The Executive Training Programme at Qatar Faculty of Islamic Studies (QFIS) has concluded two important training courses.
The first, for employees who study at the Diplomatic Institute of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was intended to teach principles of international relations from an Islamic perspective and the values that govern them.
The attendees included researchers, experts, consultants, administrators, engineers and technicians. Dr Louay Safi, Public Policy Professor at QFIS, explained that international conflicts are inevitable but there is a possibility of alleviating its negative consequences on people.
He expounded on the Islamic standards and how conflicts were resolved by referring to the Islamic value system. Dr Mohamed al-Gammal, Fiqh Professor at QFIS, shed some light on the role of Islam in promoting peace and stated the causes of armed conflicts and its limitations, illustrating how Islamic ethics could eliminate war casualties.
Dr Maebid al-Jarhi, a finance visiting professor at QFIS, demonstrated a new economic system that stems from the Islamic economic structure and opens new doors to contemporary development, which will eventually lead to more peaceful international relations.  
Dr Ibrahim Arafat, Professor of Politics, exposed historical case studies that detect the principles of Islamic diplomacy and studied the mode of the Prophet’s diplomacy with allies and enemies, and how it effectively functioned as a peace mediator.
The other workshop, on Policy Analysis and Techniques, was presented by Dr Leslie Pal, Chancellor’s Professor in Public Policy at Carleton University in Canada, and Dr Evren Tok, Assistant Professor in Public Policy in Islam at QFIS.
It introduced key public policy dilemmas and offered a cutting-edge perspective on better understanding of the interstices of policy-making and Islam. The workshop demonstrated some tools and techniques of policy analysis that pertain to the work of professionals in government, corporate and non-profit sectors around the world.
It familiarised candidates with quantitative and qualitative techniques to structure policy analysis and how to mix them effectively. Dr Leslie highlighted the difference between policy-making and policy implementation, and how the effective use of key techniques of policy evaluation can enable policy-makers to objectively assess the success as well as costs and benefits of different policy initiatives.
The Executive Training Programme, launched in 2009, introduces specific targeted courses such as Islamic Economics, Finance and Banking, Management and Public Policy, Marketing, Urbanism and Architecture, and Soft Skills.