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Arabic language specialists at the Language Centre in the Translation and Interpreting Institute at Hamad Bin Khalifa University’s (HBKU’s) College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS) have designed an Arabic language proficiency test (ALPT) to evaluate Arabic listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. This can be used by institutions, organisations, and corporates which employ people whose Arabic language is a required means to run their business. The speakers and learners of Arabic seek opportunities to utilise their Arabic language proficiency to secure jobs, pursue their education and apply this language for political, diplomatic, and cultural purposes. For various institutions, organisations, and corporations, this situation necessitates measuring the Arabic language proficiency of these speakers as one of their entry requirements or job specification criteria. The ALPT constructed in the Language Centre is an integrative test of four language skills which measures the ability of Arabic language users in communicating fluently and accurately. The test is geared towards evaluating the language abilities of users at the intermediate and higher levels (advanced and proficiency). The test consists of four components: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. It also includes marking schemes, marking criteria, and pass marks for the rater of the test to mark it easily and reliably. The listening section of the test consists of two recorded listening comprehension texts and multiple-choice questions. The speaking section requires the testee to speak about one of the two topics provided. The reading section consists of two reading comprehension passages as well as multiple-choice and true-false questions. In the writing section the candidate has to write well-developed coherent passages on two given topics. The ALPT takes two hours 40 minutes to complete and has a high level of practicality, as it can be administered and marked easily. The test is supposed to be taken in person. Embassies, organisations, and corporations which need to employ Arabic language speakers can apply this test to evaluate the communication abilities of their job applicants. This test has already been applied by an embassy in Qatar as part of the process of employing Arabic language speakers who are required to work in the embassy. The ALPT can be applied by educational institutions as well to measure the proficiency of their students who are at the intermediate and higher levels.    

Qatar Foundation (QF) Wednesday held the international premiere of the award winning short documentary about the life, work and the genius of the world-renowned artist, M F Husain, at a virtual ceremony. The ceremony, titled ‘Painter, polymath, provocateur: Rediscovering MF Husain through his final artwork’ also marked the 10th anniversary of his death and highlighted Seeroo fi al ardh, his final work installed in the Education City of QF which art experts say is a “destination” that will help put Qatar on the global art map. Commissioned by QF chairperson Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Seeroo fi al ardh – which opened in December 2019 - is regarded by many as Husain’s crowning masterpiece. Envisaged by the artist before he passed away in 2011, and designed to tell the story of how innovation steered the progress of civilisation in the Arab region through a multidimensional creative experience, it was the most ambitious work of his career – and it has now been brought to reality in a permanent home at the Education City. QF and Scale magazine partnered for the event at which a documentary focusing on Husain’s “creative universe”, developed by Qatar production company The Film House, was given its first public screening, followed by a panel discussion. “The appeal of Husain is magnetic and universal,” explained Ranjit Hoskote, a poet, art critic, cultural theorist, and independent curator, who moderated the discussion. “And he was one of the few artists who reached out to other arts. “To me, it seems that Seeroo fi al ardh is the manifestation of his desire to create an installation that is open, interactive, and brings people in to experience art in a multidimensional way. Husain drew his inspiration from the great, continuing human adventure, and his last work continues to speak for him – standing at QF and open to the world, perhaps marking the apex of his creative vision.” According to Layla Ibrahim Bacha, senior art specialist and Seeroo fi al ardh project superviser, QF, who was among the experts discussing Husain’s influence on both the world of art and the world as a whole, “Studying and researching his writings and drawings made me realise how, when he created his work, he was not only fulfilling a creative urge, but aspiring to make a long-term impact on the community around him. “As a place of education, the educational aspect of art, and how knowledge is transferred from it and how it is provided for everyone to see, is very important to QF. We are confident that Seeroo fi al ardh will be a destination not only for our community in Qatar, but for those visiting or just passing through the country – it’s something to come here and see, even for just a few hours, because it is a one-of-a-kind experience.” Bose Krishnamachari, an artist, curator, and president of the Kochi Biennale Foundation, described seeing Seeroo fi al ardh come to fruition in the way Husain intended as being “amazing”, and characterised the artist as “generous, passionate – and impatient”. “A great artist is unpredictable,” he explained. “With Husain, you could never read him or tell what he was going to do next, and that is one of the reasons he sustained. “As well as being timeless, he was also timely. If he was alive today, he would be working with scientists and startups to make something new.” Dimitri Yuri, award-winning director at The Film House and a QF alumnus, spoke about how he “jumped at the chance” to crystallise Husain’s life into just 10 minutes through the documentary. He said, “What fascinated me was that he was an observer of the world and the human experience, and Seeroo fi al ardh highlights this. Looking at his work is like watching a performance of life happening in front of us. I can’t shake the feeling that when he was watching the things we experience every day, he saw it as the most beautiful and complex thing he had ever seen. That shines through in his work.” The Seeroo fi al ardh documentary has been selected for the Las Cruces International Film Festival, the Jaipur International Film Festival, and the 10th Bangalore Shorts Film Festival, and has won awards at the Crown Wood International Film Festival in India, and the Spotlight Doc Awards.    

With the piloting of an edtech testbed in several schools in the country, Qatar is a clear frontrunner in the field in the Mena region, an official of World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) has said. The pilot was launched last year using technology available through the WISE Accelerator programme, as pointed out by Victoria Basma, policy and partnerships officer, WISE. “There is a distinct lack of serious edtech investment and research in this region and through this testbed, we hope to launch Qatar as a frontrunner in edtech within the Mena region,” she told Gulf Times. The pilot phase provides the schools concerned with access to new solutions, professional development of teachers and building a deeper understanding around edtech. “When we look at examples abroad in Europe and the US specifically, there are huge efforts to integrate edtech into the learning experience of students both in and out of the classroom and this is attached to research, investment and the building of environments that allow for this type of ongoing innovation building,” Basma said. The programme mainly focused on delivering the pilot with broad research objectives. With new academic year starting in September, the programme is expected to get into more areas of teaching and learning. “We have chosen to start each iteration of this project with a thorough needs assessment of participating schools and from there, co-design the research question and its objectives. Like every part of this testbed, our research is a collaborative effort and the teachers are responsible for gathering classroom data and reporting the changes seen in their students or learning design because of integrating edtech into the classroom experience,” she explained. Currently the WISE Accelerator cohort members and alumni are one of the main stakeholders of this project. “Through our needs assessment of schools, we gain a clear sense of what problems of practice affect day-to-day learning and from there it is our responsibility to find the startup that best suits their needs. Schools are the centre point for this project; without their interaction with us and the technology provided, we would not be able to gain a deep insight into the effect of edtech in the classroom,” noted the official. Basma said that capacity building is at the centre of this project and the pilot phase helped to realise many of the objectives. “The intention of this pilot was to determine what was required to build a testbed of this kind in Qatar. Juggling all the different needs of the beneficiaries involved, then add a global pandemic – safe to say we experienced a pretty steep learning curve. We’re now looking to take those lessons forward as we prepare for September and there will also be some policy level changes that we’re hoping to enact within Qatar Foundation,” she said. “The programme aims to help bring new innovations to the local learning ecosystem. The way we teach and learn is changing and we have to be open to experimenting with these new methodologies of educating our young people and preparing them for a digital economy. With that said, we’re not just looking to place technology in the classroom but also create a new learning culture in Qatar – no longer tied so tightly to assessment outcomes but shifting towards skills and competency building for the 21st century. “Right now we’re in the exciting part, preparing for September 2021. Alongside the Education Development Institute and other Qatar Foundation partners, we’re beginning to put the pieces together for our testbed research; conducting a needs assessment of Qatar Foundation schools, assessing the viability of Accelerator partners and re-designing our research question,” Basma said.    

Several Indian students in Qatar are concerned about the method of evaluation as well as the timing of the results of Class 12 examinations. The Indian government announced on Tuesday the cancellation of Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Class 12 examinations for this year due to the prevailing Covid-19 scenario in India. While many have heaved a sigh of relief following the cancellation of the examinations, especially back in India, many others feel that meritorious students might suffer as they are not able to write the exams. Many of the students, as well as parents, told Gulf Times that there is no clarity yet on the methodology of evaluation and it might affect their choice of higher education streams. To add to the concerns, there are rumours about various options of evaluation. Some of the students feel that the evaluation process can sometimes have an adverse effect. The students and parents said Indian diplomatic missions in Qatar and other Gulf countries should consult with Indian officials to make the process smoother and faster as several students from these countries are planning to pursue their higher education in foreign universities. One student of Ideal Indian School said he is still worried about the results. “I am not sure how my marks will be and what will be the criteria for arriving at the results. Some say it will be an average of the last four years of study, that is from Class 9 to 12. Since Class 9 and Class 11 are school-based exams, it would not be a good idea to consider those two classes. As I am preparing for higher education, I am slightly worried what will be my score and whether it will affect my admissions at the university I am aiming for,” he said. Another student from MES Indian School noted that she has got provisional admission at a university in Canada and has to submit all the necessary documents at the earliest. “My visa application is being processed and I need to submit the results as early as possible. The university has set a certain percentage of marks for admission, which is quite high, and I hope the evaluation process will not be very tough to get that marks. Moreover, I have to get the results at the earliest so that I can submit them to the university for confirming my admission,” she explained. While the government announced cancellation of the examinations on Tuesday and said the CBSE would take steps to compile the results of Class 12 students "as per a well-defined objective criteria in a time-bound manner", the schools have not yet been informed of any policy in preparing the evaluation process and awarding marks for the students. Schools and parents feel that the announcement of results could be delayed further as the whole process has not yet been started. Many schools have been grappling with the evaluation for Class 10 for which the cancellation of the examinations was announced back in April. Generally, the Class 10 and 12 results are announced in May, which helps students to apply for higher education well in advance to any university globally. The principal of a leading Indian school added, “We have not received any direction from CBSE for the evaluation of Class 12. We are still waiting for it. We had great difficulties in preparing Class 10 results and are still to get the criteria for Class 12 evaluation. I think this might be a longer process and the results may be delayed. However, I hope that everything will be worked out at the best interest of the students.”    

* Live virtual event brings together more than 1,600 future change-makers from universities at Education City in a shared celebration   Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation (QF), yesterday praised more than 1,600 graduates of Education City universities for their achievements amid the “exceptional circumstances” of the Covid-19 pandemic. This came at a virtual Convocation ceremony held by QF to celebrate the graduation of the Classes of 2020 and 2021. The live, interactive ceremony was attended by graduates from QF’s Hamad Bin Khalifa University and international partner universities, along with members of their families. HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani, President of Qatar Olympic Committee was among the Class of 2020 graduates from one of the QF partner institutes - HEC Paris in Qatar. Speaking at Convocation – held virtually to align with Qatar’s public health guidelines – Her Highness Sheikha Moza told the graduates: “It is through you that we can sustain the glories of the present, so that they strengthen our pillars for the future. “Each challenge teaches us lessons and inspires new values that enable us, together, to form new perspectives about the reality of the changes the world is facing.” Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser also spoke of her belief that the pandemic will create “a new and significant trend toward young people choosing to work in the health sector”, saying: “The pandemic has shown everyone the importance of the medical profession and the extent of its impact on all aspects of life, stemming from its centrality to everything else around us. “We have seen how the world was suddenly paralysed in the face of the pandemic, due to the inability of health sectors to contain this sudden eventuality. All countries were affected in the face of the pandemic and its repercussions. This led to a new and widespread belief in, and awareness of, the importance of medicine – a belief and awareness that is restoring its status and its vital role in protecting humanity. “But we cannot build the world, and our lives, by simply focusing on one area without also focusing on others. We can only build in this way when all your specialisations come together.” In her keynote speech, writer, author, lecturer and Islamic studies specialist Yasmin Mogahed highlighted the examples of several leading luminaries while noting that failure is part of the process of learning. She told the graduates, “What you have accomplished is not a small feat – you have pushed forward as the world locked down. “There is something to be said for the resilience that can only be had through challenges. As the graduates of 2020 and 2021, you were positioned in a very unique place. And not only have you survived a pandemic, you have completed a degree in the midst of it. You have not only survived inside this global storm; you have thrived in it. “These storms you have weathered over these last 15 months have not only strengthened you in resilience. They have also prepared you to become the very change we desperately need to see in the world today.” The virtual Convocation ceremony saw graduates who have excelled in fields ranging from medicine, engineering, computing, art and design, and communications to Islamic studies, international affairs, humanities and social sciences, and business share in a collective celebration of what they have learned and achieved within QF’s ecosystem of education, within which they have been equipped to be leaders, innovators and change-makers. They shared their experiences and their goals for the future during the ceremony, with Northwestern University in Qatar graduate Danna Mohamed Takriti saying: “My ultimate hope, especially as a Palestinian, is to tell human-centred stories on wide-ranging platforms in order to amplify the voices of the oppressed through storytelling.” Malak Elmoh, a member of Georgetown University in Qatar’s Class of 2021, noted: “I hope to make a change by taking what I have learned from my experience at QF and continuing to bridge gaps and challenge boundaries in the global education system, so that we can work toward education that is not only effective, but also inclusive and accessible to everyone.” Texas A&M University at Qatar Class of 2021 graduate Majed al-Saad told his fellow graduates, “You worked hard, we’ve pushed through, and you’re all my role models”; while new doctor Moza al-Mohannadi, a graduate of Weill Cornell Medicine - Qatar (WCM-Q), said: “To the Class of 2020 and 2021, I’m so very proud of you. You graduated to the truest test of all doctors – a global pandemic – and I’m so inspired by your courage.” The ceremony also saw graduates’ parents share their joy and pride at the achievements of their sons and daughters, including Esmael Ibrahim Shahbik, father of WCM-Q graduate Dana, who said: “Dana graduating as a doctor is honestly a dream come true for me and for her.” Abdulwahed Mohamed, whose daughter Ghoroor graduated from HBKU, told the Classes of 2020 and 2021: “This is the beginning of your pathway, and as your parents we will continue supporting you along this pathway and hope that you will do your best to overcome the challenges that may arise. “I hope that we will see you in the highest positions possible, because Qatar always deserves the best.” During the ceremony, Palestinian graduates of universities at QF spoke of their sorrow at the injustices being inflicted in the occupied territories, while urging people to speak out against the oppression Palestinians continue to face. To watch QF’s Convocation ceremony again, one can visit www.qf.org.qa/convocation    

Some of the students graduating from universities at the Education City of Qatar Foundation have shared their experiences highlighting the importance in the learning journey.   *Razan Ghadban, journalism major, of the Class of 2021 from Northwestern University in Qatar, said that getting into the university was a dream come true for her, and expressed her thanks to the faculty and staff for helping her to challenge herself and her capabilities. “I think what enhanced our experience was the ability to be in the same place with people from all around the world, which increased our creativity and expanded our knowledge in so many ways,” Ghadban said. “Additionally, (being able to be) around, and form friendships with, students from other Education City universities, who have completely different interests and pursue different paths, challenge … and encourage you to go out of your comfort zone.” “For me the most memorable moments are the days where I get to learn a new piece of information, how to use a new equipment, the encounters I had with professionals in the field, every time I helped other students figure something out as a teaching assistant, and the moments I felt challenged working on new research,” she recalled. “These were all memorable moments that I got to have thanks to being a student at Northwestern University in Qatar.” Ghadban says she wants to use the knowledge gained throughout her four years at university to become a journalism and strategic communication professional, and make a difference in the world. “While people might think that journalism is dying and not relevant right now, I believe we need journalism now more than ever before, to fight the injustices people are facing all around the world and to create change,” she added. According to *Fatima al-Naimi, an international politics major with Arabic minor and certificate in media and politics, Georgetown University in Qatar has been more than just an academic institution. “It has been a place where I have encountered new mindsets, opinions, and personalities that have challenged my own,” she said. “The university’s rigourous classes, esteemed professors, and multicultural atmosphere have all contributed to my personal and academic development.” “One of the many benefits of studying at Georgetown University is its location within Education City,” al-Naimi said. “It has created a community that fosters creativity, innovation, and social development.” “By choosing to study at a Qatar Foundation partner university, I was also signing up to become part of this larger community of doctors, scholars, and engineers who are all dedicated to the pursuit of social and academic excellence,” she said. “As such, my time at Georgetown University was shaped by my interdisciplinary interactions with fellow students and professors in different universities, in addition to my access to facilities throughout the campus,” al-Naimi explained “One of the many benefits of this was the opportunity to cross-register at the different universities; it was this opportunity that allowed me to pursue an interdisciplinary certificate in media and politics on top of my degree in international politics, a certificate that was organised by both Georgetown University and Northwestern University,” she added. “I look forward to investing the skills and knowledge that I have cultivated over these years to the betterment of my society.”    

Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation (QF), emphasised the profound impact of the healthcare sector and highlighted the roles of various QF institutes in the fight against Covid-19 during her address at the virtual convocation ceremony of Education City universities on Thursday. “We have spoken before about the direct and profound impact of both the health and education sectors on all other sectors. Indeed, this pandemic has proven the extent of this impact. As soon as the crisis affected the health sector, it swept through others, and drew attention to the necessity of doubling our emphasis on this sector,” said Her Highness Sheikha Moza. “Every challenge we face teaches us new lessons, and inspires new values that enable us, together, to form new perspectives about the reality of the world as it changes,” she continued. Her Highness Sheikha Moza pointed out that the changes in social trends in recent decades saw “an overwhelming trend of people gravitating towards work in the business sector, while at the same time general interest towards work in the health sector decreased, resulting in shortage of healthcare workers, particularly in technical fields. An issue that will require new policies and budgets to improve and sustain the health sector. “I now anticipate a new and significant shift between young people towards the health sector, after the pandemic proved to everyone just how important the medical profession is, and the extent of its impact on all aspects of life. It is an importance that stems from healthcare’s centrality to everything around it." Her Highness Sheikha Moza continued, “We have seen how the world was suddenly paralysed in the face of the pandemic, as the health sector struggled to contain this abrupt predicament. Every country, developed or otherwise, was equally reeling in the face of the pandemic and its repercussions. At that time, new convictions arose, expressing a new awareness, both in an official capacity and among the public, that would restore the status of medicine and its vital role in protecting humanity.” At the same time, she maintained that the world cannot prosper with one specialisation alone. “We cannot build a strong foundation without all your specialisations together. While you may notice a focus on medicine, it does not indicate a preference for this field. It simply reflects what the coronavirus pandemic has brought about in terms of great changes in life, business, and health. And yet, the value of knowledge remains the same, whether in science, literature or art. No one field takes precedence over another in its importance, and the value it brings to our lives,” she noted. On the occasion, Her Highness Sheikha Moza referred to the roles played by several QF institutes in the fight against Covid-19. She highlighted, “Weill Cornell Medicine - Qatar developed in-house, accurate testing for Covid-19, and another sensitive test to detect antibodies through blood and urine sample, in addition to the efforts of its professors and students in studying and examining protective antibodies to be used against the virus. Qatar Foundation researchers and students with molecular biology skills volunteered at Hamad Medical Corporation laboratories to provide technical assistance in analysing Covid-19 samples. “Qatar Biomedical Research Institute also developed a Serology Kit to detect Covid-19 antibodies in record time. “And, at Qatar Computing Research Institute, experts developed a contact tracing technology that tracks people’s movement based on cell phone data, and identifies the location of those who have tested positive for Covid-19, to help limit the spread of the virus in Qatar. "At Sidra Medicine, a new Covid-19 rapid test was developed in 2020, maintaining 98% accuracy. This method will reduce the cost of testing by approximately 75%. "And Qatar Genome Programme participated in the Covid-19 Host Genetic Initiative, making it the only Arab participant in this global initiative.” She noted that despite all this rapid scientific progress today, there are still countless human genetic codes that remain a mystery to us, still waiting to be deciphered. “I am certain that, among your generation, there will be those who will go on to contribute to deciphering these codes, and to play their part in bringing scientific renaissance to this region,” she exhorted the graduates. “Always remember, crises will ultimately fade away. But, you, with your knowledge and expertise, will forever remain,” the QF chairperson concluded.    

With the slogan ‘Imagine Tomorrow’ highlighting ‘a spark of imagination ignites a renaissance’, Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), celebrated the graduation of its Classes of 2020 and 2021, conferring degrees on more than 400 students at a virtual ceremony on Monday. The event also witnessed HBKU, part of Qatar Foundation (QF), reaching the milestone of passing the 1,000th graduate in the 10th year since its founding and the HBKU alumni growing to nearly 1,250. The diverse graduates include more than 130 Qatari citizens. Close to 60% of all graduates are women. The graduating classes represent 33 academic degree programmes, with 110 graduates from the College of Islamic Studies (CIS); 74 from the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS), 154 from the College of Science and Engineering (CSE), 49 from the College of Health and Life Sciences (CHLS), 24 from the College of Law, and 10 from the College of Public Policy (CPP). The ceremony witnessed 11 ‘first cohorts’. Among those were first graduates in CHLS’ PhD in Genomics and Precision Medicine; and from CSE’s Master of Science in Sport and Entertainment Management, Master of Data Analytics in Health Management, Master of Science in Logistics and Supply Chain Management, and Master of Information Systems in Health Management and CHLS’ Master of Science in Exercise Science. CPP welcomed the first graduates from its Master of Public Policy, the College of Law its first LLM in International Law and Foreign Affairs cohort, while CIS honoured its first graduates in the Master of Arts in Applied Islamic Ethics, Master of Arts in Islam and Global Affairs, and Master of Science in Islamic Art, Architecture and Urbanism. Dr Ahmad M Hasnah, president of HBKU, in his message noted, “The economic, social and educational challenges that have emerged constitute an important incentive for us to consider our priorities and ability to adapt and be innovative. “Transforming and developing the world begins with individuals like you. HBKU and its community, including its faculty, has made an effort to support your passion for learning and innovation, and your attainment of the knowledge and personal skills that will enable you to be active citizens supporting the path of development and growth of your communities and your nations. We know you will turn your ideas and knowledge into a reality for us all to be proud of.” An inspirational keynote speech was delivered at the event by Roya Mahboob, co-founder and CEO of the Digital Citizen Fund, named one of TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World for 2013 for her work of building internet classrooms in high schools in Afghanistan. Explaining the educational scenario in her country and the need to educate children especially girls, Mahboob exhorted the graduates, “Graduates, equip with the foolproof education that you gain from this institution. Realise the potential for the changes for life inside of you by bringing out your unique expertise and creativity.” Student speaker, Ghoroor Abdulwaheed, from CHSS said, “Every graduate at this amazing ceremony has a personal story, motivation, and vision for a better future, each one in the area they have chosen and excelled in - our insistence on drawing the features of a brilliant future for our local communities and the entire world is a common aspect. I deeply believe that our university has instilled in us the principles, values, knowledge, and skills necessary to face this rapidly evolving world.” “We are immensely proud of our graduates and the efforts that have gone into this achievement. They will find that the critical thinking skills and interdisciplinary mindset that we nurture at HBKU are in high demand. We hope they will take advantage of their education and use this knowledge for the betterment of our globalised world, and its scientific, social, and economic development,” explained, Dr Michael J Benedik, HBKU provost. Dr Richard O’Kennedy, vice president for research at HBKU, and the vice president for research, development and innovation at QF, highlighted, “Our 2020/21 graduates leave HBKU with a research-based education that will open doors for them wherever they go. The world is facing significant transformation and HBKU has prepared these graduates to generate novel approaches that can be applied to solve national and global issues. HBKU’s achievements over the past 10 years have aimed to advance Qatar’s vision of being a knowledge-based economy that is highly competitive in the international arena.” “Rising above the challenges of the past year, our Class of 2020 and 2021 prove that there are no limits except for the limit you set for yourself. We are confident that HBKU has equipped them with the knowledge and skills to envision the future and become innovators with an impact in local and global communities,” added, Dr Maryam al-Mannai, vice president for Student Affairs at HBKU.    

In an effort to reach out to the Indian community members in Qatar and enable them access its services in a big way, the embassy is planning to introduce several technology based facilities, Gulf Times has learnt. “These include the introduction of a mobile app, multilingual call centre, chatbots among others,” Dr Deepak Mittal, Indian ambassador disclosed recently. "Reaching out to the community members is a continuous and ongoing exercise. With people being more and more technology oriented, we will be launching several facilities for the community members here in Qatar," he explained. Answering a question from Gulf Times, Dr Mittal said: “The mobile app will help all the community members to reach out to us at any given time. The planning on the development of the app has been a bit slow due to the prevailing pandemic situation. The work on the app is in progress and it is being developed and tested. We will launch it at a suitable time and it will enable the community members in need to reach out to us according to their convenience.” “Similarly, we are setting up a multilingual call centre. We are committed to it and soon we will realise both the services of the app and the call centre. We are also using more technology into our services such as the consular and labour services,” Dr Mittal said. The Indian envoy also said that there are plans to introduce chatbots so that more people can contact the embassy without the need to make a telephone call or other forms of direct interaction. “People can check with the embassy representatives through the chatbots and get clarifications or answers to their questions. It is not very feasible always to have several telephone lines and answer all the calls. They can make use of chatbots and register their feedback, complaints or concerns,” he explained. “We have had some good conversation with several Indian engineers and IT professionals working in Qatar and they are providing us all the support. Many Qatari companies are also eager to support the initiatives. Hopefully, we will be able to realise all these very soon,” he added. With over, 700,000 community members, Indians form the largest expatriate group in Qatar who work in almost all walks of life in the country.    

Qatar Post has cautioned its customers to be aware of fraudulent emails, SMSes or telephone calls asking for payment or personal banking information. Qatar Post has sent an SMS saying “Dear customer, please be aware of fraudulent telephone calls, SMS or phishing e-mails asking for your credit/debit card number or any personal banking information. Please be careful and report any suspicious calls, SMS or emails to Qatar Post Help Desk at 104.” Due to the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic situation, citizens and residents have been availing of various services provided by different entities in the country through Qatar Post. For instance, there are a large number of orders for medicines from the Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) and other institutions, and these are being delivered by Qatar Post. As the PHCC collects only the amount for the medicine online, the postal charges are paid through credit or debit card while the medicines are delivered at the given address. Scamsters are making use of this and finding it an opportunity to trick customers by sending messages and asking them to pay the delivery charges online before the actual delivery of medicines. A couple of days ago, a reader of Gulf Times got a message seemingly from Qatar Post asking for a payment of QR10.89 as charges for the delivery of medicines. However, he became suspicious about the SMS as the link provided to pay the sum seemed to be unheard of. He called the Qatar Post Help Centre at 104 to check if the message was genuine. A Qatar Post official informed him that the company never sends such messages. “I got the message at night and thought of paying the money in the morning. I found a website (through the given link) with the Qatar Post logo and thought it was an original message. It showed the package number and the payment amount. However, when I checked the URL of the website, I became suspicious because I had never heard of such a payment gateway in Qatar. Therefore, I thought of contacting the call centre to make sure about this,” he told Gulf Times. “Many people might fall prey to such tricks as they offer lower prices than what Qatar Post normally offers. In my case, I had to pay QR30 to Qatar Post but the amount to be paid through the link was QR10.89. The figure itself made me suspicious but many people may think that they are getting a lower price and end up paying, thus revealing personal banking information and risking huge financial loss,” he added. Gulf Times also contacted the Qatar Post Help Centre and was informed that such messages were fake and people should never respond to such messages, emails or telephone calls. Further to that, Qatar Post has sent SMSes, urging everyone to be alert against fraudsters.    

The newly established paediatric cancer biorepository by Sidra Medicine, part of Qatar Foundation, aims to help develop targeted therapies for childhood cancers, Gulf Times has learnt. “A biorepository is a place where biological samples are collected, processed and stored to support scientific research,” said Dr Wouter Hendrickx, principal investigator of the Paediatric Cancer Omics Lab at Sidra Medicine. "Through tailoring treatment, we want to strictly limit exposure of a child to such drugs to precisely the amount that is needed, for minimal effect to their quality of life,” said Dr Hendrickx The establishment of Sidra Medicine’s paediatric cancer biorepository to develop personalised cancer therapies for paediatric patients is a big step towards precision medicine, an emerging healthcare treatment approach that offers personalised care. It is set to play a major role in the future of healthcare, particularly in complex diseases like cancer. In order to provide such tailored healthcare treatment, research begins at the biorepository. Dr William Mifsud, attending physician at Sidra Medicine’s Anatomic Pathology Division, said that some studies have shown that particular chemotherapeutic agents can have an impact on cardiac function. “By tailoring treatment to fit each child, the focus will shift from treating a category that the child fits in, to treating the child’s individual cancer in a very precise way. This approach will also ensure no child is being exposed to more chemotherapy or radiation therapy than is necessary thereby minimising any side effects and toxicity,” explained the physician. During the course of an individual’s illness, biological samples such as their tissue and blood are collected for diagnosis and treatment. With the consent of the patient, the leftover portions of these biospecimens not used for diagnosis are stored in a biorepository. These samples serve as invaluable sources of material for biomedical research and are crucial in discovering new treatments. Every sample that goes into the biorepository will be an investment towards better paediatric cancer care. Analysing diseased tumour tissue will allow researchers improved biological understanding of how paediatric cancers operate, including why some cancers respond or don’t respond to a particular drug, or why some tumours grow much faster than others and why some recur. Dr Hendrickx said that the idea to establish a national paediatric cancer biorepository was born three years ago when Sidra Medicine was recognised as the only centre for paediatric oncology in the country by the National Cancer Programme in Qatar. As paediatric cancer cases from all over the country were transferred to Sidra Medicine, the general consensus among the medical community was that this was a great opportunity to set up a number of research projects focused specifically on paediatric cancers, with the aim of developing more personalised medicine for children with cancer in Qatar. “To be able to study a disease, especially a heterogenous disease like cancer, the first thing we need is access to high quality samples of both the diseased tissue as well as the patient’s genetic makeup. This is something that was missing in the country until now, particularly for paediatric cancers. “The lack of a local paediatric cancer biobank was one of the biggest hurdles to doing proper research on childhood cancers; and we are delighted that Sidra Medicine has been able to change that with the establishment of the paediatric cancer biorepository,” described, Dr Hendrickx. The paediatric cancer biorepository will also offer a chance for an improved understanding of paediatric cancer specifically among Arab populations, and thereby bridging the gap between clinical research and effective cancer care. Existing studies on paediatric cancers either don’t take into account Arab ethnicity or massively underrepresent it. Genetic makeup differs based on ethnicity and the mutations that can lead to the occurrence of cancer in Arab children can be different to those in other ethnicities.    

The robust business and trade relations between Qatar and India are progressing very well despite the Covid-19 pandemic with several trade committees being formed and high level activities planned in the coming months, Indian ambassador Dr Deepak Mittal disclosed. “The bilateral trade and economic relations between India and Qatar remain very strong, touching more than $9bn in 2020 and over $7bn in energy in energy sector alone. This was when the chips were down with the Covid-19 scenario and the economic activities were down. "Commerce ministers of both countries are expected to have a conversation soon to focus more on bilateral trade and diversify and enhance the trade relations,” the envoy said. Mittal was interacting with the media at the embassy to discuss India’s efforts at dealing with the Covid-19 challenges and the prominent role that Qatar is playing in meeting the medical requirements in his country. “Qatar Investment Authority is planning to set up an office in India and they have already made two major investments. One is in technology platform Josh and the second is in Swiggy, an e-commerce and delivery platform,” the ambassador revealed. He added that there is an agreement to set up a joint working group on trade between Qatar and India. “This is done by the commerce ministries and headed at the level of a joint secretary in India and a director in Qatar. This will be an institutional framework to have dialogue and regular discussions on focusing more on bilateral trade. "This will also discuss the challenges in promoting bilateral trade and overcoming them. The first meeting will be held very soon,” Mittal said. “We are in the process of setting up a joint business council between Qatar and India with businessmen from both countries. This will be formed with Qatar Chamber and the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and will be a joint business council between India and Qatar with the participation of private businessmen from both countries. "This will be realised soon after the pandemic situation settles,” he added. The envoy also noted that as per the discussions in December last year, His Highness the Amir and the prime minister of India have agreed to set up a taskforce to promote investments between Qatar and India as well as a joint taskforce on energy which is already working. “The taskforce is exploring distribution of LNG, setting up of LNG facilities in India, gas pipeline infrastructure such as citywide pipelines as well as nationwide pipeline to supply LNG. "To promote and as our commitment to climate change goals, India’s target is to increase the gas in the energy mix from 5% to 15%. We are exploring how gas can be the fuel for mobility leading to setting up of more LNG filling stations,” he said.    

*World racing to deploy vaccines to beat Sars-CoV-2 mutation, says Biden's chief medical adviser   The global community is in a race to access and deploy vaccines faster than Sars-CoV-2 can mutate into more transmissible and deadly variants, US President Joe Biden's chief medical adviser for Covid-19, Dr Anthony Fauci, Wednesday told the virtual graduation ceremony of Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar's (WCM-Q) Class of 2021. “Currently, we are at a critical juncture in the Covid-19 pandemic. Our pathway to ending the pandemic has been lit by the stunningly rapid development of highly effective Covid-19 vaccines now authorised for use," pointed out Dr Fauci, also the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the US. As the keynote speaker at the ceremony, he congratulated the graduates for facing the pandemic of Covid-19 with courage, resiliency and adaptability. “As we navigate year two of the global pandemic of Covid-19, I am keenly aware that celebrating this important milestone of your lives under the constraints of this pandemic is, at best, disappointing. However, we all must adapt to this extraordinary situation and unite to meet its challenges. "When this pandemic began its sweep around the globe more than a year ago it quickly hobbled hospitals and imposed crushing levels of stress and strain on their medical staffs,” he recalled. Dr Faucci who graduated from the Cornell University Medical College in 1966 acknowledged that his infectious disease training at NIH, prepared him well to fight the emergent viruses such as HIV, 2009 influenza, SARS-CoV-1, Ebola, Zika, and now SARS-CoV-2 and exhorted the students to treat such situations as unexpected opportunities “As you move into the next stage of your medical careers, regardless of your medical specialty, now more than ever we will need your talent, your energy, your resolve, and your character to restore and preserve the health of our world,” he reminded the graduates. Page 12.    

With a call from the dean of the college, “to maximise the ability to heal others”, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q) celebrated the graduation of the Class of 2021 at a virtual ceremony with 41 new doctors, bringing to 463 the total number of physicians from the institution, since its inception in 2001. US President Joe Biden's chief medical adviser for the coronavirus (Covid-19) and director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Dr Anthony Fauci, was the keynote speaker. The students of the Class of 2021 recited the Hippocratic Oath and were presented with their MD degrees by WCM-Q dean Dr Javaid Sheikh. Dr Sheikh told the graduates: “Your dedication to your studies and your commitment to the measures put in place to limit the spread of the coronavirus has been a source of inspiration to all of us at the WCM-Q. “I am grateful to each and every one of you for stepping up to this challenge, to my colleagues in the faculty and on the staff at the WCM-Q, and to the wider Education City community, for providing essential support in very trying conditions.” He added: “Many of you will be called upon to help those afflicted by Covid-19 and other infectious diseases, to deal with as yet unforeseen healthcare emergencies, and to find new reserves of strength to meet the challenges you will encounter. “I think I speak for everyone here when I wish you all the very best as you go forwards from here to embrace these challenges.” Dr Sheikh thanked His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, Qatar Foundation (QF) chairperson Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, vice-chairperson and chief executive HE Sheikha Hind bint Hamad al-Thani, and HE the Minister of Public Health Dr Hanan Mohamed al-Kuwari for their ambition, vision, and leadership. The WCM-Q Class of 2021 comprises 30 women and 11 men, hailing from 13 countries: Qatar, Oman, Jordan, Palestine, Iraq, Pakistan, India, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Egypt, Singapore, Canada, and the US. Student speakers on the occasion were Raihan El-Naas and Lolwa al-Theyab. The Holy Qur'an recitation was given by Class of 2021 graduate Abdulaziz Nasser al-Abdulghani. The role of university marshal was performed by Dr James Roach, associate dean for Pre-medical Education and Professor of Chemistry. Alongside Dr Sheikh for the presentation of candidates and conferment of the MD degree was Dr Thurayya Arayssi, professor of Clinical Medicine and senior associate dean for Medical Education and Continuing Professional Development. The graduation ceremony also heard from Dr Augustine Choi, dean of Weill Cornell Medicine in New York, who said: “There are so many opportunities for you to make an impact – in Qatar, in your countries of origin, and around the world.” “This past year has shown us that health is precious,” he said. “As graduates of Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, you have the tools to make a difference wherever you choose to focus your energies. “I wish you all the best on the journey ahead and look forward to hearing about all that you will achieve as Weill Cornell alumni.”    

Several graduates of Weill Cornell Medicine (WCM-Q) shared their journey of medicine and aspirations with Gulf Times as the university celebrated the graduation of Class of 2021 on Wednesday.   *Moza Abdulla Almohannadi, who passed out with academic distinction, said that she was fortunate to get world-class education here at home. “The WCM-Q allowed me to explore different aspects of a career in medicine that I will carry with me in the future,” she said. “I will be completing a year of internal medicine training in New York and will apply for anaesthesiology residency.” She also noted that the current pandemic highlighted “how connected our world is, and how important public and global healthcare for the collective health of the world”. “The work is not completed until every human on this earth has access to affordable, quality healthcare,” Almohannadi added. *Mariam Imran, another graduate, felt that the WCM-Q provided her with many opportunities. “The education and experiences have shaped my clinical skills and allowed me to become the best version of myself,” she said. “I was able to explore a variety of aspects of medicine which enabled me to find my passion: Internal Medicine.” Imran looks forward to serving the community in Qatar. “Giving back to the country that has given me so much, and working as a future internist, I hope to continue learning through my patients, colleagues and research,” she added. As for *Gowrii Saswathy Ganesan, the WCM-Q has been a pillar of support and strength. “The educational opportunities allowed us to explore a plethora of potentials, and the support we have received allowed us to achieve goals beyond what we thought we were capable of,” she said. Ganesan aims to pursue a career in emergency medicine at Hamad Medical Corporation. According to *Tasnim Mushannen, the WCM-Q has given her an incredible education. "The university has provided me many opportunities to be involved in community service, tutoring, research, and more,” she highlighted. “These experiences have helped me shape my future goals.” Mushannen is planning to take up adult neurology residency training at Duke University. *Basel A M Humos felt that the WCM-Q is an institution that paves the path to success. “From my very first day until my graduation, I had the pleasure to meet very influential faculty and students that helped me identify my goals, and ultimately work hard to achieve them,” he said. Humos hopes to continue his training in the US in internal medicine, followed by training in cardiology. “I plan to come back and work in Qatar, the country that welcomed me and allowed me to change my dreams into reality,” he added. “I also see myself going back to my home country, Palestine, and working to aid the very fragile healthcare sector.” Finally, *Karen Maria John said that studying at the WCM-Q has shown her that being a physician is much more than just being a clinician. “Academia and research are two important aspects of the medical field that I knew little about, and the WCM-Q has broadened my knowledge about them,” she said. “Furthermore, my involvement in research from the early years has laid a foundation, and I am hoping to pursue research as part of my career in the future.” John aims to do post-graduate training in internal medicine in the US.    

Highlighting Qatar as a major transport and logistic hub in carrying global aid to India to combat the Covid-19 pandemic situation, Indian ambassador Dr Deepak Mittal, on Wednesday said in Doha that about 1,200 metric tons of liquid oxygen will be sent from Qatar to India in the next six to eight weeks. Speaking to the media, Mittal expressed deep gratitude and appreciation of the efforts of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani to extend all support to India to face the challenges posed by Covid-19. He also thanked Qatar Airways for its special offer to carry all global aid to India free of charge. “Two cryogenic oxygen tanks carrying 40 metric tons of liquid oxygen are expected to leave from Qatar today. The tanks are with the support of French government and the Gazal Company in Qatar is filling the liquid medical oxygen in Qatar. It is a display of global solidarity. "This is the first such shipment and multiple such shipments will be sent in the coming weeks,” Mittal said. The envoy said Qatar has been at the forefront in helping India. “Qatar Airways will carry all the medical essentials from around the world, free of charge. Recently, three flights left for Indian with medical supplies. They are now working to carry 4,100 oxygen cylinders from London presented by British Oxygen Company to be airlifted in a few days,” he revealed. “There is a strong logistic support here and Qatar has emerged as one of the very important logistic hubs for supporting India from wherever the assistance is coming. Qatar Airways is co-ordinating and Qatar has become a logistic transportation centre in the venture,” added Mittal. The envoy noted that the leadership including His Highness the Amir has been in touch with Indian government offering all help.“India has received tremendous support from government of Qatar as well as several other countries around the world. "The Qatar Fund for Development is working on supplying more medical aids at the instruction of His Highness the Amir. In India, we truly appreciate it and thank Qatar for the same. It means a lot for my country and is a sign of great friendship,” he said. Mittal also appreciated the efforts of the India community in Qatar in mobilising essentials during the challenging times. “The Indian community in Qatar has already moblised a lot of supplies. They have supplied 200 oxygen cylinders and 43 oxygen concentrators, which were sent on board an Indian Naval ship. "The community is also organising 200 more oxygen cylinders and 100 of them are expected to leave today. Another 100 will leave on May 8 or May 9 on another Indian Naval ship that arrives at Hamad Port. Each one is a 42-litre cylinder. "The Indian Community Benevolent Forum is co-ordinating the efforts,” he said. According to Mittal, the number of daily Covid cases in India has been decreasing for two days from over 400,000 to about 368,000 and this trajectory is visible in mortality rates too. The envoy elaborated on the Covid-19 scenario in India and how its second wave has affected the population as several variants of the virus became virulent resulting in the huge demand for oxygen. “In March this year, the demand for medical oxygen was about 1,100 metric tons. Now the demand after a month is about 8,000 metric tons. "Oxygen challenge is a major issue as the deadly variant of the virus is creating more breathing issues for the affected. Industrial oxygen is currently being used and more oxygen is being sourced from other countries including Gulf countries. "Transportation of oxygen (within India) is another challenge and we have started Oxygen Express with the help of Indian Railways and Indian Air Force,” he added.    

Daily Covid-19 cases in Qatar have been declining steadily due to the current restrictions and the fast rollout of the vaccination programme, a senior official from the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) said on Saturday. “It is still too early to be sure whether we have overcome the second wave of the pandemic but if we all continue to adhere to the restrictions and follow the preventive measures, we will see a persistent fall in the number of cases. We will ease the current restrictions only when we are sure that the threat of the disease has subsided,” said Dr Soha al- Bayat, head of vaccination at the MoPH, during an interview with Qatar TV. “All the measures against Covid-19 have led to a significant decrease in the number of people with Covid-19 in hospital. We continue to impose restrictions to curb the spread of the virus. With a new threat of the emerging Indian variant, Qatar has also introduced mandatory quarantine for travellers returning from some specific countries,” continued Dr al-Bayat. The official said more than 1.5mn doses of vaccine have been administered since the start of the vaccination campaign. “In Qatar, we are making great progress in the rollout of the vaccination programme, but we need at least 80- 90% of eligible people to be vaccinated in order to have maximum protection for the entire population. The vaccines do work – our data here in Qatar is conclusive. Since the beginning of 2021, we have had 1,766 Covid-19 admissions to ICU – and just 19 of these patients had been fully vaccinated. Only 1% of Covid-19 ICU admissions have been fully vaccinated against the virus. In fact, non-vaccinated people of all ages in Qatar are 91 times more likely to be admitted to ICU with Covid-19 than fully vaccinated people,” she noted. “Around 44% of the adult population has now had at least one dose of the vaccine. More than half a million people are fully vaccinated. Every week, more than 160,000 doses are given," she explained. Dr al-Bayat said 86% of people over 60 years have received at least one dose of the vaccine and 75% of people in this category has received both the doses. As for people over 40 years, 67% has got at least one dose and 41% both the doses. “This is especially encouraging as almost nine out of ten people over 60 years of age have now had at least one dose. The public in Qatar have responded very well to the vaccination programme and we are not seeing any significant degree of hesitancy,” she pointed out. According to the head of vaccination, the drive-through vaccination centres have been a huge success and so far, more than 170,000 people have visited these centres. “To improve the user experience at the drive-through centres, we have adjusted the policy for eligibility and from now on only people getting their first dose at Qatar National Convention Centre will be eligible for their second dose at the Lusail and Al Wakra drive-through centres. Other people who receive their first dose at a primary health centre will be booked for a second dose appointment at the same health centre,” she noted. “Receiving the Covid-19 vaccine during the holy month of Ramadan does not break a person’s fast because the vaccine is administered intramuscularly, and it is not nutritious. People should not delay their vaccination appointments during Ramadan. The operating hours of vaccination centres have been adjusted throughout Ramadan to enable convenient access to vaccination,” she explained. The official also cautioned vaccinated people to take necessary precautions. “It is still unknown whether the vaccines prevent passing Covid-19 to other people. So, vaccinated people still have the potential to contract the infection and pass it on to others. As the vaccines aren’t 100% effective , there is still a small chance – around 5% - that vaccinated people can get re-infected and become sick. So, people are advised to continue following the precautionary measures to protect themselves as well as others,” she added.  

Researchers from Qatar Foundation (QF) and Texas A&M University in the US have developed an AI-based model to make a non-invasive gadget to detect low blood sugar in people with Type1 diabetes (T1D), Gulf Times has learnt. “The idea was to detect the frequency and magnitude at which signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia or low blood sugar occur in people with T1D. To do this, we developed an app that would help us collect relevant data via a smart watch,” said Dr Khalid Qaraqe, professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering Programme, Texas A&M University at Qatar, a QF partner and the lead of the programme. Signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia can include sweating, feeling tired, dizziness and tremors. These physiological tremors were the focus of the project led by Dr Qaraqe and funded by QF’s Qatar National Research Fund. Dr Qaraqe explained, “We recruited 77 participants with T1D in two cohorts: one consisting of 45 adults located in the US, and 32 children, from 10-17 years located in Qatar. All members of both cohorts were users of Apple watch and continuous glucose monitor (CGM). The built-in motion sensor in the Apple watch and blood sugar data collected from the CGM were crucial for the study.” To collect data, the app was installed on each of the participants’ Apple watch. Through the watch’s built-in motion sensor and the app, the group was able to determine the frequency at which tremors were occurring in participants with T1D. "Hypoglycemia happens when the blood sugar drops to a level that's too low to sustain normal functioning- below 70 milligrams per deciliter. It is common in people with T1D to experience at least one or two episodes of mild hypoglycemia a week," said, Prof Goran Petrovski, diabetes consultant at QF’s Sidra Medicine who served as a consultant on the project. Existing solutions for glucose monitoring such as continuous glucose monitors can prevent these events but are very costly. The need to come up with a simple, wearable and inexpensive solution is what started this research. After obtaining the relevant data, the team used AI to develop a machine learning (ML) algorithm to correlate tremor frequency and hypoglycemia. Prof Qaraqe said, “When the algorithm detects a tremor within the frequency range that is indicative of hypoglycemia, it will send a message to the app user which, in the case of children, is parents to alert them of possible hypoglycemia.” The team has gone a step forward and developed another ML algorithm for prediction of hypoglycemia which can alert the user of hypoglycemia in advance, allowing them to prevent it from occurring rather than having to manage it. The algorithm is also able to predict and estimate the sugar level based on the tremor data. “What we want to do now is to create a wearable device, in the form of a bracelet or a ring which will use compact high-precision accelerometers to capture low frequency physiologic tremors and predict the blood sugar level,” Prof Qaraqe pointed out. Dr Petrovski said that the device will be a low cost one to cater to every segment of the society. “The device we envision will be a very low-cost device, which doesn’t require a screen making it low-maintenance and won’t need to be charged daily,” he noted. The developed technology has an accuracy rate of between 85-89% and “the accuracy range of our technology is actually similar to that of commercially available medical devices,” according to Prof Qaraqe. “Our technology is cloud-based which means it is low latency – that means it processes data with minimal delay. As of now, the total time between the tremor occurring, sending the data to cloud-based AI, performing the calculation in the cloud and getting it back is between 60-90 seconds, which is good, but we are working to reduce this further to a matter of a few seconds and have it almost in real time,” added, Prof Qaraqe.