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| From left: Associate Director of the College of Nursing Project, Hissa al-Aali, graduates Aisha al-Qahtani, Nada al-Sharshani, Adaobi Bob-Ume and UCQ Dean and CEO, Dr Carolyn Byrne |
The celebration was attended by a number of special guests and officials, including Canada’s Ambassador to Qatar, Gary Luton, and others.
Three of the four students had already attended official convocation ceremonies in Canada earlier this month, before celebrating their achievement in Qatar.
Dean and CEO of UCQ, Carolyn Byrne said: “The convocation in Calgary is a formal sanction where students are conferred their degrees. This is a less formal, personal celebration of our students’ achievements here in Qatar.
“Our graduates have made a monumental achievement and we want them to know how proud we are of them,” she said, noting “this is a celebration, not only of their achievement but recognition of the support they have received from their families.”
“I’m so excited and grateful. I can’t say thank you enough to UCQ for helping us achieve this,” said graduate Adaobi Bob-Ume, adding “It was fun and a great opportunity going to Calgary for the convocation and seeing the main campus. It’s nice to bring the celebration back home, here in Qatar.”
“This is all very exciting and it is all because I have worked hard and now have a Bachelor of Nursing degree,” said fellow graduate Nada al-Sharshani.
Associate director of the college of nursing project, Hissa al-Aali, told the gathering: “We are also celebrating the contribution, these four well-trained and highly skilled nurses are going to make to the healthcare system in Qatar.”
“UCQ’s pledge is to enrich health and wellness in the state of Qatar and we believe that is being fulfilled, in part, with our four grads that are already playing key roles in hospitals and other healthcare organisations,” she said, adding “they are critical thinkers, excellent communicators, problem solvers with quality organisation and time management abilities.”
The group was also addressed by a member of the inaugural graduating class of 2010, Wahiba al-Saadi, who said: “I am very familiar with the feelings of pride, achievement and excitement that you are experiencing. I am now employed at Oryx GTL, as a health and hygiene specialist.”
“Because of the wonderful, professional instructors here, my fears and uncertainties were quickly replaced with world class nursing skills and medical knowledge that I am using in my job now and that are of extreme benefit to the people of Qatar,” she added.
