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Qatar University (QU)’s Young Scientists Centre (YSC) has concluded the seventh edition of its 2025 Summer Research Training Programme, which served as an exceptional platform for students to pursue academic and research excellence.The closing ceremony featured a research poster exhibition showcasing the innovative projects and creative achievements developed by participating students.This year’s programme provided the students opportunities to enhance research skills and engage in innovative projects across several vital fields, including energy and environment, health and biomedical sciences, information and communication technology, and social and human sciences.“Over the years, the programme has proven its effectiveness in empowering students to develop their research capabilities and progress from inquiry to scientific discovery,” said associate vice-president (Research and Graduate Studies) Dr Mohamed Alsafran.He noted that this year saw outstanding participation, with 245 students taking part in 34 research projects across various disciplines.Dr Alsafran emphasised that the programme’s success reflects the productive collaboration among the university’s research centres and colleges, which have actively contributed to strengthening the QU’s multidisciplinary research platform, supporting excellence and innovation, and reinforcing the university’s commitment to building national capacity and achieving sustainable development.Dr Zubair Ahmad, the head of Module Development and Publication at the YSC, highlighted that the Summer Research Training Programme serves as a cornerstone in fostering research capabilities among youth.He described it as a strategic platform that transforms students into researchers and innovators capable of addressing contemporary challenges.Dr Ahmad added that the programme provides students with a unique opportunity to engage in real scientific research designed to enhance their technical and research skills through collaborative work with experts and mentors.He further said that the programme focuses on capacity building, enabling students to acquire the skills, knowledge, and confidence necessary to contribute effectively to the knowledge-based economy envisioned in Qatar National Vision 2030.Among the winning projects were:* “The Effect of Catalyst Support Acidity and Basicity on CO₂ Conversion in the RWGS Reaction” in the Energy and Environment category, supervised by Dr Anand Kumar and Dr Parisa Ebrahimi from the College of Engineering.* “Years of Change: How University Life Shapes Students’ Dietary Habits and Physical Activity” in the Health and Biomedical Sciences category, led by Dr Rima Tayyem from the College of Health Sciences.* “A Smart Warning System for Distracted Motorcycle Riders Using Machine Learning Techniques” in the Information Technology category, supervised by Dr Qainat Hussain from the College of Engineering.* “Digital Transformation and AI Integration: Exploring Perceived Educational Benefits in Non-STEM Education” in the Social and Human Sciences category, supervised by Dr Julie Bhadra and Somaya Muneer from the YSC.These achievements reflected not only the quality of academic supervision but also the students’ ability to translate knowledge into pioneering research outcomes with tangible societal impact.The Summer Research Training Programme is one of the QU’s strategic initiatives, reflecting its commitment to developing students’ scientific capabilities and empowering them to become future research leaders capable of innovation and contributing to societal advancement.

Al Shaqab Training Show will take place this Friday, October 10, from 3pm to 8pm at the Longines Indoor Arena, Al Shaqab announced Sunday. This event serves as an important platform to showcase the talents of aspiring riders and prepare them for the upcoming season’s competitions, including the prestigious Al Shaqab League.The Training Show is designed as a vital stage that empowers riders to gain practical experience in a safe and motivating competitive environment. It combines both educational and competitive aspects, aligning with Al Shaqab’s vision of developing a new generation of riders capable of representing Qatar in regional and international championships.Commenting on the event, Mohammed al-Khayareen, Director of the Equestrian Education Department at Al Shaqab, said: "At Al Shaqab, we place great emphasis on providing a comprehensive educational environment for our riders. The Training Show is a key step in this journey. It not only offers riders valuable hands-on experience but also helps them face real challenges with greater confidence. Through such initiatives, we aim to nurture ambitions, sharpen skills, and enhance opportunities for reaching podiums while raising Qatar’s flag high on the global stage."The competition will feature several categories of varying levels, tailored to suit different ages and abilities, including 40cm, 60cm, 80cm, 100cm, 110cm and 120 cm. A large number of Al Shaqab riders are expected to participate, showcasing the progress and skills they have been working hard to develop in recent weeks before both the audience and the judging panel.Al Shaqab in a statement said: “Al Shaqab’s management is committed to making this event more than just a sporting competition. It is envisioned as a holistic experience that combines education, inspiration, and entertainment. Spectators will enjoy the riders’ outstanding performances while also gaining insight into the significant effort invested in their training—reflecting Al Shaqab’s mission to instill values of discipline, teamwork, and commitment in all participants.”“The presence of spectators plays a pivotal role in motivating and encouraging riders. It provides them with the extra boost to give their best and instills perseverance and determination. The support of families and friends in the stands creates an ideal atmosphere that inspires riders to face challenges with confidence and leaves a lasting impact on their journey toward success.”Al Shaqab said it is inviting all equestrian enthusiasts in Qatar to seize this opportunity and join for an exceptional sporting evening filled with excitement and thrill. The Training Show promises captivating show jumping competitions that highlight precision, strength, and the harmony between horse and rider.

The Ministry of Labour, in partnership with the National Committee for Combating Human Trafficking (NCCHT), conducted a three-day intensive training program to strengthen national capacity in identifying and addressing human trafficking in line with international and national standards.The program brought together NCCHT staff supporting hotline operations, personnel from humanitarian care homes, and labour inspectors, equipping them with the knowledge and skills required for early detection of trafficking cases and effective intervention. The initiative aligns with Qatar National Vision 2030, which aims to secure a dignified life for all residents and foster a thriving, knowledge-based society.As part of Qatar's National Human Trafficking Action Plan 2024-2026, the training underscores ongoing efforts to harmonise and coordinate national measures across government bodies and civil society. It reaffirms the nation's commitment to human rights, Islamic law, the Constitution, and legislation that protects human dignity and prohibits all forms of exploitation.Participants engaged in specialized modules covering legal frameworks, trafficking indicators, national referral mechanisms, and the operational roles of specialised units and labour inspectors in enforcing the law and supporting victims. The training also emphasised a human-rights-centred approach, promoting protection, prevention, and rehabilitation.Human trafficking remains one of the most egregious violations of contemporary human rights, with profound impacts on individual dignity and fundamental freedoms. Effective counteraction requires collaborative efforts, activation of joint coordination mechanisms, strengthened national and international partnerships, and broad awareness of the risks and strategies to combat this crime.Through such initiatives, Qatar continues to build national expertise, raise societal awareness, and foster strategic alliances aimed at preventing and combating human trafficking at national, regional, and global levels.

Qatar News Agency (QNA) launched today a specialized training course on news verification and documentation, as part of the training programs organized by the QNA Training Center, with the aim of developing the professional capabilities of media personnel and enhancing their efficiency in various fields of journalistic work.The three-day training course was presented by media expert Dr. Nabil Abdo Ahmed Al-Mariri, with the participation of a number of QNA staff, in addition to employees from various media institutions and government agencies.The course aims to equip participants with the skills to fact-check and document news and enhance critical thinking, as well as familiarize them with the basics of news fact-checking and its importance in the media space. The course focuses on enhancing ethical and professional responsibility in writing, proofreading, and publishing news, and improving participants' skills in reviewing and critiquing news content.The course addresses how to deal with misleading news during crises and exceptional events, highlighting modern tools and techniques used in fact-checking and documenting news.The course covers several key topics, most notably: the concept of news verification, its importance, the historical roots of this function, the impact of fake and inaccurate news on society in general and on media institutions in particular (examples of old and new news), global models, levels of news verification and documentation, and the development of analytical and critical skills.At the end of the course, practical fieldwork will be conducted, giving participants the opportunity to apply the skills they acquired during the training, followed by a comprehensive evaluation of their performance through a graduation project. Participants will also be honored in recognition of their efforts and contributions to enhancing news documentation skills.The course is part of the QNA Training Center plan, which was created to provide a sophisticated platform for training media professionals in an interactive learning environment supported by the latest technical equipment.

The Statistical and Data Training Centre at the National Planning Council (NPC), in co-operation with Qatar Foundation (QF), has concluded a specialised training programme entitled ‘Economic Statistics for Managers: From Data to Decisions’.The initiative, held at QF headquarters, was part of national efforts to enhance government efficiency and advance knowledge-based sustainable development, a statement said.The aim is to qualify government leaders in economic fields, empowering them to effectively utilise data and statistics to impact public policies.The programme focused on developing skills for using data efficiently as a fundamental element in improving institutional performance and enhancing decision-making effectiveness.It is also a significant step towards qualifying national cadres and developing their capabilities in statistical leadership, as well as building integrated, collaborative systems for data exchange among various entities. The programme emphasised the importance of building trust in government data as a cornerstone for ensuring effective governance.It highlighted the pivotal role of integration and data exchange between institutions, and encouraged the adoption of modern tools and techniques in future planning.This reinforces the concept of leadership empowerment in the field of data, which enables leaders to support national decisions with accurate and reliable information. The intensive six-day programme covered several key themes, including: fundamentals of data and statistics, national statistical system, statistical literacy for executive leaders, data integration and ethics, statistical data management, strategic leadership, and roadmap design.Hessa Ali al-Malki, director of the Statistical and Data Training Centre at NPC, said: “Organising the programme with Qatar Foundation strengthens our partnerships with the country’s leading academic institutions.”QF’s talent management director Sheikha Ghalia al-Thani, said: “This initiative is part of our strategic co-operation with national institutions, reflecting QF’s steadfast commitment to enhancing national capabilities through knowledge exchange and leadership development across various sectors.”

Qatar News Agency (QNA) launched on Sunday a specialized training course on photojournalism as part of the training programs organized by the QNA Training Center, which aim to develop and enhance the professional capabilities of media personnel in various fields of journalistic work. The three-day course will be delivered by media expert Sadah Suleiman Al-Kanani, with the participation of a number of agency staff, as well as employees from various media institutions and government agencies. The course aims to introduce participants to the basics of photojournalism and provide them with advanced skills in capturing newsworthy and visual images. It also aims to enable them to understand the subtle differences between emotional images and news images, and how to employ visually impactful images to serve a journalistic story. The course also covers several key topics, most notably the basics of photography for journalists, the concept of photojournalism and its role in covering events, the art of visual narrative in photojournalism, the difference between emotional and news photos, how to transform emotional photos into effective news tools, and the use of artificial intelligence in analyzing, editing, and documenting photos for journalistic purposes. This course comes as part of QNA's commitment to enhancing the professional competence of its media professionals and equipping them with modern tools that meet the demands of the contemporary media landscape, particularly with the development of artificial intelligence technologies and the expanding role of images in conveying information and shaping public opinion. The course also falls under the QNA Training Halls plan, which was established to provide an advanced platform for training media professionals in an interactive educational environment supported by the latest technical equipment.

Qatar News Agency (QNA), through its QNA Training Center, will resume its training programs for the last quarter of 2025, starting early September.QNA is set to launch a series of specialized courses covering topics such as news verification, social media monitoring and analysis, photojournalism, news documentation, and website content management and analysis.These courses, delivered by a team of experienced trainers, aim to equip participants with the latest professional field techniques and digital tools essential for journalism and media work.Participants will include employees from various media organizations and government entities, as well as staff members from different departments within QNA.These training programs are a continuation of QNA's approach to enhancing the skills of Qatari media professionals and developing their performance and professional efficiency.The courses are being held at the QNA Training Halls, which were inaugurated in March 2023, and equipped with state-of-the-art training technologies, helping to create an encouraging training environment that keeps pace with the rapid developments in the media landscape.