Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) has launched two new postgraduate programmes: a Master of Arts in Women, Society, and Development, and a Master of Arts in Digital Humanities and Societies.
Applications are now being accepted for prospective students wishing to join the inaugural classes, which will start this fall. 
A public information session featuring an academic panel for both programmes will take place at the Liberal Arts and Science Building, Education City, on April 19 at 5pm. An additional information session is scheduled to take place on May 10.
The new programmes will be delivered by HBKU’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS). 
Dr Ahmad Hasnah, president of HBKU, said: “Our new programmes utilise a multidisciplinary and innovative approach to learning to shed fresh light on two fascinating fields of study. By harnessing the expertise of our exceptional faculty and through exchanges and joint activities with other institutions, both within Education City and across Qatar, we will provide our students with an outstanding opportunity for higher learning experience as well as developing leaders who will impact their communities.”
Dr Khaled B Letaief, provost of HBKU, said: “Both programmes provide Qatar with the opportunity to take a regional lead in fields of scholarship that are gathering a great deal of global attention. Students will have the opportunity to shed fresh light on issues that impact society, whether focusing on how digital technologies increasingly intersect with traditional humanities disciplines, such as philosophy, history, literature and cultural studies or fostering a deeper understanding of women’s issues as they relate to Qatar and the wider Arab world.” 
HBKU’s Women, Society and Development programme is the “first of its kind” in the region and enrolled students can expect to gain a thorough understanding of major strands in gender theory, and learn about Arab women from a historical and contemporary context, according to a press statement.
“The degree will be interdisciplinary, drawing upon a number of specialisations such as social sciences, politics and international relations, law and media,” noted the founding dean of CHSS, Dr Amal al-Malki. “Through their studies, students will develop the skills necessary to go on and build effective mainstream public policies that can help solve challenges encountered by women in all areas of society and will serve to enhance Qatar’s global efforts to promote human development as it relates to women.”
The other newly launched programme explores another underrepresented field of study regionally. Over the last decade, cultures have been dramatically changed by the increasing influence of digital technologies and the MA in Digital Humanities and Societies programme will focus on the role, impact, and consequences of digital influence on culture. 
Specifically, the programme’s focus is to teach the relevant knowledge of digitisation, presentation and interpretation of both qualitative and quantitative data. This programme prepares students for careers that intersect with academic research, journalism, private businesses, policy developers, communication, and data analysis and management.