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The Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MOEHE), in cooperation with the Academic Bridge Program, a member of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, announced the launch of a new initiative that allows high school literacy and humanities track graduates to enroll in scientific disciplines in higher education institutions, after fulfilling the admission requirements and passing the Academic Bridge Program for the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) track, according to the approved mechanism.The initiative was announced during a press conference organized by the Higher Education Affairs Sector at the MOEHE headquarters on Sunday, as part of the MOEHE's efforts to expand academic options for students and enhance their readiness for future specializations that meet the needs of the national labor market and the requirements of sustainable development.Under the initiative, students in the literacy and humanities track can benefit from an accredited academic path that qualifies them to move to scientific disciplines, by enrolling in the STEM program in the Academic Bridge, which provides integrated academic qualification according to international standards, and equips students with the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in university studies.The program focuses on developing academic English language skills and enhancing abilities in mathematics and basic sciences, including biology, chemistry, and physics, along with computer and programming skills, as these are essential requirements for admission to scientific disciplines. It also offers academically designed courses that ensure learning outcomes are aligned with the requirements of local and international universities.Students benefit from the network of academic partnerships that the Academic Bridge enjoys with a number of prestigious universities inside and outside the State of Qatar, as these partnerships allow the academic year that the student spends in the Academic Bridge to be recognized within his university path, which supports their transition to various scientific disciplines including medicine, engineering, computer science and sciences, in accordance with the approved academic systems and controls.In this context, Assistant Undersecretary for Higher Education Affairs at the MOEHE Dr. Hareb Mohamed Aljabri emphasized that the initiative represents a strategic step toward enabling students in the literacy and humanities track to expand their academic options and enroll in the scientific disciplines that the country needs.He said the initiative is in line with the state's direction toward building a knowledge-based and innovation-driven economy, and contributes to preparing qualified national cadres in priority scientific fields. He noted that cooperation with the Academic Bridge provides a supportive and flexible educational environment that helps students acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in higher education.In turn, Director of the Academic Bridge Program Dr. Saheim Khalaf Al Tamimi voiced his pride in this strategic partnership with the MOEHE, stressing that it reflects the shared commitment to providing flexible and comprehensive educational pathways that open new horizons for students.He said that the Academic Bridge programs are designed to equip students with essential skills in English, science, mathematics, and computer skills, enabling them to confidently transition to scientific and other university disciplines and achieve success in their academic careers.In addition, the initiative has set a number of admission requirements, including obtaining a high school diploma with a minimum grade of 70 percent, submitting an English language certificate (IELTS) or its equivalent with a minimum grade of 4.5, passing placement tests in English and mathematics, and completing the application procedures through the approved admission system.This initiative comes as part of the MOEHE efforts to provide flexible and innovative educational pathways that keep pace with the requirements of higher education and the labor market, and contribute to preparing generations capable of competing and succeeding in vital sectors, in support of achieving Qatar National Vision 2030.

Qatar University (QU)’s Ibn Khaldon for Humanities and Social Studies Centre, in co-operation with the Ministry of Endowments (Awqaf) and Islamic Affairs, has inaugurated the ‘1st Annual Conference on the Qur’an and Human Knowledge’, along with the ‘1st Forum of Ummah Writers’.The opening was attended by HE the Minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs Ghanem bin Shaheen al-Ghanem; Dr Omar al-Ansari, president of QU; several vice-presidents; and senior officials from various ministries; as well as academic and governmental sectors.Dr al-Ansari highlighted that the conference aligns with QU’s strategic plan and research priorities, which include emphasising research in the humanities and social sciences to foster scholarly focus on cognitive, human, social, and cultural issues, thereby promoting ethical, value-based development and sustainable growth in our societies. He also highlighted the conference’s role in cultivating human knowledge awareness in accordance with the guidance of the Holy Qur’an.Sheikh Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Ghanem al-Thani, director of the Department of Islamic Research and Studies at the Ministry of Endowments, also delivered a speech welcoming the attendees.He emphasised the significance of the occasion, which combines the conference and the forum, stating that the conference is part of broader efforts to restore the important role that Qur’anic knowledge has historically contributed to guide human sciences and methodologies, as well as in connecting researchers to it in both approach and objective.Sheikh Dr Ahmed also emphasised the significance of the ‘1st Forum of Ummah Writers’, which highlights the Kitab Al-Ummah series, a rich Qatari cultural and intellectual legacy that has been published for more than four decades since its inception.During this time, it has strived to achieve its intended goals, including rebuilding the Muslim character, reviving the concept of ‘Fardh Kifayah’ (communal obligations) and the importance of specialisation, contributing to the development of a righteous elite, and promoting awareness of the significance of the approach that address’s the cosmos’ signs and laws using the knowledge of divine revelation as its primary reference and source.Dr Badrane Benlahcene, director of the Ibn Khaldon Centre at QU, stated that the conference aligns with the centre’s dual objectives of bridging and localisation. Bridging aims to intellectually connect various disciplines to address human and social issues in an integrated and precise manner. Localisation, meanwhile, involves re-evaluating contemporary sciences, knowledge systems, and theories to ensure they align with religious and cultural identities and resonate with societal contexts, as well as methodological and practical requirements, thereby ensuring community benefit.The conference aims to reaffirm the central role of the Holy Qur’an in shaping contemporary discourse on human and social knowledge. It seeks to bridge the gap between Islamic sciences and the humanities and social sciences by connecting researchers from diverse disciplines with the Qur’an, enabling them to utilise it as a framework for understanding and guiding various human and social phenomena.Additionally, the conference encourages scholars in Islamic disciplines to engage systematically with the humanities and social sciences and to contextualise these fields while considering Qur’anic guidance.