Students at Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar (CMU-Q), a Qatar Foundation partner university, organised a virtual Qatar National Day celebration.
The CMU-Q Qatari Student Association held a photo competition and online event for students to connect and learn more about the rich Qatari culture, including traditional Qatari attire, the karak tea custom, Qatari proverbs, and Arabic calligraphy.
Mohamed al-Qassabi, president of the Qatari Student Association and a third-year student at CMU-Q, noted how different this year’s Qatar National Day will feel: “It will feel a little strange, since we can’t celebrate in person. But at CMU-Q, we can show our love for our country through photos, and through a virtual gathering and shared celebration of Qatar.”
More than 40% of CMU-Q’s students and alumni are Qatari, and they, as well as all students at CMU-Q, have experienced a year of creativity and growth as they explore how they can use their education to help Qatar overcome the challenges of the pandemic.
Al-Qassabi, who has long been involved with the Qatar Scientific Club, helped to design and manufacture 7,000 reusable face shields for medical workers to use to stay safe.
Fatima Mustafawi created a senior honors project that would improve the experience of workers in Qatar by making it easier to stay in touch with their families in their home countries.
Mohamed al-Matwi, a 2015 graduate in business administration, turned to entrepreneurship, and in 2017 started The Perfume Factory, the first fragrance manufacturer in Qatar, shifting his production to personal sanitisers when Covid-19 hit.
The dean of CMU-Q, Michael Trick, reflected on Qatar National Day 2020: “This year has been challenging, but it has also sparked the creativity and resilience of our students. Carnegie Mellon is in Qatar for one reason: to contribute to the development of this nation. As the end of the pandemic comes into focus, I truly hope our students and alumni will take this spirit of community service and innovation forward to help build a brighter future.”
CMU-Q offers undergraduate programmes in biological sciences, business administration, computer science, and information systems. The branch campus is home to more than 400 students from 52 countries, 40% of whom are Qatari.
Mohamed al-Qassabi, president of the Qatari Student Association and a third-year student at CMU-Q, noted how different this year’s Qatar National Day will feel: “It will feel a little strange, since we can’t celebrate in person. But at CMU-Q, we can show our love for our country through photos, and through a virtual gathering and shared celebration of Qatar.”
More than 40% of CMU-Q’s students and alumni are Qatari, and they, as well as all students at CMU-Q, have experienced a year of creativity and growth as they explore how they can use their education to help Qatar overcome the challenges of the pandemic.
Al-Qassabi, who has long been involved with the Qatar Scientific Club, helped to design and manufacture 7,000 reusable face shields for medical workers to use to stay safe.
Fatima Mustafawi created a senior honors project that would improve the experience of workers in Qatar by making it easier to stay in touch with their families in their home countries.
Mohamed al-Matwi, a 2015 graduate in business administration, turned to entrepreneurship, and in 2017 started The Perfume Factory, the first fragrance manufacturer in Qatar, shifting his production to personal sanitisers when Covid-19 hit.
The dean of CMU-Q, Michael Trick, reflected on Qatar National Day 2020: “This year has been challenging, but it has also sparked the creativity and resilience of our students. Carnegie Mellon is in Qatar for one reason: to contribute to the development of this nation. As the end of the pandemic comes into focus, I truly hope our students and alumni will take this spirit of community service and innovation forward to help build a brighter future.”
CMU-Q offers undergraduate programmes in biological sciences, business administration, computer science, and information systems. The branch campus is home to more than 400 students from 52 countries, 40% of whom are Qatari.