Qatar University’s (QU) College of Business and Economics has launched a minor in taxation, in co-operation with the General Tax Authority (GTA) and Qatar Financial Centre (QFC).
At the launch event yesterday, QU president Dr Hassan al-Derham said the launch reflects the university's keenness to respond quickly to the changes in the labour market and its ability to provide new programmes that meet the needs of the state and the business community.
"The development of this programme came in response to the tax policies and legislation in the countries of the region that have been approved in recent years, to achieve further comprehensive economic diversification, which includes diversifying government revenue sources and reducing dependence on oil and gas as a main source of government revenue.
"This calls for reconsidering and developing other educational programmes in line with the new financial and economic policies in the Gulf countries. We expect that graduates of this programme will have a major role in making and formulating economic and tax policies that reflect the direction of the countries of this region towards tax reform.”
HE Ahmed bin Issa al-Mohannadi, president of the General Tax Authority (GTA) said in his speech: “We have been keen to co-operate with Qatar University to introduce the new minor, which will prepare the national academic competencies, enhance efforts to localize jobs, and support the country's capabilities of qualified cadres in the tax sector, in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030.
“We expect this new minor to build the next generation of business leaders and entrepreneurs who have the ability and awareness about the importance of tax administration, the necessity of tax compliance, and its effects on business.”
Hamed al-Saadi, chief financial and tax officer at the QFC, said: “The QFC has always sought to strengthen partnerships with many universities and scientific research institutions, and to support programmes and initiatives aimed at creating qualified national cadres to meet the requirements and challenges of the labour market, believing in the importance of advancing the education and scientific research sectors in achieving economic development goals.
“This programme is the first of its kind in the region, which will contribute to enhancing the business environment and diversifying the national economy.”
Prof Rana Sobh, dean of the College of Business and Economics, noted that the establishment of the minor could not have been implemented without the support of the efforts of the GTA and the QFC.
Prof Rick Krever, a leading taxation law and policy expert and a Professor at the University of Western Australia, was the keynote speaker at the launch. He discussed the importance of offering the new programme to college students.