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Qatar Charity celebrated the graduation of 185 male and female university students sponsored under its 'Talib Al-Ilm' scholarship programme for the 2024-2025 academic year.The initiative, generously supported by the people of Qatar, aims to promote higher education, empower youth, and prepare a new generation of qualified leaders capable of driving social and community development.Speaking at the ceremony, Adam Abdul Fattah expressed pride in the partnership between Qatar Charity and SIMAD University, describing the occasion as a "historic milestone" in a journey of co-operation spanning several years.He said: "This moment marks not the end, but the beginning of a new journey one that calls for commitment, perseverance, and a sense of responsibility towards building a better future for your communities." He extended heartfelt thanks to the people of Qatar for their continued generosity, noting that their support has enabled thousands of students to complete their education and pursue professional success.In his remarks, Dr Mohamed Mohamud praised Qatar Charity's long-standing contribution to education and capacity building in Somalia.He highlighted that over the past 27 years Qatar Charity has played a vital role in preparing a new generation of leaders who now occupy influential positions in both government and the private sector.Since its launch in 1997, the "Talib Al-Ilm" programme has supported more than 3,600 university students around the world, providing full and partial scholarships to those in need.As part of its broader "Tamkeen" (empowerment) initiative, Qatar Charity has also supported over 225,000 students across 23 countries, enabling them to pursue their studies and build a brighter future.

Qatar University (QU) celebrated the graduation of a new cohort of students from the Honours Programme for the 2024-2025 academic year.The ceremony honoured 63 male and female graduates from various colleges of the university and was attended by faculty members, programme administrators, the members of the Honours Council, and students' families.The Honours Programme is one of QU's distinguished initiatives designed to support talented and high-achieving students. It provides a stimulating and unique experiential learning environment that emphasises research, innovation, and leadership development, contributing to the preparation of national talents capable of advancing the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030.In her speech, Dean of General Studies at QU Dr Saba Qadhi stated that this day represents "a harvest of years of dedication and perseverance.”She added, "This event is not merely a certificate-awarding ceremony, but a celebration of all the achievements our students have accomplished.”Dr Qadhi added, "Today, we celebrate an outstanding generation of QU students who represent the future of our nation and the cornerstone of its development.” She also announced the establishment of the Honours Programme Alumni Association, scheduled to launch in Spring 2026. The association will serve as a platform connecting programme graduates with new students, strengthening community engagement and fostering a sense of belonging among programme members.In his address, Director of the Honours Programme at QU Dr Yousri Marzouki expressed his pride in graduating this cohort under the programme's enhanced framework. He emphasised that this day marks the culmination of the combined efforts of students, faculty, and administrative staff in reinforcing standards of academic excellence and innovation.Dr Marzouki also announced a pioneering initiative being launched for the first time at QU: the introduction of the Digital Badge. Graduates of this year's class will be the first to receive this electronically certified academic distinction, which enables them to document and showcase their achievements across various digital platforms.He explained that the Digital Badge represents a strategic step toward strengthening ongoing engagement between QU and programme graduates, empowering them to leverage their academic experiences in future professional environments. He affirmed that this initiative aligns with QU's commitment to honouring academic excellence and expanding opportunities for innovation, lifelong learning, and development in education.The ceremony concluded with the recognition of graduates, who received certificates of appreciation in a celebratory atmosphere reflecting the university's pride in its outstanding students.

The Primary Health Care Corp (PHCC), through its "Asnani" School Oral Health Programme, successfully conducted medical screening for over 31,000 students across 152 schools, including 55 kindergartens and 97 primary schools, during the 2024-2025 academic year as part of a campaign for dental screening, education, and preventive treatment.Manager of the Oral Health Promotion and Prevention Department at PHCC, Dr Najat Alyafei, said the results revealed very important figures, showing that tooth decay remains one of the most common health problems among children.The data showed that 68% of kindergarten children had caries in their baby teeth, while the rate rose to 79% among primary school students. The percentage of decay in permanent teeth among primary students reached 35%.The results also showed that 62% of kindergarten children had untreated caries, in addition to 29% of primary students having untreated decay in their permanent teeth.The screening further indicated that the average number of affected baby teeth among kindergarten children was about four teeth-three untreated, one filled, and very few missing.As for permanent teeth among primary students, the average was less than one affected tooth per child, which the World Health Organisation classifies as a low level of decay, indicating gradual improvement in oral health as children grow older.Dr Alyafei noted that caries rates increase significantly with grade level - from 8% in first grade to 59% in sixth grade - reflecting the accumulation of unhealthy dietary habits and delayed follow-ups at home or between annual school screenings.She called on parents and students to engage positively with the "Asnani School Programme", emphasising that it is more than an annual check-up; it is an investment in protecting children's teeth and therefore their overall health.

As part of Qatar Shell’s Tafawoq programme, a group of energetic students from Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) and Education City campuses came together to experience the transformative journey of the Shell NXplorers Pro programme.NXplorers Pro is Shell’s advanced educational programme to equip future leaders with practical tools for solving complex global challenges. It blends systems thinking, scenario planning and theory of change, collectively known as NXthinking, to help participants explore problems, envision sustainable futures and develop actionable solutions.Hosted at HBKU, the NXplorers Pro programme challenged students to tackle global issues, imagine bold futures and develop actionable solutions for sustainable impact. Their energy and creativity highlighted the power of experiential learning to shape future changemakers.Dr Ala al-Fuqaha, associate provost, Teaching and Learning from HBKU, said: “At HBKU, we are proud to continue our well-established collaboration with Qatar Shell and its Tafawoq programme, of which we are a founding partner. NXplorers Pro aligns with our commitment to empowering the next generation of problem-solvers as they prepare to address critical challenges of our times. The enthusiasm and creativity demonstrated by our students reaffirm the importance of such experiential learning opportunities.”Bader al-Jaidah, director of Tafawoq, said: “By engaging with universities, we are building a bridge that helps students gain a clearer understanding of how industry operates before they begin their professional journeys. Our enduring partnership with HBKU in Qatar highlights the transformative power of collaboration in shaping a resilient and sustainable future.”Pia Ceasar, a graduate student at HBKU, who participated in the programme shared: “What I found most impressive about the programme was how seamlessly it combined deep insight with practical application. The experience sharpened my critical thinking and equipped me with powerful frameworks and tools to structure ideas and navigate complex challenges in both professional and personal contexts.”Tafawoq is a centre of excellence in project management, dedicated to developing professionals in Qatar and the wider region for major investment projects that support the Qatar National Vision 2030.

Qatar University’s (QU) College of Business and Economics continues the Business Mastery Programme—Fall 2025, organised by the Learning Support Section in collaboration with the Centre for Entrepreneurship. The program is designed to equip third- and fourth-year students with the practical skills in entrepreneurship and management necessary for a seamless transition from academic study to the professional environment, while enhancing their preparedness to meet the demands of the labour market through an integrated approach combining theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience. For this academic year, the programme consists of four comprehensive workshops, three of which have been conducted so far. This year, the emphasis is on the development of skills in entrepreneurial thinking, entrepreneurial marketing, psychological resilience and adaptation in entrepreneurship, and innovation management. The interactive workshops are led by members of the Centre for Entrepreneurship: Maisoun Sewailem, Faten Ramadan, and Hamza al-Sioufy. Fatema Khalil Hasan, head of the Learning Support Section at the College of Business and Economics, emphasised the holistic educational value of the programme, currently in its third edition and enabling students to acquire core personal and professional skills.

Qatar Foundation (QF)’s Ability Friendly programme, under Pre-University Education, organised a two-day swimming competition aimed at promoting inclusion through sport and empowering people with disabilities.The competition brought together around 70 participants and their families as part of an initiative that reflects Ability Friendly programme and its commitment to providing sports and recreational activities that offer participants equal opportunities to showcase their skills and build self-confidence.The event was sponsored by Sasol, reaffirming its commitment to empowering people with disabilities.The partnership with the QF aims to promote sports as a platform for rehabilitation, empowerment, and community inclusion.“At Sasol, we believe that true progress is measured not only by innovation and growth, but by how inclusive and equitable our communities become,” said Sasol vice-president (Qatar Country Management) Lourens Jacobs.“Through our long-standing collaboration with Qatar Foundation and our Accessible Qatar initiative, we continue to champion opportunities that empower every individual to participate fully and equally in society,” he said. “This Ability Friendly Swimming Competition reflects a shared belief that when barriers are removed, talent, courage, and determination shine through.”Jacobs emphasised that sport serves as a universal language, one that celebrates ability, strengthens communities, and inspires change.He highlighted that the athletes competing in the event demonstrate that inclusion is not about accommodation, but about creating environments where everyone can excel.Aisha Jassim al-Ali, the mother of Jassim al-Sulaiti, one of the participants with autism, said: “For Jassim, swimming has become a source of confidence and independence. He joined the Ability Friendly programme eight years ago, and since then, we’ve witnessed a remarkable transformation in his personality, one that has had a positive impact on his daily life, behaviour, and self-confidence.”“The Ability Friendly programme is a true outlet for our children,” she said. “It’s no longer just about playing sports for recreation, but about preparing champions who can compete in local tournaments.”“Today, I see Jassim competing alongside his peers with confidence and pride,” al-Ali added.

WFP says just two aid crossings are open and none to northIsrael says aid is entering in accordance with ceasefire planGazans store supplies for fear they will halt againThe UN World Food Programme said on Tuesday that supplies into Gaza were ramping up after the US-brokered ceasefire but were still far short of its daily target of 2,000 tons because only two crossings are open, and none to the famine-hit north of the enclave.Around 750 metric tons of food are now entering the Gaza Strip daily, according to the WFP, but this was still well below the scale of needs after two years of conflict between Israel and Hamas that has reduced much of Gaza to ruins."To be able to get to this scale-up, we have to use every border crossing point right now," WFP spokesperson Abeer Etefa told a Geneva press briefing.She said only two of the Israeli-controlled crossings into Gaza were operational - Kerem Shalom in the south and Kissufim in the centre.The ceasefire plan brokered by US President Donald Trump envisages "full aid" being sent into Gaza. An Israeli security official said that humanitarian aid continues to enter through the Kerem Shalom crossing and additional crossings in accordance with the plan, without naming them.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt will remain closed until further notice, with its reopening dependent on Hamas handing over bodies of deceased hostages.The UN children's agency spokesperson Ricardo Pires said on Tuesday the humanitarian response was still far below the required scale and called for all entry points to reopen.Some nutrition supplies for children and pregnant women have reached the north via the south, Etefa said, but far short of the level required. "We haven't had large-scale convoys into Gaza City or to the north of Gaza," she said, adding that WFP had not been granted permission to use the main north-south Salah al-Din road.Food supplies delivered so far are enough to feed around half a million people for two weeks, she said.Many Gazans were storing the food they are receiving because they are afraid that supplies might again dry up."They eat part of it, and they ration and keep some of the supplies for an emergency, because they are not very confident how long the ceasefire will last and what will happen next," she said.

Convoys face challenges reaching north Gaza due to war damage, border road closuresFamine conditions persist in Gaza City area, massive aid influx needed, says UN'To turn the tide on this famine..., it is very important to get these openings,' WFP spokesperson saysThe UN said on Friday aid convoys were struggling to reach famine-hit areas of north Gaza due to war-damaged roads and the continued closure of key routes into the enclave's north despite a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.Around 560 metric tons of food had entered the Gaza Strip per day on average since the US-brokered halt to two years of devastating war but this was still well below the scale of need, according to the UN World Food Programme.With famine conditions in the Gaza City region, UN humanitarian affairs chief Tom Fletcher said this week thousands of aid vehicles would have to enter weekly to tackle widespread malnutrition, homelessness and a collapse of infrastructure."We're still below what we need, but we're getting there... The ceasefire has opened a narrow window of opportunity, and WFP is moving very quickly and swiftly to scale up food assistance," WFP spokesperson Abeer Etefa told a news briefing in Geneva.But the WFP said it had not begun distributions in Gaza City, pointing to the continued closure of two border crossings, Zikim and Erez, with Israel in the north of the enclave where the humanitarian debacle is most acute."Access to Gaza City and northern Gaza is extremely challenging," Etefa said, saying the movement of convoys of wheat flour and ready-to-eat food parcels from the south of the territory was being hampered by broken or blocked roads."It is very important to have these openings in the north, this is where the famine took hold. To turn the tide on this famine..., it is very important to get these openings."Global medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) said many relief agencies had not fully returned to the north, where hospitals are barely functioning, leaving many Gaza civilians still unable to access regular care.Jacob Granger, MSF emergency coordinator in Gaza, described the case of a Gaza City woman with a shrapnel wound suffered during the war who was unable to get to a medical facility to change her dressings for five days earlier this month. When she managed to see an MSF nurse and her dressing was unfolded, the wound was infected with worms and maggots, Granger said.Though small amounts of nutrition products have reached the north - the area of heaviest and most devastating fighting between Israel and Hamas - relief convoys were still unable to move significant quantities of food there.Around 950 trucks entered south and central Gaza on Thursday via the Kerem Shalom and Kissufim crossings with Israel, the UN's humanitarian coordination agency said, citing figures from Israel's military aid agency COGAT presented to mediators.That followed around 715 trucks that rolled into Gaza on Wednesday, including 16 bearing fuel and gas, OCHA said.

The fifth edition of the ‘Bedar Workers Welfare Programme’ was launched recently with the participation of more than 1,000 workers from 15 local companies operating in the northern regions of the country.Organised in partnership with the Ministry of Interior (MoI) and Qatar Shell, and in collaboration with the Workers’ Support and Insurance Fund, Barwa Real Estate Group, Waseef, and Al Khor Sports Club, the initiative aims to raise workers’ awareness in the fields of security, safety, health, and Qatari culture, with a focus on mental health and personal care, while integrating them into community and national activities.“At Qatar Shell, our dedication to the State of Qatar goes beyond energy — it’s about empowering communities. Through education, community engagement, and proactive support, we strive to create a resilient, informed, and thriving workforce for Qatar’s future,” said Muhammed al-Mushiri, community liaison officer from Qatar Shell. Colonel Ahmad Saad al-Mohannadi from the North Security Department affirmed that the ‘Bedar’ initiative represents a distinguished model of community partnership between government institutions and the private sector, noting that mental health is a key component of security and stability in society, and that the large turnout reflects the initiative’s success in achieving its awareness and social objectives.Kholoud Saif al-Kubaisi, executive director of the Workers’ Support and Insurance Fund, described the ‘Bedar’ initiative as a distinguished example of community collaboration between the public and private sectors. She emphasised that the initiative embodies the commitment to improving the work environment and enhancing workers’ quality of life through awareness, education, and community participation.Hamad Ahmed al-Mohannadi, events and programmes supervisor at Al Khor Sports Club, said the initiative aligns with the club’s commitment to supporting national efforts aimed at promoting mental health awareness and fostering a culture of care for human well-being as an integral part of quality of life.

Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with AbbVie Biopharmaceuticals Gulf Levant to bring the Clinical Research Advancement Integrated Signature Programme (CRISP) to HMC.The programme is designed to give clinical research professionals access to world-class training, internationally recognised certification, and ongoing professional support.AbbVie, in partnership with the Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP), the only non-profit dedicated exclusively to supporting clinical research professionals globally-will offer a structured learning programme for HMC's researchers and healthcare staff. Through this collaboration, participants will benefit from a structured learning pathway and also have the opportunity to earn ACRP certifications.Training will cover areas such as good clinical practice, patient safety, research ethics, protocol design, inspection readiness, and the use of new models.By adopting CRISP, HMC aims to further strengthen the quality and impact of its clinical research, supporting safer, more effective treatments and better outcomes for patients.HMC seeks to build stronger research capacity and ensure its work meets the highest global standards. Ultimately, this will benefit patients and help position Qatar as a leader in medical innovation.CRISP will help set new benchmarks in education, certification, and patient safety-empowering clinical research professionals to advance healthcare outcomes and raise the standards of care at HMC and beyond.

The Reformatory and Penalty Institutions Department at the Ministry of Interior (MoI) has welcomed a group of students from the Police Sciences Diploma Programme at the Police Institute, as part of efforts to strengthen academic and practical co-operation between security agencies and educational institutions within the ministry.According to a post by MoI on X, the student delegation was received by Major-General Nasser Mohammed Isa al-Sayed, the director of the Reformatory and Penalty Institutions Department, who stressed the importance of such visits in reinforcing professional values among them, and familiarise them with the nature of work within the reformatory and penal institutions and their role in the overall security system.During the visit, Colonel Youssef Bilal al-Abdullah, the assistant director of the department, delivered an introductory lecture outlining the department’s role in the rehabilitation and reform of inmates.He reviewed its responsibilities and assigned duties, in addition to its efforts to provide a safe and motivating environment that encourages positive change.The students undertook a field tour of facilities within the institution, and were briefed on the services provided to inmates and the resources available to support rehabilitation and reform programmes.

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.