Students in Qatar Leadership Centre’s (QLC) Executive Master’s in Leadership-Qatar (EML-Q) recently concluded their annual week-long residency at Georgetown University in Washington DC, but in a new way, as all of its modules and meetings were offered through the Internet.
Based on the need for careful compliance with the government’s health and safety measures introduced as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, the long-standing academic partners collaborated closely in order to deliver the Washington experience completely through online tools.
They created a unique schedule that facilitated digital conference calls between the students in Qatar and the professors, experts and leaders in the US, in a concerted effort to protect the health of all parties involved while continuing the tradition of high-quality leadership education.
Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business faculty connected students with political leaders, including US Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette, who answered QLC students’ questions and offered insights forged from his experience as a senior government official. The school also facilitated a meeting with Jim Moran, former US Congressman and current senior policy adviser at Nelson Mullins, who shared his perspectives on legislative priorities for the current US Congress.
“The chance to meet and learn from important figures in American politics, even though digital conference calls, gave us an incredible opportunity,” said Mohamed Ali Kareeb, an EML-Q student. “Their experience in one of the world’s most powerful economies offered valuable lessons for my fellow students and me, as we consider ways to contribute to Qatar’s economic growth.”
The agenda featured panels of experts in healthcare, foreign policy, education, trade, energy, finance and education, a range of subjects reflecting interests of QLC students working in Qatar’s government, public institutions and the private sector.
Faculty from the McDonough School used online tools to consider leadership’s role in areas such as shaping strategy, international trade and emerging technologies at work, as well as diversity and inclusion. Simulations were featured, along with consideration of changing factors affecting capitalism, and the importance of US elections in 2020.
QLC and McDonough School of Business jointly developed the EML-Q degree, which is a nine-month programme offered for qualified alumni from one of the centre’s three National Leadership Programmes.
