HH the Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani with the students from the Class of 2013 at Qatar University’s 36th graduation ceremony at Qatar National Convention Centre yesterday.INSET: Prof. Sheikha al-Misnad addressing the graduates


Qatar University (QU) celebrated yesterday the successes of 226 male students from the Class of 2013 at the 36th graduation ceremony at Qatar National Convention Centre in the presence of HH the Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, who is also the chairman of the Board of Regents.
A total of 845 female students are to graduate today at a ceremony which will have Hamad Bin Khalifa University President HE Sheikh Dr Abdullah bin Ali al-Thani as the chief guest.
Out of the total 1,071 graduates of the Class of 2013, there are 588 Qataris. Hundreds of students, parents, family, faculty members and staff attended yesterday’s two-hour ceremony which honoured the 203 undergraduate, 17 Masters and six Diploma students.
Some 60 students graduated with Honours – being in the top five percent of the graduating class for 2013 and with a minimum GPA of 3.5. The toppers were: Fadi Sharafeldin  Mohamed (GPA 3.92, College of Engineering), Mohamed A Mushtaha (GPA 3.92, College of Engineering), Khalid Saleh al-Shamari (GPA 3.91, College of Law), Firas Amer Abdulrazak Alkadour (3.87, College of Engineering), Ammar  al-Ismail (GPA 3.85, College of Business and Economics), Abdullrahman Ahmad al-Sayed (GPA 3.80, College of Business and Economics), Kenan Ali al-Hussien (GPA 3.80, College of Business and Economics), Khalid Abdallah Aboumaali (GPA 3.79, College of Engineering), Usman bin Abid (GPA 3.79, College of Business and Economics), and Mohamed Hamed Elrentisy (GPA 3.78, College of Engineering).
College of Sharia and Islamic Studies student Abdulrahman al-Shemari, the Master of Ceremonies, told his fellow graduates that in addition to the academic certificate, QU also imparts knowledge and a vision of the future as individuals capable of starting a new life.
“Qatar University has developed greatly over recent years and proved its position as an academic and research institution,” he said.
Presenting the students with their graduation certificates, QU President Professor Sheikha al-Misnad said that their years of hard work, dedication and commitment have paid off.
“You stand here now, on the threshold of a new and exciting life. As QU alumni, you are the faces of the university and the future of Qatar and we hope you will relish the opportunity to act as ambassadors and help the coming graduates to achieve as much as you have done and will continue to do.
“The education and skills you have gained at QU will stand you in great stead for the lives ahead of you. You are the future leaders of Qatar – you will play an important role in the development of our state for many years to come. I have every confidence that you will take these opportunities and responsibilities and run with them. We all wish you every success.”
The breakdown of the graduating male students was: College of Arts & Sciences graduated 33 students; College of Engineering 83 BSc and eight Masters students; College of Business and Economics 74 undergraduate students and six MBA and MAC students; College of Education two undergraduates, three Masters and six Diploma students; College of Law seven students and College of Sharia and Islamic Studies four undergraduate students.
Valedictorian Khaled al-Shemari, from the College of Law, spoke on behalf of all graduates when he gave thanks to QU faculty and staff for the support given to the students.
It is 40 years since the foundations of QU were laid, with the establishment of Qatar’s first College of Education in 1973. The rapid development of the state and the growing appetite for a national university saw the inauguration of QU in 1977 with four colleges, reflecting national need. The university now has seven colleges and a student body of more than 13,000.



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