A total of 57 graduates from the University of Calgary in Qatar (UCQ) earned gold-standard nursing degrees at the 2016 convocation ceremony yesterday.
Professors, family members, friends and dignitaries from Qatar’s health and education spheres celebrated 52 Bachelor of Nursing (BN) and five Master of Nursing (MN) graduates at UCQ’s seventh convocation.
Till date, 277 graduates have earned BN degrees from UCQ, while 14 have graduated from its MN programme. Qatari nationals make up 21% of the university’s 291 graduates.
The Master of Nursing programme, the first-of-its-kind in Qatar, has celebrated its second class of graduates this year.
The convocation was attended by HE the Minister of Education and Higher Education Dr Mohamed bin Abdul Wahed Ali al-Hammadi, who was joined by University of Calgary leaders, diplomats, academics, dignitaries and representatives from Hamad Medical Corporation, Qatar University, Qatar Red Crescent Society and Sidra.  
The new batch of graduates will join the university’s growing alumni base in contributing to the health goals of Qatar National Vision 2030, UCQ has said in a statement.
Dr Robert Thirsk, chancellor of the University of Calgary, said: “Our university, with the generous support of the State of Qatar, strives to provide our students with the knowledge and resources necessary to become leaders in this honourable profession. This is the beginning of a journey for our graduates.
“As Qatar’s sole provider of nursing education, UCQ has long aimed to foster a true culture of service that unites our students, faculty and staff in the spirit of Qatar’s goals.  I am proud to see 57 more graduates become active contributors to the development of Qatar’s healthcare sector,” said Dr Kim Critchley, dean and CEO of UCQ.
Dr Fouzia al-Naimi, manager of health workforce development at the Ministry of Public Health, praised the graduates’ academic success during the guest speaker’s address. As an international role model for excellence in nursing leadership, Dr al-Naimi  encouraged the development of superior nursing training standards in Qatar.
The Gold Medal for academic achievement in Bachelor of Nursing, regular track programme was awarded to Evelyn Anna Edwards, while Shaikhah Mohsen Abdullah al-Keldi won the silver medal for academic achievement in the Post-Diploma Bachelor of Nursing programme.
More than 500 students are currently registered in UCQ’s BN and MN programmes. To learn more, one can visit http://www.ucalgary.edu.qa/