First recipient of Al Sraiya professorship is announced

Dr Milivoj Belic, professor at the Science Programme of Texas A&M University at Qatar (Tamuq), has been chosen as the first recipient of the Al Sraiya Holding Group Professorship. Dr Mark H Weichold, dean and CEO of Texas A&M at Qatar, said: “It is my pleasure to announce Dr Belic as the first recipient of this prestigious professorship. His record at Tamuq and throughout his career has garnered many well-deserved recognitions. Therefore, it is most fitting that a person of his calibre be chosen to receive the first professorship provided by a private company in Qatar. “The generous contribution by Al Sraiya Holding Group will provide funds to support Dr Belic’s academic, development and research activities for a period of three years. Professorships are crucial to an academic institution focused on excellence and represent truly exceptional teachers and scholars.”Earlier recognitions for Dr Belic include the Research Team of the Year Award in 2012 and 2014 from Qatar National Research Fund. A selection committee comprising five chaired faculty members from Texas A&M University’s main campus in College Station, Texas, US, received a number of nominations from the Tamuq engineering and Science Programme chairs. The committee evaluated the nominees based on their records of excellence in research, teaching and service, with particular emphasis on involving students in research, research productivity and impact, and engagement with the local community in Qatar. “It makes me proud to be the first recipient of the prestigious Al Sraiya Holding Professorship,” Dr Belic said. “This fund will benefit our research endeavours at Texas A&M at Qatar as well as Qatar and its people.”Sponsored by Al Sraiya Holding Group, the professorship supports Dr Belic’s “prestigious position” as well as teaching and student activities at Texas A&M at Qatar, according to a statement from Tamuq.Professorships help give universities a competitive edge by providing funds to attract top faculty, which in turn helps attract other top-notch faculty and students.