Qatar University ExxonMobil Teachers Academy alumni meet for the first time

Qatar University ExxonMobil Teachers Academy alumni gathered for a two-day event in Doha last week, on the tails of the fourth edition of the academy. The event brought together more than 40 teachers who participated in previous academies to share lessons learned and discuss how the academy impacted their students, their classes and their teaching approaches in the classroom.

QU College of Education (CED) Dean Dr Hissa Sadiq said: “This event highlights the College’s position as a leading partner in education reform committed to promoting quality education that ultimately impacts students and their future success. It also highlights the College’s ongoing efforts to providing the wider community with learning and teaching strategies and techniques that reflect global trends and best practices and that lead to optimal learning and successful outcomes.”

National Center for Educational Development (NCED) Director Dr. Abdullah Abu-Tineh said: “This alumni gathering has been an extremely successful event, bringing together all the dedicated teachers who took part in past academies to share their experiences with their peers. These teachers benefitted tremendously from the academy, and the knowledge they acquired through their participation is going a long way in ensuring that every student they teach is on an enduring path towards broadened opportunities in life, as well as for their community and country.”

“I am so proud to be an alumna of the Qatar University ExxonMobil Teachers Academy,” said one of the teachers who attended one of the Academies previous versions. She added “The academy and its instructors provided me with the confidence and skills required to be a competent teacher, and they also revived my love and passion for teaching. The support that the academy provided was personal, encouraging and undoubtedly of the highest quality. Their advice and guidance has made me a better teacher, and I am grateful for this.”

The Qatar University ExxonMobil Teachers Academy is a joint collaboration between ExxonMobil Qatar, QU-CED and the NCED. It was established in Doha in 2012 as an innovative professional development program designed to enhance math and science teaching skills among Qatar’s educators. This year, more than 48 grade three to grade six primary school teachers from over 45 of Qatar’s independent schools participated in the academy. Their participation was determined through a selection process led by QU and the Supreme Education Council. Maharaty, an initiative by Her Excellency Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al-Thani, also assigned 10 grade three science and math teachers to attend the academy.

By the end of 2014, more than 120 teachers in Qatar participated in the academy since its creation, impacting more than 3,000 students. This year’s academy brought the total number of alumni to over 160. The Qatar University ExxonMobil Teachers Academy is part of ExxonMobil’s long-term commitment to stimulating students’ interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) at all ages – the key to building a competitive workforce and ensuring students get the education needed to become the engineers and innovators of tomorrow. As part of this commitment, ExxonMobil supports the professional development of highly qualified teachers.

The academy highlights ExxonMobil Qatar’s commitment to driving human potential across the country, and is one of several of the company’s initiatives that align with the objectives outlined in the Qatar National Vision 2030’s Human Development Pillar, which seeks to empower the people of Qatar so that they can sustain a prosperous society.