The University of Calgary in Qatar (UCQ) celebrated the Convocation Ceremony for the Class of 2023 Wednesday under the patronage of HE the Minister of Education and Higher Education Buthaina bint Ali Al Jabr al-Nuaimi at the St Regis Doha.
Recognised on the occasion were the 14th graduating class of the Bachelor of Nursing programme and the 9th graduating class of the Master of Nursing programme. The milestone event, marked by joy and pride, saw a diverse graduating class of 95 students, including 78 Bachelor of Nursing graduates and 17 Master of Nursing graduates.
Reflecting the university's diversity, the Class of 2023 were from Qatar, Bahrain, Chad, Egypt, Eritrea, Germany, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Morocco, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Philippines, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Syria, the UK, and Yemen among others.
Key figures and decision-makers in both Canada and Qatar’s academic landscape took part in the ceremony. They included
UCQ president and CEO Prof Hala Sultan Saif al-Easa, board of trustees chair Dr Sheikh Khalid bin Jabor al-Thani, dean and professor Dr Deborah White and University of Calgary (UC) president and vice chancellor Dr Ed McCauley, provost and vice president academic Dr Penny Werthner, registrar Dr Amy Dambrowitz, vice president research Dr Bill Ghali, and nursing faculty dean and deputy provost Dr Sandra Davidson.
The other dignitaries at the event included the Canadian ambassador to Qatar Isabelle Martin, Qatar Ministry of Public Health's Public Health Department director Dr Sheikh Mohamed bin Hamad al-Thani, Ministry of Education and Higher Education's acting undersecretary for Higher Education Dr Khalid al-Ali and Gulf Times Editor-in-Chief Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka.
In her speech, Prof al-Easa, told the graduates: “Your education at UCQ equips you to be vital contributors to Qatar’s national healthcare agenda. As you step into the next chapter, you bring with you not just a degree, but the power to make a difference. Your journey is just beginning, and I am confident that you will make us and the State of Qatar very proud. "
Dr McCauley also expressed his admiration for the graduates: “Each one of you embodies the highest standards of the nursing profession. Your accomplishments represent not just personal success, but your contributions to a community of caring. We are proud to celebrate this momentous occasion with you.”
Dr Sheikh Khalid bin Jabor al-Thani congratulated the graduates for their accomplishments and urged them to continue striving for excellence: "Your tenacity and drive have brought you here, and these will be the same qualities that will lead you to excel in your field. Remember, each step you take towards growth contributes to the growth of our nation's healthcare."
Distinguished UCQ alumna Alanoud Hamad al-Marri, executive director of Nursing/Midwifery Workforce and Wellbeing at Hamad Medical Corporation, applauded the graduates for their accomplishments and offered them sincere advice for their future endeavours. The Gold Medal Award was presented to Angela Nicole Gregoria Fauni, for the highest distinction in scholarship.