The new academic year at Qatar University (QU) opened yesterday with the annual convocation address by president Prof Sheikha Abdulla al-Misnad who highlighted the organisation’s accomplishments over the last academic year, and discussed efforts to provide an optimum teaching and learning environment to ensure student success.
Prof al-Misnad also honoured QU members in various categories – Merit Award, Faculty Service Award, Outstanding Teaching Award, Media Award, Employee of the Year Award, Young Alumnus Award, and Long Service Award.
“As the national university, QU appreciates the delicate balance involved in meeting local expectations and answering national ambitions, and understands its role in addressing the state’s requirements for a distinguished educational system that provides its students with quality skills, knowledge and experience,” Prof al-Misnad said.
She noted that the national leadership took brave and wise decisions towards achieving economic, social and human development, allowing Qatar to compete in wide-ranging international fields. “Qatar University continues to be a leading partner in contributing to the country’s development ambitions,” she stated.
Prof al-Misnad went on to highlight that QU’s research endeavours in the form of a targeted research roadmap are directly aligned with Qatar National Vision 2030 and the development strategies. “They support innovative initiatives and address key national needs in the areas of the environment, health, IT and national identity,” she said.
Developing a research culture is important to QU’s development and progress as well as to the creation of the next generation of Qatar’s leaders, Prof al-Misnad stressed, adding that it is important for students to take advantage of research grants and opportunities to complement their academic skills and capabilities.
“QU provides the best such opportunities for its students and ensures an integrated system of services and resources that help to unlock students’ abilities, overcome academic obstacles and access support for their academic and personal success,” she said.
Prof al-Misnad pointed to the academic advising services provided to students from first year to graduation as well as the First-Year Experience programme, and counselling and career support services that are designed for QU students’ achieving success and excellence.
“Academic advising allows for assessing students’ seriousness and determination and early detection of any issues to be addressed. The majority of our students achieve success, and many were honoured on Deans’ lists and received awards in various forums such as National Excellence Day. Others won research awards and many were accepted in prestigious international universities to pursue their graduate studies.”
On Qatarisation, Prof al-Misnad expressed pride in QU’s 108 scholarship recipients, 24 of whom have already graduated from high-profile international universities and returned to join the organisation in strong faculty and administrative roles. “QU is proud to attract these competences to its institutional development”, she said.
She noted that QU established a dedicated Qatarisation Unit as part of its Human Resources Department to grow and prepare nationals to top positions within QU. “We are very proud of these efforts which were recognised with the Qatarisation Partnership Award by Qatar Petroleum this year,” she said.
Prof al-Misnad stressed that achieving QU’s strategic objectives requires harmonization of efforts by its leadership, students, faculty and staff.
Ending her address, Prof al-Misnad distributed awards to Prof Abdelmagid Hammuda (Merit Award), Dr Majeda Khraisheh (Merit Award), Dr Khalifa al-Khalifa (Faculty Service Award), Prof Mariam al-Maadeed (Runner-up Faculty Service Award), and Dr Ali Hussein Eid (Outstanding Teaching Award).
Employee of the Year Award winners were Abdulla Yaqoub al-Sayed and Wafaa Mohammed Belhadi. Dr Rajab Abdulla R E al-Esmail received the Media Award, and Alanoud Saed Almissned the Young Alumnus Award.
Recognised for Long Service Awards were Dr Nasser A Rahman N Fakhroo, Dr Homaid Abdulla al-Madfaa, Dr Noora Yusuf Mubarak Alkuwari, Dr Haya Mohamed A al-Derhim, Dr Haifa Abdulla F R al-Buainain, Prof Hissa Ahmad A Algazal, Dr Ameena Ali M A Fakhroo, Prof Ghadnana Saed R M al-Binali, Mr Saleh Mohamed A A A al-Yafei, Soney Joseph, Kakkunnath Basheer Abdurahman, and Prof Abdelaziz ElSaid ElBayoumi.
3,200 new students at university
Qatar University, where some 18,000 sudents are enrolled at present, opened for the new academic year yesterday. Of these, 3,200 are new students at the university. As many as 2,232 - or around 70% - of the new students are Qataris, local Arabic daily Arrayah has reported. Admission Department director Noof al-Kuwari has welcomed all returning and new students and wished them success in their studies, the report states.
