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| Valedictorian Abdullah al-Ansari speaks at the graduation ceremony yesterday |
A total of 269 male students graduated from Qatar University yesterday at a ceremony attended by HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, the varsity top brass and family members and friends of the graduates.
The open-air event at the QU Stadium marked the first day of the graduation of the cohort of 2011, QU’s 34th batch. As many as 879 female students are graduating at a ceremony today (Wednesday). A total of 1,148 students are graduating from the national university this year.
The male graduates, from Bachelor, Diploma and Master programmes, received their certificates from QU president Prof Sheikha Abdulla al-Misnad.
Twenty-nine distinguished students received commendations from HH the Emir and Prof al-Misnad. The event also featured a keynote address by the globally acclaimed Qatari rally champion Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah, the first Arab to win the legendary Dakar rally this year.
In her welcome address, Prof al-Misnad urged the graduates to educate themselves to exercise and experience responsible democracy that places the country’s interests before and above that of the individual’s, and future interests before momentary ones. “Successful democracy, my dear students, is where duties and rights are combined,” she said while pointing out HH the Emir’s call to every citizen to promote the culture of good work and production, and to avoid indifference and inactivity and not to rest on what has so far been achieved.
“Qatar’s foreign policy in addressing current crises in the region has drawn a portrait of a leader who, in support of justice and rights, fears no one and does not favour anyone on the account of abused rights and legitimate demands. You, dear graduates, must consider this image and this stance in your future life and career,” QU president added.
Nasser al-Attiyah recalled that international recognition has been his dream for 20 years and that passion was pressing him all through the years to firmly fix Qatar on the world map, through sport.
“Explore your objectives and benefit from your potential, have determination, persevere despite all difficulties and challenges, maintain good health and fitness and have good ethics and conduct, and challenge yourselves,” he urged the graduates, citing numerous experiences from his life.
Valedictorian Abdullah al-Ansari of the College of Business & Economics, who spoke on behalf of the graduates, told them that “our wise government has fulfilled its obligations, our parents have done their duty, our university has implemented its mandate.
“They have all given without limit, translated our dreams into reality, and graduated students to take their place in the labour market. Now it is our turn to work hard, to serve the community, to build Qatar’s image that reflects and demonstrates our ambitions, progress, and prosperity.”
The graduates achieved their requirements at the end of Summer 2010 (20 male, 29 female), Fall 2010 (111 male, 344 female), Spring 2011 (118 male, 479 female) and Summer 2011 (20 male, 27 female).
The majority of male graduates were from the Bachelor level (239), followed by 19 from the Master programmes and 11 from the Diploma programmes.
At the Bachelor level, 31 were from the College of Arts and Sciences, 72 from the College of Business and Economics, 81 from the College of Engineering, 25 from the College of Shariah and Islamic Studies, 13 from the College of Education, and 17 from the College of Law.
At the Diploma level, five men graduated with the Special Education Diploma, and six with Primary Education Diploma. At the Master level, 18 men graduated with Master of Business Administration and one with M Ed in Educational Leadership.
Top Qatari diplomat Sheikha Alia Ahmed bin Saif al-Thani, ambassador at Qatar Permanent Mission to the United Nations, will give the keynote address at the women’s graduation event today.
As many as 835 women graduates are from the Bachelor level, 27 from the Master programmes and 17 from the Diploma programmes.
At the Bachelor level, there are 381 graduates from the College of Arts and Sciences, 187 from the College of Business and Economics, 93 from the College of Engineering, 90 from the College of Shariah and Islamic Studies, 42 from the College of Education, 24 from the College of Law and 18 from the College of Pharmacy, which is graduating its first batch.
At the Diploma level, 12 women are graduating with the Early Childhood Diploma, four with Special Education Diploma, and one with Primary Education Diploma.
At the Master level, 21 women are graduating with Master of Business Administration and six with M Ed in Educational Leadership.
Established in 1973, QU, which has produced over 30,000 graduates, is the main human resource provider for the country.
