Hamad bin Khalifa University (HBKU), a member of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science, and Community Development, and its partner universities are hosting tomorrow their annual student recruitment event, Discover Education City, at the HBKU Student Centre.

For the last 10 years, Discover Education City has attracted thousands of students, parents, teachers and school administrators from across Qatar.  During this event, attendees will have a unique opportunity to gain insight into academic and extracurricular offerings while developing a thorough understanding of the admissions processes, and standardised testing.

Representatives from HBKU’s partner universities, such as Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar, Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, Texas A&M University at Qatar, Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar, Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar, and Northwestern University in Qatar will be present at Discover Education City to present their various undergraduate programmes and discuss their admission requirements.  

Khalifa al-Salahi, HBKU’s Recruitment and Outreach co-ordinator, said the event is an exciting opportunity for high school students to meet all the universities in Education City in one setting.

“It is a chance for them to start thinking about their futures; what they want to pursue at university, and what they need to do in order get there.”

Nasser al-Binali, head of Student Recruitment at HBKU, noted: “We work with students of all ages, starting from Grade 7 until they finish high school.  We are always available to provide support, advice, and counselling to students looking to apply to university.”

More than 1,500 students attended Discover Education City in 2013. More information could be had by sending an e-mail to [email protected] or calling 4454 0272.

 

Expo on scholarships in US

 

An American Education Expo Scholarship fair will take place on September 30 at St Regis Doha. Entrance is free.

Students who are interested in obtaining a scholarship to study in the US have the opportunity to meet representatives from several American universities and colleges at the event.

The participating universities, some of which will be offering full tuition scholarships, include: Murray State University, Rider University, Pace University, SUNY Institute of  Technology, Concordia University Wisconsin, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Pennsylvania State University, Drexel University, National University, Adelphi University, Saint Joseph’s University, University of The Potomac and Drury University.

Representatives from these American colleges and universities will be on hand to discuss undergraduate and graduate admissions and scholarship opportunities with students and their guardians. Prospective students should bring multiple copies of their report cards, transcripts, and TOEFL scores to enable representatives to determine admission and scholarship eligibility.

The fair is organised by International Student Network, with the support of the US Department of Commerce at the US embassy in Doha. More information and registration details can be found on http://studentlane.com/en_us/index.php?option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=123

Importers seek quick clearance of cargoes at Doha port

 

Food importers in Qatar have sought an end to the perennial delays they experience when unloading cargoes and other

commodities at the Doha Port.

Since the cargo is comprised of perishable goods, the delays cost merchants losses. Food importers also said they are forced to pay for demurrage since port authorities detain the cargo ships for longer periods when unloading
shipment.

Despite announcements from the port authorities this year that the new single-window system would speed up operations, most of the importers and exporters lamented that “nothing much has changed.”

Inquiries from some of the importers revealed that the permits of a large number of goods carriers were withdrawn by port authorities causing many drivers to be delayed with deliveries.

One importer said he discovered that close to 200 goods carriers were not allowed to enter the port premises only recently.

Aside from the delay in the unloading and delivery of goods, importers also complained that the sluggish clearing of samples of imported foodstuff at the country’s testing lab and longer storage periods in warehouses have damaged perishable goods.

One local importer said longer testing and storage periods at warehouses “cause considerable losses” to both importers and exporters as goods returned to their home country cannot be re-exported to other
destinations.

The local importers said they would seek the immediate intervention of the local association of logistical entrepreneurs and the Qatar Chamber to prevent further delays in the future.

They added that they have also sought a meeting with port officials in the coming days to sort out the delay issues.

One importer also proposed for the establishment of a permanent lab at the Doha Port for testing imported foodstuff. An industry professional said that many of the major ports across the world have similar lab facilities that prevent delays when clearing perishable items such as fruits.

Kyrgyzstan signs education deal

 

Qatar and Kyrgyzstan yesterday signed a co-operation agreement on education, scientific research and science realms.

The agreement was signed on the Qatari side by HE the Minister of Education and Higher Education and the Secretary General of the Supreme Education Council (SEC) Dr Mohamed Abdul Wahed Ali al-Hammadi while Kyrgyz Minister of Education Kanat Sadykov signed it for his country.

The agreement included the development of co-operation, exchange of expertise, visits and best practices in the fields of education, scientific research, education and science between the two countries.

Al-Hammadi also met yesterday with Gambian Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Dr Abu Bakar Abdullah Senghor, who is currently on a visit to the country.

Talks during the meeting focused on issues of common interest and ways of enhancing them, particularly in the fields of higher education and scientific research.

The meeting was attended by top SEC officials.

 

QRC organising ‘Support
Gaza’ charitable auction

 

QNA/Doha

 

 

Qatar Red Crescent (QRC) will organise a grand Support Gaza charitable auction next Friday at the Katara Cultural Village, in co-operation with Qatar TV and Al-Rayyan Satellite Channel.

Being such a significant humanitarian event, the auction attracted sponsorship from several major Corps and institutions, including Alfardan Group, Jaidah Group, and Al-Wajba Establishment.

Proceeds from the auction will go towards supporting Gaza reconstruction efforts, aimed at rebuilding the homes, schools, mosques, and hospitals destroyed and resuming the utilities and services stopped as a result of the recent Israeli aggression against the enclave.

The auction involves offering a wide variety of 2013 and 2014 cars and motorcycles for bidding (14 world-class cars from Lamborghini, Ferrari, Bentley, Mclaren, Jaguar, Maserati, BMW, Chevrolet Camaro, and Mini Cooper and three Ducati motorcycles), as well as three invaluable pieces of the Kiswah of the Ka’aba embroidered with gold threads.

According to the rules of the auction, participants must be at least 18 years of age and deposit in advance QR50,000 as a registration payment, to be refunded to the losing bidders after the auction. For the winners, the deposit will be applied toward the final selling price. The remaining amount must be paid in full within 72 hours of the auction, otherwise the selling will be cancelled and the deposit cannot be reclaimed.

The auction is part of the humanitarian campaign launched by QRC more than two months ago to support Gaza people affected by the Israeli attacks.

Following the end of war, the Support Gaza campaign shifted the focus from relief to reconstruction. Immediately, the QRC office in Gaza initiated reconstruction works and resumed work on the prewar projects. They surveyed the degrees of damage in some already completed projects, particularly in the healthcare, education, and water and sanitation sectors, for repair and rehabilitation.

 

QCB team for
Chinese visit

 

QNA/Doha

 

 

Governor of Qatar Central Bank (QCB) HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Saud al-Thani will leave Doha today for Beijing heading a financial delegation on a three-day visit to China.

The delegation includes a number of senior officials from Qatar Central Bank, Qatar Financial Centre (QFC), QFC Regulatory Authority, Qatar Investment Authority, a representative of Qatar Airways, chief executive officers of Islamic banks and Islamic insurance companies operating in Qatar and Qatar’s Ambassador to China.

During the visit, the QCB Governor will meet Governor of the People’s Bank of China to discuss matters of common concern.  

HE Sheikh Abdullah will pay a visit to the Chinese city of Chongqing at the invitation of the city’s mayor to explore investment opportunities in the city and to discuss ways to foster co-operation between the two sides.

 

Qatar says yes to Gaza donors’ conference

 

HE Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah met his Norwegian counterpart Borg Brandi in New York yesterday at the headquarters of the Permanent Delegation of the State of Qatar to the UN.

They discussed bilateral relations between the two countries and ways to develop them, in addition to the latest developments in the region.

HE the Foreign Minister conveyed Qatar’s acceptance of the initiative presented by Norway for the donors’ conference on Gaza to be held next month.

HE Dr al-Attiyah also met later Mexican Foreign Minister Jussi Kuribrina.

The Qatari Foreign Minister is in New York to attend the 69th session of the General Assembly of the UN.

 

Qatar gives $88.5mn grant for Darfur fund

 

QNA/New York

 

 

Qatar signed yesterday an agreement to provide a grant of $88.5mn to the UN multi-partner trust fund, which is supervised by the UN Development Programme (UNDP), to fund recovery efforts and reconstruction in Darfur in Sudan.

The signing ceremony at the Permanent Mission of the State of Qatar to the UN saw the presence of HE the Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah; Director of the Department of International Development Dr Ahmad Almurekhi; HE Ambassador Sheikha Alia Ahmed bin Saif al-Thani, the Permanent Representative of Qatar to the UN; Helen Clark represented the UN, Administrator of the UN Development Programme (UNDP), UN Assistant Secretary General and UNDP Assistant Administrator and Regional Director Sima Bahous, a delegation of senior UNDP officials, in addition to a number of eminent personalities including the Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs in the UN Department of Political Affairs Taye-Brook Zerihoun, Sudan’s permanent representative to the UN Ambassador Rahmatallah Mohamed Osman al-Noor, in addition to the representative of the Turkish government.

Helen Clark expressed gratitude to Qatar and its unwavering support for peace and recovery in Darfur. She said: “We believe that investing in development in Darfur would put an end to the violence and spread the seeds of peace in this region of Sudan.”

According to a statement issued by UNDP, this support is one of the results of the Darfur Peace Agreement, which was signed in Doha in 2011, and will start implementing immediate priorities included in the development strategy for Darfur, which was launched during the International Donors Conference in April 2013.

The three pillars of the Darfur Development Strategy are reconstruction; governance, justice and reconciliation; and economic recovery.

The statement added: “The contribution of the State of Qatar today would meet half the requirements for urgent requirements contained in the strategic development of Darfur.”A

 

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