoly over their nation. The reason behind this crisis in unknown yet but we may say that the existence of Trump in the region had escalated the crisis between the GCC countries. The current situation is not static and is changing continuously. Qatar is smart enough to take all the mediations possible to resolve this issue. The solution is to believe in the Kuwaiti mediation with a hope to solve this dilemma soon”.

Dr Ibrahim Fraihat said: “During the past years and since the invasion of Kuwait, the Gulf region depends on one component of security; the existence of the USA. Now, we have different and multiple providers of security, which have their own interests and agenda. This situation has its own threats and challenges and GCC leaders should be aware of the consequences of this situation before we turn the region into a battle field due to conflict of interests”. 

Qatar University (QU) has been ranked among the top 500 universities in the world in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2018. The achievement was announced on the THE’s website on September 5 whereby QU was ranked in the range of 401-500 most highly ranked universities and third among the universities in the Arab region.

The THE World University Rankings 2018 are the only global university performance table to judge research-intensive universities across all of their core missions: teaching, research, knowledge transfer and international outlook. They use 13 carefully calibrated performance indicators to provide the most comprehensive and balanced comparisons, trusted by students, academics, university leaders, industry and governments. The performance indicators are grouped into five areas: Teaching -- the learning environment (30%); Research -- volume, income and reputation (30%); Citations -- research influence (30%); International outlook -- staff, students and research (7.5%); and Industry income -- knowledge transfer (2.5%).

Commenting on this achievement, QU President Dr Hassan Al Derham said: “Being ranked among the top 500 universities in the world in the THE World University Rankings 2018, and third among the universities in the Arab region is an important milestone to QU. This demonstrates the University’s excellence in the field of higher education and research at the local and regional level. The new ranking highlights the reputation that QU has built over the years, and in this occasion I would like to thank the entire QU community for their contribution towards this proud achievement.”

Dr Al Derham also noted that QU will continue its commitment to providing high-quality academic and research outcomes and to fulfilling local and regional needs, while striving towards international standards and best practices.”

The Parent Program Unit at Qatar University’s (QU) Admissions Department will hold an orientation session for new students’ parents on September 16 at QU Ibn Khaldoon Hall.

The event aims to highlight the important role of parents in supporting their children’s learning experience and to encourage them to stay abreast of the developments and changes at the University. Parents will be oriented on the QU community and QU’s services, resources and facilities. The program agenda features four sessions themed “Welcome Change”, “A Parent Piece of Advice”, “Journey of Transition to QU”, and “Fruits of Success”. Discussions will shed light on the challenges that a new student may encounter during the first academic year and the information parents need to get from fundamental departments and units to cope with that.

The event will be followed by a Q&A session as well as a campus tour to familiarize the parents on QU’s facilities and services.

More than 100 students from four of Qatar’s leading healthcare colleges convened at Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q) for a day of inter-professional education (IPE) workshops designed to foster collaboration among trainees of four different health professions. 

A total of 116 students comprising trainee pharmacists, doctors, nurses and respiratory therapists from Qatar University College of Pharmacy (QU CPH), WCM-Q, University of Calgary in Qatar (UCQ) and the College of the North Atlantic - Qatar (CNA-Q) respectively, met at WCM-Q to learn vital collaborative working skills to help them deliver coordinated care packages when they enter the healthcare profession after graduation. This was the sixth IPE session to be held by these colleges during the 2016-17 academic year, and the second to be held at WCM-Q. IPE activities are organized by the Inter-Professional Education Committee (IPEC), which convenes at Qatar University and includes representatives from most of the healthcare colleges in Qatar. 

After an icebreaker session the students worked in groups to consider care scenarios in which an elderly female patient had been admitted to hospital following a stroke. In each training scenario the students were presented with different challenges, such as the patient suffering from pneumonia, an outbreak of flu at the hospital that caused regular nurses to be replaced by inexperienced agency staff, and the patient having a severe allergic reaction to her medication.

The students of all four professions worked from the same evidence-based literature on systems-based healthcare and effective patient sign-off procedures, which they discussed in groups, learning from each other’s impressions of the material. They then applied the theories put forth in the literature to analyze a patient’s journey through hospital, identifying the points at which safety ‘breakpoints’ that compromised the patient’s health occurred, and proposing ways these errors could be prevented. The students gained key knowledge of dealing with systems issues such as ways to work safely despite disruptive challenges, including staff shortages, shift changes and issues with electronic health records. This is very pertinent as Qatar’s healthcare sector relies heavily on electronic health records, which, when used effectively, can minimize medical errors.

WCM-Q second-year medical student Nasser Binmarzook said: “I think this form of collaborative learning is very beneficial. We know that we will need to work closely with other healthcare professionals in order to serve our patients so it is essential to understand how nurses, pharmacists and respiratory therapists work and how our different skills can complement one another. It is good to begin learning to communicate with one another effectively at this early stage.” Katarina de Pedro, a third-year respiratory therapy student at the College of the North Atlantic - Qatar, said: “I really learned a lot from this session. For me, the most valuable thing was simply beginning to communicate with people from other professions. It’s clear that good communication is really key to providing good care to patients.”

Inter-professional education has emerged as a key element in the training of healthcare professionals in recent years in response to developments in medical science that have made care packages more sophisticated and complex. As such, WCM-Q, QU CPH, UCQ and CNA-Q have united to form and support communities of inter-professional learners. The learning objectives and case study scenarios for this IPE activity were developed collaboratively by faculty from each of the four colleges prior to the event, and delivered by 20 experienced faculty members who facilitated the activity.

Ikram Zoukh, a second-year student at Qatar University’s College of Pharmacy, said: “It was amazing – I discovered so many things about the other health professionals that I didn’t know. I think we all found it extremely helpful to come together and actually interact and work with students from other health professions rather than simply learning about what they do from a book. I’m very excited to take part in other inter-professional education exercises during my training.” Hodan Ahmed, a second-year nursing student at University of Calgary in Qatar, said: “This was my first experience of joint learning with doctors, pharmacists and respiratory therapists and I think it was very useful. I think that learning together while we are still training makes it far easier to communicate with one another than if we were to wait until we are all fully qualified and already busy in the hospital.”

A team from the Environment and Sustainability Section at Qatar University’s (QU) Facilities and General Services Department has calculated the QU’s carbon footprint, covering the period from 2013 to 2015, as part of the University’s Sustainability Initiative, a strategic commitment to environmental sustainability through research, teaching, and operational activities.

The team included QU Environmental and Sustainability Specialist Eng Mays Abdalla and student from QU College of Arts and Sciences Khan Mohammed Sazzadur Rahman. It is led by QU’s Facilities and General Services Department Environmental and Sustainability Specialist Eng Husameldin Talballa. The collection of data on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions on campus aims to calculate QU’s carbon footprint. It is crucial to set reduction goals and make the University more sustainable.

To define the campus carbon footprint, the team followed the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (2004) guidelines that provide standards and guidance for companies and organizations to prepare a GHG emissions inventory. It includes accounting and reporting of the six types of greenhouse gases covered by the Kyoto Protocol: carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), nitrous oxide (N₂O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆).  The amount of gases emitted was reported in carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e), which is the standard unit for measuring carbon footprints.

The results revealed that the average amount of emissions per person (staff and students) on QU campus was 3.33 metric tons of CO₂e (carbon dioxide equivalent) in 2015, while the total campus carbon footprint was 63732.98 metric tons of CO₂e over the same time period.Eng Husameldin Talballa noted that 2015 values provide the baseline for developing sound strategies, programs and projects, and that QU is the first university in the GCC region to measure its campus carbon footprint as an operational exercise. He added that this should be followed with creating QU sustainability network, with the aim of building an expertise base that will exchange ideas on issues related to carbon emissions, and raise awareness on the importance of adopting more sustainable practices both on and outside the campus. He also noted that the team followed the internationally recognized Campus Carbon Calculator™ guide, issued by the Sustainability Institute at the University of New Hampshire (UNH).

He added: “The approach defines three levels of responsibility for emissions, and suggests that an entity’s responsibility for emissions is directly related to its control over, or ownership of, the sources of those emissions. This includes accounting for direct emissions from sources that are owned and/or controlled by the institution, indirect emissions from sources that are neither owned nor operated by the institution but whose products are directly linked to on-campus energy consumption, and other emissions attributed to the institution, deemed "optional" emissions by corporate inventories.”

QU’s Facilities and General Services Department Director Eng Mohsin Al-Hajri noted that QU Campus Carbon Footprint analysis for 2013-2015 will serve to develop and implement a Climate Management Plan to reduce on-campus carbon emissions. He said: “QU continues to be a key partner in promoting sustainable development in Qatar, keeping with national development strategies to increase awareness of the need to protect Qatar’s natural environment, and its importance for the country’s growth and development.”

Qatar University (QU) yesterday announced the academic accreditation of its colleges of Education (CED), Engineering (CENG), and Health Sciences (CHS) at a press conference.

Details of the accreditation were outlined by CED Dean Dr Ahmed Al Emadi, CENG Dean Dr Khalifa Al-Khalifa, and CHS Human Nutrition Department Head Dr Tahra El-Obeid in the presence of QU President Dr Hassan Al Derham, QU VP for Academic Affairs Dr Omar Al Ansari, QU officials, faculty and staff, as well as the representatives of the local media. By achieving this new academic accreditation, the total number of accredited programs at QU increased to 37.

CED was awarded a 5-year accreditation by the Specialized Professional Association (SPA)/Teachers of English to Students of Other Languages (TESOL) for its Bachelor of Education in Secondary Education/English. The College also achieved a 5-year accreditation by the SPA/Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) for its Masters of Education in Special Education (MSPED), and a 5-year accreditation by the SPA/Teachers of English to Students of Other Languages (TESOL) for its Diploma in Secondary Education/English.

CENG was awarded renewal of its five-year accreditation by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) for seven of its undergraduate programs -- Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial and Systems Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Computer Science. ABET accreditation is the hallmark of excellence in applied and natural science, computing, engineering and engineering technology. CHS Department of Human Nutrition was awarded a seven-year accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND). The ACEND accreditation has been awarded to three universities outside the United States – QU (Qatar), Kyung Hee University (South Korea) and Universidad Iberoamericana (Mexico), making QU the first university in the Middle East to achieve this accreditation.

Commenting on this achievement, Dr Hassan Al Derham said: “The new academic accreditation adds value to QU colleges’ numerous achievements. It reflects QU’s commitment to advance the quality of its programs and the level of its graduates, and the University’s ongoing efforts to strengthen links with the industry. Accreditation is a very important process to improve the learning outcomes and to ensure that they align with the needs of the labor market. I applaud the efforts of the deans, faculty, and staff in contributing to this achievement.”

Dr Ahmed Al Emadi said: “By achieving academic accreditation, CED reinforces its position as the first national college of education to prepare professional educators who are able to serve the community and meet the needs of the labor market, in line with international standards. This achievement attests to the quality of the educational programs offered at CED and demonstrates the College’s commitment to ensure quality assurance and to provide an optimal learning environment that contributes to shaping the future leaders in the field of education, research and community service.”

Dr Khalifa Al-Khalifa said: “CENG has started a systematic process to apply quality assurance to all its programs. The College continued its efforts of re-evaluation of its programs and its academic and research goals, in line with the requirements of its accredited status. ABET highlighted in its assessment report the strong links that CENG has built with the labor market, promoting student engagement in local, regional and international activities that develop their skills and capacities.” CHS Dean and QU Biomedical Research Center Director Dr Asma Al-Thani said: “The achievement of the ACEND accreditation is a testament that CHS Department of Human Nutrition meets the educational standards of ACEND and that it provides its students with the required knowledge, skills, and competencies to join the dietetics profession. CHS continues in its efforts to offer quality education and to graduate highly qualified national professionals who will contribute to advancing the health care sector.”

Dr Tahra El-Obeid said: “The achievement of the ACEND accreditation attests to the quality of the programs offered by the Department of Human Nutrition and demonstrates their alignment with international standards. This also shows that the College of Health Sciences at Qatar University contributes to shaping nutrition professionals to join the labor market. This achievement also required the intensive development of the department’s study plan and its alignment with the ACEND competencies to graduate highly skilled nutritionists. The developed program includes a one-year practical training to give the graduates hands-on experience and to enable them to join the profession.” 

Qatar University (QU) Health and Al-Ahli Hospital signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on September 18 to establish collaboration in the field of education, research and clinical training.

The MoU was signed by QU Vice President for Medical and Health Sciences and Dean of the College of Medicine (CMED) Dr Egon Toft and Al-Ahli Hospital Deputy CEO and Director of Projects & MediCare Mr Jamal Saleh Hammad in the presence of officials from QU and Al-Ahli Hospital, as well as QU Health faculty and staff.

In the terms of the MoU, QU Health and Al-Ahli Hospital will offer and participate in Continuing Medical Education (CME) and Continuous Professional Development (CPD) activities; and will promote and perform joint research projects in areas of mutual interest to generate new scientific and practical results which are applicable to Qatar. Both institutions will also cooperate to provide students with clinical training, based on the areas relevant to Al-Ahli Hospital’s scope of service. Other areas of collaboration include the exchange of information related to teaching and research in fields of mutual interest; the exchange of publications, reports, or academic material; as well as the cross-appointments for faculty members working at QU and in clinical settings.

In his remarks, Dr Egon Toft said: “This MoU will jointly benefit QU and Al-Ahli Hospital in their respective roles as key partners in contributing to the National Health Strategy. Our collaboration with Al-Ahli Hospital will enrich the academic and research experience of our medical and health students to build their capacity and prepare them for leadership roles within the health care sector. It also highlights QU Health’s vision to become a catalyst for innovation at the national level and to be recognized regionally for excellence in inter-professional health education and interdisciplinary health research. We strongly believe that this cooperation will lead towards more success and excellence.”

Mr Jamal Saleh Hammad stressed on Al-Ahli Hospital’s role in the private sector to integrate with other public institutions in the field of health care, teaching and education for the benefit of citizens and expats in terms of quality service. He also noted that Al-Ahli Hospital considers this as part of its corporate social responsibility. 

The Office of Research Support and Graduate studies at Qatar University (QU) hosted a training program for research administration professionals during the second week of September. Around 50 professionals from QU and other higher education institutes in Qatar took part in the program.

Themed “Fundamentals of Sponsored Projects Administration”, the training program is organized in collaboration with the National Council of University Research Administrators (NCURA). It aimed to provide the participants with an overview of the various aspects involved in sponsored projects administration, including preparation and review of proposals, negotiation and acceptance of awards, financial and administrative management, and closeout and audit, as well as the relevant compliance issues. It is designed for professionals involved in the administration of sponsored projects at higher education and research institutions.

Speakers were California Institute of Technology Office of Sponsored Research Director David Mayo and University of Wisconsin-Madison Director of Research Financial Services, Research and Sponsored Programs Robert Andresen.They discussed several critical topics such as the difference between grants, contracts and cooperative agreements, the underlying legal framework surrounding sponsored projects, co-funding with end-users, audit and compliance, and ways of finding sources of funding. Individuals who successfully completed the training program received 16.5 Continuing Education Credits, which are recognized credits to provide a record of an individual’s continuing education accomplishments and which can be used as educational credits for certification. Certificates were also issued to those who completed the course.

Commenting on the importance of the training program, QU Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies Prof Mariam Al-Maadeed said: “Qatar University has always been on the forefront to meet the research challenges of the country and therefore we conducted this training session. It was a very important event for the University as it sharpened the skills of the administrators and provided them with new tips and tools in research administration. I am confident that the participants at this program have gained more insights and will become better administrators leading to the realization of the Human Development Pillar of Qatar National Vision 2030.”

QU Research Support Director Dr Aiman Erbad said: “Research administration is becoming a sub-field of administration with unique challenges. Qatar University hosted experts from the National Council of University Research Administrators (NCURA) to share experience with our team and other participants from Qatar. This training allowed research administration professionals to develop their skills and get answers to their daily operational challenges. Qatar University also invited participants from different research offices in Qatar to build a community of research administrators in Qatar and increase collaboration among local entities.”

Qatar University (QU) yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sidra Medical and Research Center (Sidra) to establish collaboration in the field of education, clinical training, and research.

The MoU was signed by QU President Dr Hassan Al Derham and Sidra Chief Executive Officer Mr Peter Morris in the presence of QU Vice President for Medical and Health Sciences and Dean of the College of Medicine (CMED) Dr Egon Toft, Dean of QU College of Pharmacy (CPH) Dr Mohammad Diab, and officials from both institutions as well as QU faculty and staff.

The terms of the MoU include collaboration between QU and Sidra on medical and health research through the establishment of joint research projects in line with Qatar’s national priorities and the National Research Strategy, and through the cross-funding of joint research and graduate student projects. They also include cross appointments whereby Sidra health practitioners will co-supervise QU students and deliver specific courses and lectures at QU, and QU clinical staff will carry out patient-care responsibilities at Sidra and gain access to facilities relevant to their teaching and research interests at Sidra.

Both institutions will also collaborate on the design and implementation of continuing professional development activities in the field of pharmacy, health sciences and medical education. Other areas of collaboration include the provision of scholarships and student sponsorship to QU students in health related programs, and the organization of joint conferences, seminars, workshops, and health-awareness and outreach activities. Commenting on the agreement, Dr Hassan Al Derham said: “It is a great pleasure to sign the second MoU within this week and this time with Sidra Medical and Research Center, one of the world-class research centers. This MoU will provide the members of QU Health with opportunities to work together with Sidra’s researchers. Health care and wellness are one of QU’s health priorities, and through this MoU, both institutions will organize joint conferences and workshops.”

Mr Peter Morris said: “Sidra is built on a foundation of three pillars -- patient care, biomedical research and medical education. Our partnership with QU is an exemplary showcase of our collaboration across all three pillars. This is the start of a strong relationship that will help establishing collaborative pathways that will change lives. Not only that of the young professionals coming out of QU, but also how our joint efforts will impact on the health care needs of the women and children of Qatar.” Dr Egon Toft said: “This agreement highlights QU Health’s commitment to address the increasing need for high-qualified doctors, and to support the country’s national strategies in health care and education. We hope that through shared areas of interest we can create the necessary platform for relevant research and ultimately contribute to advancing the health care sector in Qatar.”

The Office of Graduate Studies at Qatar University (QU) recently held the 2017 Graduate Student Orientation Day for new students aimed to familiarize them on the academic policies and procedures as well as the office’s services.

Around 250 new graduate students attended the event. They got insight into the major policies that are crucial for new students such as class attendance, academic load, withdrawal, and probation or dismissal. They also had the opportunity to meet and interact with the staff members of the Office of Graduate Studies.

Attending the event were QU Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies Prof Mariam Al-Maadeed, QU Dean of Graduate Studies Dr Ahmed El-Zatahry, QU Assistant Dean of Graduate Studies for Student Affairs Ms Ghada Al-Kuwari, QU Office of Graduate Studies Senior Program Development and Coordination Specialist Dr Mary El-Mereedi, and QU Research and Graduate Studies Office Senior Student Affairs Specialist (Registration) Ms Amna Al-Suliti, as well as associate deans of Graduate Studies at QU colleges.

Dr Ahmed El-Zatahry said: “Your interest in QU research programs will help in generating new concepts, innovations, collaborations and developments. It is an opportunity for you to become instrumental in identifying solutions for several national challenges, thus contributing to the Qatar National Vision 2030.” Ms Ghada Al-Kuwari said: “Our graduate policies and procedures have been developed to ensure our programs’ consistency as well as to simplify student life on campus by providing a clear means for addressing potential problems. All university policies are vitally important to student success and the Graduate Student Affairs has worked extensively to provide access to these policies in both Arabic and English.”

Elaborating on graduate academic support, Dr Mary El-Mereedi said: “The Graduate Academic Support Unit (GASU) under the Office of Graduate Studies provides a variety of academic support services to graduate students, particularly relating to thesis and dissertation writing. These services include TAD writing groups, graduate writing workshops, and one-on-one tutoring sessions by appointment.” She also noted that GASU organizes a number of professional development sessions for graduate students and facilitates graduate faculty mentoring workshops designed to enhance the graduate student-mentor relationship.

Qatar University College of Engineering (QU-CENG) yesterday held the first session of the Distinguished Speakers Series aiming at hosting high achieving leaders from the field of business and industry, who contributed to Qatar’s development and individuals’ lives.

Attending the event were QU President Dr Hassan Al Derham, QU and Qatar Petroleum (QP) officials, and QU faculty and staff. The speaking guest was QP President and CEO Eng Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi. Eng Al-Kaabi highlighted Qatar’s ongoing efforts to drive forward the education sector in line with the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030 and the Human Development Strategy. He said: “The State of Qatar continues in its efforts to encourage the youth to develop their professional abilities and to assume leadership roles in various fields in order to contribute to the country’s development and growth.”

He noted that QP provides Qatar’s youth with various activities and training and professional development opportunities to uplift their skills and competencies and to enable them to compete with their peers at international well-renowned oil and gas companies. He also noted that QP is a leading national organization fully managed by Qatari nationals and home to highly qualified staff and distinguished expertise in various technical and administrative fields.

CENG Dean Dr Khalifa Al-Khalifa said: “This event comes as a part of CENG commitment to community engagement and to introduce the QU community and the wider community to the success stories of prominent leaders. The Distinguished Speakers Series targets the youth who need to develop their capacities and skills and to make best use of their resources in order to excel in their respective fields and become the nation’s future leaders.”

The new academic year was inaugurated yesterday with the Annual Convocation address in which Qatar University (QU) President Dr Hassan Al Derham highlighted the organization’s achievements over the last academic year and its continuing efforts to meets the labor market’s needs and to provide an optimal learning environment to ensure student success.

The event was attended by QU leadership, deans, heads of departments, program directors, faculty members, staff, students and alumni. Dr Al Derham also honored QU members in various categories -- Outstanding Teaching Award, Merit Award, Media Award, Employee of the Year Award, and Young Alumnus Award.

Dr Al Derham welcomed the audience and the new faculty members and administrative staff who recently joined the QU family, wishing them a successful year. He said: “QU has always played a pivotal role in providing efficient solutions to the society’s concerns while fulfilling its aspirations and needs. There is no doubt that the unjust blockade imposed on Qatar is a decisive moment in the country’s history and a huge challenge to each institution and individual. In this context, we provided support to the students who are enrolled in universities at the siege countries to help them pursue their education. Hence, we established a committee to develop a plan for the preparation and implementation of events, lectures and seminars that are related to the blockade, reflecting QU’s role as an incubator for thoughts.”

Dr Al Derham noted that QU’s new strategic plan for 2018-2022 is a roadmap for the transition from the reform phase to the full transformation phase. He said: “The organization’s strategic plan started with an in-depth analysis of the challenges such as the academic risks that a large number of students may face, the small number of Qatari students who are enrolled in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) programs, the gap between the University’s outcomes and the ever-changing needs of the labor market, and the limited social and economic impact of research, among many others.”

He added: “In light of these challenges, it is necessary to place the student at the center of the planning and implementation process and to identify our values. The objectives and details of the new strategic plan will be announced to QU’s members in the upcoming weeks.”

On QU’s most recent achievements in ranking, Dr Al Derham said: “QU has been ranked 349 among the top universities in the world, 4^th in the GCC and 5^th in the Arab region in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings 2018, improving on its 2017 performance by 44 places. The University has also been ranked 37 in the QS Top 50 Under 50 2018 ranking among the world’s leading young universities founded less than 50 years ago, and among the top 500 universities in the world in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2018, as well as 6^th in the pilot THE Top 15 Arab World Universities Ranking.” He added: “Ranking is an indicator and not a goal. Our main objective is to prepare highly qualified graduates who will contribute to building their country by providing them with quality education and opportunities for innovative research, as well as an inspirational and healthy learning environment.”

He also highlighted the recent achievement of the colleges of Education, Engineering, and Health Sciences in terms of academic accreditation and the graduation of six national students who have been pursuing their PhD degree abroad, wishing all success to the 85 scholarship holders who will add value to QU’s faculty body.

Dr Al Derham noted that QU witnessed considerable expansion in line with the country’s ever-increasing development. He also noted that the University recently launched five new undergraduate programs in Physical Education, Physical Therapy, Fundamental of Religion in Quran and Sunnah, Fundamental of Religion in Creed and Dawah, and Sharia in Fiqh and Usul.  He further noted that the research and graduate studies sector achieved a huge development, which is reflected by the increase of the research outcomes from 928 in 2014 to 1410 in 2016, at a percentage of 52%. “It is highly important to engage our students in research activities in order to improve their skills and abilities. In this regard, QU students participate through 531 research grants in 21 cycles of the Undergraduate Research Experience Program (UREP)”, he said.

Dr Al Derham also noted that QU has advanced its infrastructure and facilities via a range of building projects such as the inauguration of class halls for women and a gymnasium for men, as well as the student dormitories and the establishment of the Early Childhood Center (ESC). “This is part of QU’s commitment to providing its students with a supportive learning environment geared towards improved outcomes and success”, he said.

Following his address, Dr Al Derham distributed the following awards:

• Outstanding Teaching Award -- Mr Hasan Abdalla, Lecturer of Mathematics at QU College of Arts and Sciences (CAS).
• Outstanding Teaching Award runner-up -- Prof Farhan Mujahid Chak, CAS Associate Professor of International Affairs.
• Merit Award -- Prof Maha Khalil Al-Hendawi, Director of QU Core Curriculum Program, and Dr Ahmed Awaisu, Associate Professor of Clinical Pharmacy and Practice at QU College of Pharmacy.
• Media Award -- Dr Mohamed Kirat, CAS Professor of Public Relations, and Dr Mahjoob Zweiri, CAS Associate Professor of Modern History.
• Employee of the Year Award -- Ms Lolwa Al-Mansoori, Manager of Central Business Services at QU Social and Economic Survey Research Institute, and Mr Raouf Mohamed Neffati, Section Head of Student Information System.
• Young Alumnus Award -- Mr Issa Abdullah and Ms Alanoud Ali Alfohaidi.

A team from the Environment and Sustainability Section at Qatar University's (QU) Facilities and General Services Department has calculated the QU's carbon footprint, covering the period from 2013 to 2015.

The study was part of the University's Sustainability Initiative, a strategic commitment to environmental sustainability through research, teaching and operational activities. The team included QU Environmental and Sustainability Specialist Eng Mays Abdalla and student from QU College of Arts and Sciences Khan Mohammed Sazzadur Rahman. It was led by Eng Husameldin Talballa, environmental and sustainability specialist at QU's Facilities and General Services Department.

The collection of data on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions on the campus aimed to calculate QU's carbon footprint. It was crucial to set reduction goals and make the University more sustainable. To define the campus carbon footprint, the team followed the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (2004) guidelines that provide standards and guidance for companies and organisations to prepare a GHG emissions inventory. It includes accounting and reporting of the six types of greenhouse gases covered by the Kyoto Protocol: carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs) and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6). The amount of gases emitted was reported in carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e), which is the standard unit for measuring carbon footprints. 

The results revealed that the average amount of emissions per person (staff and students) on QU campus was 3.33 metric tonnes of CO2e in 2015, while the total campus carbon footprint was 63732.98 metric tonnes of CO2e over the same time period. 
Eng Talballa noted that 2015 values provided the baseline for developing sound strategies and programmes, and that QU is the first university in the GCC region to measure its campus carbon footprint as an operational exercise. He added that this should be followed with creating QU sustainability network, with the aim of building an expertise base that will exchange ideas on issues related to carbon emissions, and raise awareness on the importance of adopting more sustainable practices both on and outside the campus. 

QU's Facilities and General Services Department Director Eng Mohsin al Hajri noted that QU Campus Carbon Footprint analysis for 2013-2015 will serve to develop and implement a Climate Management Plan to reduce on-campus carbon emissions. He said:"The QU continues to be a key partner in promoting sustainable development in Qatar."

source: Qatar Tribune

The 14^th cycle of the “I am A Researcher” module of Qatar University’s (QU) Al-Bairaq Program was launched in a ceremony held at the University last Thursday.

The event was attended by QU Center for Advanced Materials (CAM) Manager of Outreach and Engagement and Al-Bairaq Supervisor Dr Noora Al-Thani and a large number of Grade 12 students and teachers from seven high schools in Qatar -- Tariq Bin Ziad Independent Secondary School for Boys, Al-Arqam Academy – Girls, Omar Bin Abdulaziz Secondary School for Boys, Al Bayan Educational Complex for Girls, Jassim bin Hamad Independent Secondary School for Boys, Aisha Bint Abi Bkr Independent Secondary School For Girls, and Omar ibn al-Khattab Secondary School for Boys.

Al-Bairaq promotes innovation, entrepreneurship and applied research in line with Qatar National Vision 2030, and the country’s ambitions towards a knowledge-based economy. It also stresses interdisciplinary research that can cover any and all STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) subjects. The Program is supported by UNESCO Doha Office (Partner), Qatar National Commission for Education, Culture and Science (Partner), RasGas Company Limited (gold sponsor), and Shell Qatar (silver sponsor).

In her remarks, Dr Noora Al-Thani said: “Al-Bairaq is a unique experience that motivates high school students to innovate and achieve their full potential through a wide range of projects that contribute to shaping their personalities and enhancing their critical-thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork skills. It is the result of the committed vision of QU to build a generation capable of research and development towards achieving a knowledge-based economy. It also highlights CAM’s commitment to promoting scientific culture and research from high school to university towards achieving the objectives and priorities of the State of Qatar.”

The Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs at Qatar University (QU) yesterday held a seminar on “The accusations against Qatar of supporting terrorism” aimed to address the issue of terrorism from an academic, legal and political perspective.

Speakers were QU College of Sharia and Islamic Studies (CSIS) Dean Dr Yousuf Al-Siddiqi, QU College of Law (LAWC) Dean Dr Mohamed Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi, and QU Professor of Political Sociology Dr Majed Al-Ansari. The seminar was moderated by QU Social and Economic Survey Research Institute (SESRI) Director Dr Hassan Abdulrahim Al-Sayed. Attendees included QU faculty, staff and students, as well as representatives of the local media.

Dr Hassan Abdulrahim Al-Sayed highlighted the different phases of the blockade imposed on Qatar. He noted that the blockade against Qatar is an ethical crisis at the first place, pointing to the speech of His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, in which he said: “We have been very saddened to see how some countries have used defamation and fictions against Qatar to stir political malice against us in the West. This is a disgrace under all norms: first because the allegations are baseless, and secondly because they have wrongfully prejudiced. Do we not teach our children at a young age that lying and malicious snitching are two of the worst vices? Is slander and tarnishing a reputation not a crime punishable by law in all civilized countries?”

Dr Yousuf Al-Siddiqi also pointed to the speech of His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, in which he said: “We must focus on the roots and causes of terrorism”. He noted that the cultural, economic and social blockade against Qatar caused a negative impact on the structure of the Gulf community and a violation to the traditions and values. He also noted that the list of the 13 demands issued by the siege countries is not backed by proof and focuses on two main issues -- shut down Al Jazeera and its affiliate stations and sever ties to the Muslim Brotherhood. He said: “Qatar plays a pivotal role on the regional and international arena. This caused the emergence of many adversaries among its neighboring countries, especially Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The State of Qatar does not follow any political agenda led by Saudi Arabia or any other country.”

Dr Yousuf Al-Siddiqi further noted that the political perspective of the blockade countries lies on military anticipation, substituting the concept of settlement with the concept of force, the concept of justice with the concept of blockade, and the concept of self-defense with the concept of terrorism. He said: “The blockade imposed on Qatar is a violation to the principles of the international law, and will cause new crises in the region such as the establishment of new military, political and economic alliances, and the division of the Gulf region and the UAE.”

Dr Mohamed Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi noted that the main three demands of the siege countries -- sever all ties to “terrorist organizations”, stop all means of funding for individuals, groups or organizations that have been designated as terrorists, and hand over “terrorist figures” and wanted individuals from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain to their countries of origin -- are a violation to the principles of the international law. He said: “The siege countries updated their list of demands and urged the other states to support them. This is a violation of a great number of international law principles such as the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs, the principle of equality in sovereignty, and the principle of implementing the international obligations in good faith and not to abandon them based on a unilateral will without reasonable justification, among many others.”

He also noted that the international law prohibits any country to impose its own law or definition of a specific term on another state. The siege countries do not have the right to provide a definition of terrorism and to impose it on other states, he said, adding, “There is no international law which obliges countries to hand over wanted individuals. Extradition occurs only when specific, bilateral treaties exist between countries. Extradition agreements usually decree that the offence which has triggered the extradition request must be considered a crime in both countries. Many treaties provide for political and human rights exemptions, which can prevent the extradition of a person who is accused of political crimes.”

Dr Majed Al-Ansari gave a brief overview on the analytical history of terrorism according to William Shughart, highlighting three stylized waves: terrorism in the service of national liberation and ethnic separatism, left-wing terrorism, and Islamist terrorism. He also pointed to the complexity of providing a specific definition to the term “terrorism”. He said: “Terror wars take the form of an unjustifiable targeting of civilians under the pretext of terrorism (Iraq and Afghanistan), repression of people under the pretext of terrorism (Egypt and Israel), and the extortion of governments under the pretext of terrorism (the blockade imposed on Qatar)”. 

The College of Business and Economics (CBE) at Qatar University (QU) yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Dlala Brokerage and Investment Holding Company to establish collaboration in the field of education, research and training.

The MoU was signed by QU Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr Omar Al-Ansari, on behalf of QU President Dr Hassan Al Derham, and Dlala Brokerage and Investment Holding Company CEO Dr Abdul Aziz Ali Al Hammadi, in the presence of CBE Dean Dr Khalid Shams M A Al-Abdulqader and officials from both institutions, as well as CBE faculty and staff. The terms of the MoU include collaboration between both institutions in the field of education, research and training, as well as the exchange of scientists and researchers for various instructional and training initiatives in the field of business, finance and information technology. Other areas of collaboration include the organization of joint conferences, seminars and workshops.

Commenting on the MoU, Dr Omar Al-Ansari said: “Since its inception, Qatar University is committed to strengthen links with institutions from the wider community and various sectors through the exchange of expertise, which contributes to Qatar’s socio-economic development. Qatar University places the economic sector and the labor market at the heart of its strategy. The University launched new academic programs, especially tailored to fulfill the national aspirations towards a knowledge-based economy. Our collaboration with Dlala Brokerage and Investment Holding Company will contribute to the exchange of knowledge and expertise, which is of the benefit of our students. It also underlines Qatar University’s pivotal role in the field of education. In this context, the University offers a wide range of academic programs especially designed to shape a generation of professionals who are well equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to realize the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030.”

Dr Abdul Aziz Ali Al Hammadi said: “It is a great honor to sign an agreement with Qatar University. This aligns with our goal to exchange best practices and experiences with the leading institutions in Qatar.” Dr Khalid Shams M A Al-Abdulqader said: “This MoU aims to establish collaboration in the field of research and training and to provide students with the opportunity to get hands-on experience, which is of the benefit of both the students and faculty members.”