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| Prof Sheikha al-Misnad presenting the certificate to a graduate yesterday |
The open-air event at the QU Stadium marked the graduation of the cohort of 2011, QU’s 34th batch. 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).
President Prof Sheikha Abdulla al-Misnad congratulated the graduates in the presence of guest of honour and keynote speaker Qatar’s Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva ambassador Sheikha Alia’a Ahmed bin Saif al-Thani, members of QU leadership, special guests, Deans, heads of department, faculty, staff, students and well-wishers.
The female graduates comprised 381 Bachelor’s degrees from College of Arts & Sciences (CAS), 187 from College of Business and Economics (CBE), 93 from College of Engineering (CENG), 90 from College of Shari’a and Islamic Studies (CSIS), 42 from College of Education (CED), 24 from College of Law (LAWC), and 18 from College of Pharmacy (CPH). This was QU’s first pharmacy graduates and the first in Qatar.
Master’s level graduates included 21 MBAs from CBE and 6 M.Ed Education Leadership from CED. Twelve Early Childhood
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QU top brass and senior faculty at the graduation event yesterday |
A total of 154 students were honoured for distinguished achievement of being named on the Dean’s List with GPA scores 3.5 and upwards, with the highest score 3.94 gained by Business and Economics student Omnia Fathy Elgendy.
The ceremony was opened by valedictorian Sumaya Al-Rayyes, from College of Engineering, who said she is proud to be among those who witnessed and benefited from QU development and reform. “Every semester was better than the previous one, and every year more fruitful than the other. My degree today is valid everywhere and a passport that can tour the globe.”
Prof al-Misnad pointed out that the graduation ceremony had this year returned to home ground after many of them being held off-campus.
“Regardless of your destination, and as I said to your colleagues yesterday, please keep in mind the words of HH the Emir who urged us, both men and women, to shoulder our national responsibility, and to adopt the culture of building, hard work, and productivity in all we do.
“I therefore encourage you to put aside inactivity and indifference and seize each and every opportunity to achieve success and advancement,” she said.
Prof Sheikha described Sheikha Alia’a, an alumna of QU’s College of Business, as a fine example of an educated, successful Qatari woman who carries national and international responsibilities and who dedicates her time and effort to achieve noble objectives.
Sheikha Alia’a congratulated the graduates on realising their goals through considerable effort and hard work, and reminded: “You are about to enter into a very crucial and golden phase of your life, a time when Qatari women have achieved a lot. Employment opportunities are wide open for you to work alongside your brothers to achieve quality development and progress, all with unlimited encouragement and support from HH the Emir, HH the Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, along with the pioneering role of HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, who I would like to thank for the constructive change that she has impacted in the lives of Qatari women”.
She noted that with the combined efforts of various stakeholders, Qatar has become, by virtue of its balanced foreign policy, a country that would lead international mediation efforts.
Business & Economics graduate Hessa al-Emadi concluded the evening’s tributes: “Dear graduates, 16 years ago, we were students at primary school. Today, we are on the threshold of life’s precious lessons and experiences.”
