Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) will host a number of events that range from public lectures by leading Islamic experts to a market showcasing local entrepreneurs and a concert by a world-renowned classical guitarist, in January.
On January 4, at the College of Islamic Studies (CIS), professor Ali Al-Quradaghi is delivering a public lecture that provides insights into how Maqasid Al Shariah can be the framework for Islamic financial transactions in the banking sector. Al-Quradaghi is a Shariah expert to several Islamic banks, and will provide the audience with examples from the Islamic banking industry.
The Student Centre at HBKU will be hosting an Education City Market from January 11 to 14. Open to the general public, the event showcases a rich display of products and services for attendees to browse. It also provides a platform to engage with local business owners and entrepreneurs to learn more about their unique success stories.
Maryam Hamad al-Mannai, vice president of Student Affairs at HBKU, commented, “Visitors to the various stalls will get an interesting glimpse into what is currently being created by talented entrepreneurs in Qatar. It brings students face-to-face with local entrepreneurs and encourages innovative thought and research as they work to tackle challenges faced by Qatar and the region.”
CIS will be conducting a public lecture by professor Robert Eccles on January 15 titled “Sustainability and Integrated Reporting for Sustainable Corporate Strategies.”
The lecture aims to address critical issues faced by organisations in developing an integrated approach to external reporting that includes corporate social responsibility, sustainable development, and competitive advantage. Eccles is the first non-executive chairman of Arabesque, a European investment firm that leverages sustainability data with quantitative models to offer a unique approach to investing.
HBKU’s Translation and Interpreting Institute (TII), part of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, is celebrating the Chinese Spring Festival held at the Student Centre on January 22.
The lunar festival, co-organised with the Chinese embassy, will mark the incoming Fire Rooster year in accordance with their zodiac.
Denoted by 12 animals and five elements, a complete cycle of the Chinese zodiac is a period of 60 years – the next Fire Rooster will be in the year 2076.
Also starting on January 22 is HBKU’s food safety class. Delivered once a week over the following six weeks at the Student Centre from 6pm to 8 pm, the class aims to educate community members on the importance of food safety. Enrolled participants will be able to learn best practices to identify and deal with hazards in food production, storage, and consumption. Classes will be administered in English by Dr Walid Alali, an associate professor of epidemiology and a founding member of the College of Health and Life Sciences at HBKU.
The university is also organising a public symposium titled the “Contribution of Chinese Muslim Scholars to Civilisation” January 24 at CIS. The event will feature Dr Zuhrat Aldin Ma Xiapei and Dr James Frankel, both professors at the Chinese University in Hong Kong, as guest speakers to discuss how Chinese Muslims played key roles in society through interaction, co-operation, and assimilation without compromising their unique Muslim identity.
To conclude the month of January, TII will be hosting a concert by Paco Renter?a, a guitarist from Mexico on the 30th. The event, in partnership with the country’s embassy, is a part of TII’s initiative to promote the Language Centre and cross-cultural knowledge.