QU’s CAS and Gulf Studies Center organize conference on Knowledge Economy in Qatar

Qatar University’s (QU) Department of International Affairs at the College of Arts & Sciences (CAS) and QU’s Gulf Studies Center (GSC) launched a conference on “Knowledge Economy in Qatar: Trends and Opportunities for Interdisciplinary Research and Policy,” from 27-28 October 2019. A number of dignitaries, university officials, faculty and staff attended the conference, including QU President Dr. Hassan Al-Derham and those interested in the topic of knowledge-economies.

The two-day conference included a number of research sessions that discussed economic diversification and knowledge-economies, innovation and research development; education and learning; entrepreneurship; and global experiences in knowledge-economies.

Dean of CAS Prof. Ibrahim AlKaabi, spoke at the conference and stressed that diversifying the economy and moving towards a knowledge-based economy is the direction that countries are moving towards in order to get ahead. Prof. Al-Kaabi expressed his happiness at participating in the opening of the conference, asserting that the State of Qatar considers knowledge an essential component of Qatar National Vision 2030. Knowledge-economies, he says, contribute to sustainable development. Prof. Al-Kaabi also mentioned that the college strives to achieve this vision through its various programs and the expansion of its post-graduate offerings and research. The college also brings together local and global experts in conferences such as this one to increase interest in information technology, communication, entrepreneurship, in an effort to raise awareness about the importance of knowledge-economies.

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Chief Strategy & Development Officer at QU, Dr. Darwish Al-Emadi was also present at the conference and spoke about the importance of knowledge-economies, pointing out that the current Qatar University strategy stems from Qatar National Vision 2030, as economic success depends on the ability to harness knowledge and develop its economy. Dr. Al-Emadi pointed out that that State of Qatar aims to build an educational system based on innovation. The world improved with the agricultural revolution, he says, then the industrial revolution, then in 1960 the information revolution, which has lasted until today, and where the term knowledge-economy was coined.

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Dr. Hatem Mhenni from Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF) spoke about the funds history in supporting scientific research since its inception in Qatar Foundation (QF) 14 years ago. Dr. Mhenni illustrated how QNRF supports research within the framework of Qatar’s strategy that focuses on scientific research as a means to achieving sustainable development and transitioning towards a knowledge-economy. Director of the GSC Dr. Mahjoob Zweiri stressed the importance of partnerships in generating ideas that can lead to development and benefit people. He said the center works to transform ideas from theory to development. 

Dr. Zweiri spoke about the center obtaining funding for a research grant on the subject of sanctions, which will be a qualitative addition to the work and research the center conducts in the name of serving the Qatar community.