Medicine, life sciences and knowledge-sharing in the areas of innovation and entrepreneurship were among the key focus areas of a visit to Sweden by a Qatar delegation led by HE the Minister of Education and Higher Education Dr Mohamed Abdul Wahed Ali al-Hammadi.
HE Dr al-Hammadi travelled to Sweden on April 2 with the delegation for meetings on April 3 and yesterday with Swedish ministers and representatives from Swedish universities and research institutes in order to explore and strengthen collaboration between Qatari and Swedish education and research institutions, according to a press statement from the Swedish embassy in Doha.
Following the visit of Swedish Minister of Higher Education and Research Helene Hellmark Knutsson to Qatar in February 2016, Sweden has — through the embassy and various bilateral visits from Sweden — worked towards increased co-operation in research and higher education.
A “milestone” in this area is being passed this week with the official visit of HE Dr al-Hammadi, made upon the invitation of Knutsson.
A memorandum of understanding designed to encourage increased co-operation in all educational and scientific areas is in process, based upon the principles of equality and mutual respect for the two countries’ legal environments, as well as the mutual protection of intellectual property rights, and expected to be signed in the near future, the statement noted.
Accompanying the minister were Dr Hassan Rashid al-Derham, president of Qatar University; Dr Ahmad Hasnah, president of Hamad Bin Khalifa University; Dr Egon Toft, dean of Qatar University’s College of Medicine; Fawzia al-Khater, assistant undersecretary for Educational Affairs at the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoE); Ali Marafi, director of the International Co-operation Affairs Department at the ministry; and other members of Qatar’s MoE.
A major focus during the trip was on medicine and life sciences, with an important visit being made to Karolinska Institute (KI) — a leading medical research institution and university hospital.
While at KI, the minister and his delegation got the opportunity to study all of its educational programmes, paying special attention to KI’s focus on clinical research, and gave a presentation on higher education in Qatar.
Additionally, emphasis was laid on knowledge-sharing in the areas of innovation and entrepreneurship, where Sweden is consistently top-ranked internationally.
During a visit to the Royal Institute of Technology, a special presentation was given to the Qatar delegation on translating academic and research results into entrepreneurial business ideas.
Dr al-Hammadi also got the chance to visit the Swedish Institute, the government of Sweden’s cultural promotion agency, at an “opportune time for both parties”.
Over the last few months, the Swedish Institute, together with the Swedish private sector and Lund University, has been developing a tailor-made Master’s programme for young Qataris, focusing on innovation and entrepreneurship in the STEM fields.
The initiative was presented to and discussed with Dr al-Hammadi.
The trip also included a visit to ?va Gymnasium, an upper-secondary school.
Dr al-Hammadi also held meetings with Knutsson and Anna
Ekstr?m, Minister for Upper Secondary School and Adult Education and Training.