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The Qatar National Library (QNL) has launched the Murshidi Schools Edition, expanding its Murshidi mentorship programme to deliver professional guidance directly to students in their schools.The inaugural pilot sessions, held on February 9-11, engaged 199 students from Newton British School and Newton International School, further advancing the QNL’s mission to empower youth through targeted initiatives.The programme transforms the QNL’s weekly mentorship model into a structured campus outreach initiative, connecting students with academic advisers, industry leaders, and seasoned professionals.Through interactive guided conversations, students gain insight into a wide range of educational paths and career opportunities.By exploring these pathways early, students can make informed academic decisions, clarify their long-term goals, and reduce uncertainty about their professional future.The programme fosters career readiness at a critical stage of development while creating lasting connections that can lead to ongoing mentorship, internships, and meaningful employment opportunities.“The launch of Murshidi Schools Edition marks a natural evolution of our commitment to fostering lifelong learning and empowering Qatar’s youth,” said Maram A al-Mahmoud, the manager of the QNL’s Children and Young Adults Programmes and Services.“By delivering mentorship within school environments, we are removing barriers to access and ensuring that more students benefit from the insights and guidance of professionals shaping Qatar’s future,” she said.The pilot sessions revealed strong demand for guidance in medicine, engineering, and business.Mentors shared their academic pathways, professional experiences, and practical advice on university admissions, scholarships, and career development.Through the programme, the QNL reinforces its role as a catalyst for lifelong learning and community engagement, advancing its strategic objectives of supporting knowledge-based career pathways and empowering youth, which align with Qatar National Vision 2030’s human development pillar.Since launching its Murshidi Programme, the QNL has engaged 94 mentors from diverse professional fields and delivered 422 one-on-one consultation sessions to support high school students, university undergraduates, and recent graduates in university applications, career planning, and professional development.Powered by community participation and volunteerism, the programme brings together experts who generously share their time and knowledge to strengthen mentorship culture in Qatar. 

The seven Arab innovators on Qatar Foundation's Stars of Science continue their competition in the finals of Season 17, facing challenges that prove that perseverance is the key to transforming innovative ideas into global impact. The program, hosted by Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP), a member of Qatar Foundation, has become a catalyst for innovation in the Arab world since its launch in 2009. Through mentorship, access to state-of-the-art labs, and investor connections, QSTP helps contestants, like Season 16 winner, Yaman Tayyar, transform their ideas into viable startups that create global impact. This season, contestants will be required to exert their utmost effort to keep up with the program's increasingly advanced standards. Broadcast weekly on several regional channels and online platforms, the show challenges participants to build on the experiences of past graduates, an advantage that, coupled with their own vision and determination, could lead them to remarkable success. The Qatar Foundation edutainment show is raising the bar once again. This year's contestants aren't just building from scratch, they're attempting something uniquely challenging: refining what already exists. That kind of progress requires more than creativity. It demands precision, patience, and above all, targeted optimization. In the Arab region, Stars of Science has quietly forged something extraordinary: a generation of innovators who turned setbacks into stepping stones. This perseverance isn't just part of the show's legacy, it's the heartbeat of Season 17. Among the standout projects currently in the running are Razan Salem Bahabri's adaptive rehabilitation gaming system, and Mohamed Kahna's AR-assisted surgical navigation tool. Both push the boundaries of existing methods, and both are driven by a clear understanding of the real-world problems they aim to solve. "To improve what already works, you need more than invention, you need endurance," says Bahabri, a contestant from Saudi Arabia. Her approach is timely. Globally, there are 12.2 million new strokes each year, and rehabilitation centers now incorporate gamified therapy tools to support recovery, a field she is helping localize and adapt. Her project builds on those successes, offering a more engaging and accessible way to support neuroplasticity and user motivation in stroke rehabilitation. "When lives are at stake, you don't start from scratch, you make what's working even safer," says Kahna, her fellow Season 17 contestant. For Kahna, the stakes are high. Each year, more than 310 million major surgeries are performed around the world. The Tunisian's project seeks to improve outcomes by using augmented reality to support surgical decision-making, potentially helping surgeons avoid complications and act with greater clarity under pressure. Another shining example of resilience with long-haul success, when show alumnus, long-standing mentor and now co-host, Anwar Almojarkesh, joined Stars of Science in Season 5, he finished in fifth place. But his story didn't conclude there, it just began. Driven by advanced engineering, Almojarkesh developed a smart assistive pillow for the hearing impaired that detects emergencies such as fire alarms, alerting users through vibration, light, scent, and app notifications. After the show, he took the core of his invention and founded two companies, Innovation Factory in the UK and Sound Genetics in the US, bringing AI-powered technologies to governments, transport authorities, and healthcare providers worldwide. It is worth noting that Stars of Science has aired over 313 episodes since the first season, with the participation of 175 alumni from 18 Arab countries. Its graduates have helped launch more than 55 companies in various vital sectors.