The Community College of Qatar (CCQ) yesterday signed local and international MoUs as part of its ongoing efforts to keep up to date with the best practices around the world and enhance its various educational opportunities and quality academic programmes. 
The MoUs were signed in the presence of Dr Ibrahim al-Naimi, president, CCQ; Ahmed bin Abdullah al-Jamal, chairman, General Authority of Customs; Dr David Widdowson, CEO, the Centre for Customs and Excise Studies at Charles Sturt University, Australia; and Dr Eduardo J Padrón, president of Miami Dade College (MDC), US.
CCQ signed an MoU with the General Authority of Customs, and the Centre for Customs and Excise Studies at Charles Sturt University, a leading global provider of customs education, technical assistance and research. 
The purpose of this MoU is to build on the previous agreements between the signing parties to jointly develop and deliver a comprehensive programme of Customs education and training for the State of Qatar to raise the academic standards of customs professionals and the profession, with a strong commitment to world-class customs education and best practices.
The signing parties will work together to support co-operation in the implementation of various academic activities such as: executing and maintaining the Associate of Applied Science in Customs Management degree; delivery of a Bachelor of Border Management in Doha; exchange of experiences and advice; and Commitment to quality assurance standards in accordance with international systems.
The Associate of Applied Science in Customs Management is a two-year degree programme that provides students with critical knowledge and skills in the field of customs and border protection. This programme is designed to prepare individuals that are seeking employment in the field of customs and border management, or for current customs employees wishing to advance their careers at their workplace.
In the same context, CCQ signed a MoU with MDC, the largest institution of higher education in the US with more than 165,000 students. The MoU aims to outline the possible ways in which CCQ and MDC can develop and carry out collaborative activities, including the development of workshops and project opportunities; exchange of students, faculty and staff; development of collaborative research programmes or projects of mutual interest; and discussion of academic and administrative developments, including co-sponsorship of symposia, seminars and conferences.  
The co-operation will also extend to the development of education generally, including the potential for offering joint programmes; exchange of scholarly publications and information; exploration of avenues for participating students to earn college credits at MDC; and development of a 2+2 programme pathway for CCQ associate degree graduates to join MDC baccalaureate degree programmes.
The CCQ, which opened in September 2010, is described as the fastest growing institution in Qatar today with an enrolment of 4,300 students at four different campuses.
The CCQ offers a number of associate and bachelor degree programmes that meet the needs of the labour force in Qatar. Among them are two-year Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degree programmes for students wishing to transfer to four-year universities, high demand 2+2 associate and bachelor’s degree programmes and two-year Associate of Applied Arts and Applied Science degree programmes. 
The CCQ also offers short-term continuing education and marketable skills certificates for those who wish to upgrade their knowledge and skills to become more marketable in the job market.