QU’s environmental science courses get UK accreditations

Qatar University’s Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) celebrated the accreditation of its BSc and MSc Environmental Sciences programmes by the Committee of Heads of Environmental Sciences (CHES) and the Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES).The programmes are the first outside the UK to be accredited by CHES, the leading global accreditation body for environmental science higher education degree courses.Though CHES accredits only honours and graduate programmes, an exception was made for QU’s programmes because of its rigorous nature, putting it at the same level as an honours programme in other universities.The ceremony was attended by QU president Professor Sheikha Abdulla al-Misnad, CAS dean Dr Eiman Mustafawi, CHES chair and IES trustee Professor Philip Wheater, QU’s Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences head Professor Samir Jaoua, former head and current director of QU Laboratory Animal Research Centre Dr Hamda al-Naemi, and other QU and CHES officials. Dr Mustafawi said the programmes join a growing list of accredited programmes at CAS that includes the Biomedical Sciences Programme accredited by the National Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences in Fall 2008; Chemistry Programme accredited by the Canadian Society for Chemistry in Fall 2009; and Statistics Programme accredited by the Royal Statistical Society in Spring 2011. Two additional CAS programs — Mass Communication, and Human Nutrition — are currently undergoing the accreditation process.Professor Wheater observed that since the discipline of environmental science is relatively young, such accreditation is an important milestone in gaining recognition for the quality of standards.“Membership brings with it a number of benefits, including a range of membership grades appropriate for students and professionals at different stages of their careers. There are also routes available to attain chartered status.”Professor Jaoua explained that CHES accreditation will open up new collaboration in research and students exchange, as all accredited universities work together under the umbrella of CHES to implement significant research, addressing important environmental issues.Dr al-Naemi recalled that when planning for Environmental Sciences programmes at QU, she placed high standards and expectations for the new multidisciplinary programmes that are one of a kind in Qatar and the region. “I am glad we met these expectations, positioning the department, the college and the university as a whole, as leaders of programmes that are recognised at the international level,” she added.