Since 2002, thousands of QF alumni have entered organisations and companies across the country, successfully taking the knowledge and soft-skills they acquired at university into the world of work.
These young men and women have gone on to make invaluable contributions to Qatar’s development, bringing their expertise to almost every sector in the country – from technology, healthcare, and engineering, to art, music, business, and research.
Following QF’s Convocation ceremony on Tuesday, representatives from leading organisations in Qatar have lauded the impact QF alumni have made across the nation.
Hamad A Wahed al-Hamadi, senior strategic Qatarisation adviser, human capital, Qatar Petroleum, says that when construction of Education City began years ago, engineers from Qatar Petroleum were assigned to build many of its facilities and infrastructure.
“Qatar Petroleum and its subsidiaries have been great supporters of education. Over the years, a number of graduates from different QF universities have joined our company, and other companies, in the energy sector. Additionally, these companies promote STEM education and research amongst students at all education levels in Qatar.
“We liaise with universities such as Texas A&M University at Qatar, Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar, and Hamad Bin Khalifa University, providing sponsorships and opportunities for further development for students or employees. We work closely with QF universities to ensure that their curriculum is in line with the technical requirements a student needs to work efficiently in the energy sector.”
Abdulla Nasser al-Khalifa, general manager, Group Human Capital at Qatar National Bank Group, highlighted how QF’s graduates have been making an impact in the finance and business sectors.
“Qatar Foundation students have made significant contributions to our international journey at QNB Group, by helping us achieve the group’s vision and goals: to be the institution of choice for customers, employees, investors, and suppliers, and achieve sustainable, profitable growth and brand recognition, among other objectives.
“Qatar Foundation is a close partner to QNB Group in the education sector. Some of the initiatives shared between the two organisations include the periodic internships of Qatar Foundation university students at QNB, and the hiring of new graduates across our network in Qatar. Additionally, QNB senior executives and staff frequently lecture at QF academic institutions. “By playing a central role in the development of the education sector in the country, Qatar Foundation has empowered Qatari youth to take on emerging responsibilities in the future. And its graduates are an example of that ethos.”
According to Fatima Haidar, chief of human resources, Hamad Medical Corp, over recent years, graduates from QF universities have made invaluable contributions to the country’s healthcare sector. “As Hamad Medical Corp expands, we need to continue to recruit qualified and efficient workforce to help us realise our goals. Traditionally, that was done by recruiting from overseas; however, now we have the choice of recruiting from the pool of individuals graduating locally. We are therefore delighted that Qatar Foundation’s education strategy is yielding high calibre graduates from a variety of disciplines to contribute to a healthcare service we can all be proud of.
“Over the last few decades, Qatar’s healthcare sector has seen extraordinary achievements that benefit patients and communities. For instance, the World Health Organisation ranks Qatar in the top 25% of the world for access and quality. These achievements demonstrate that our collective efforts in raising the standard of living and healthcare in Qatar are yielding results.”
Brig General (Air) Ahmed Ismail al-Zeyara, director of the Directorate of Moral Guidance at the Ministry of Defence, said, “The Ministry of Defence, with other Qatari institutions and the citizens of Qatar, takes great pride in Education City and holds it in the highest regard.
“The various contributions made by QF help foster academic capabilities that are necessary for success both locally and internationally. Indeed, the goals outlined by QF are aligned with the goals of the Ministry of Defence and the Qatar Armed Forces as they both aim to unlock academic capabilities, knowledge, and human potential.
“QF university graduates have developed a reputation for excellence in many fields such as politics and international relations, economics, business administration, technology and design, medicine, and engineering. Their performance has also made an impact on the various ministries and national institutions, including the Ministry of Defence”. “By honing the capabilities of youth in different fields, Qatar Foundation graduates are playing a significant role in shaping the future of not only the Ministry of Defence, but Qatar as a whole,” he added.