TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK

DOHA STUDENTS from Education City, Qatar University and Rice University took part in the 2012 Doha Colloquium where they shared knowledge and opinions on science, society and globalisation.

They were welcomed by President of Hamad Bin Khalifa University Dr Abdulla bin Ali Al Thani.

The founding director of the James A Baker III Institute for Public Policy at Rice University Edward P Djerejian delivered the opening address.

Dr al Thani, who is also the vice-president of education at Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF) opened the discussion by emphasising the importance of having an international perspective on education.

“The universities represented at Qatar Foundation are globally recognised academic institutions, which help to prepare the students to compete and integrate into the global marketplace,” he said.

Djerejian talked extensively about QF’s investment in the country’s future generations by creating opportunities through education, science and research.

“Qatar has become a successful example of Arab foreign policy,” he said. “Qatar is one of the few countries in this part of the world that has made the decision to invest in developing a society based on knowledge. The country’s leaders are not sitting down satisfied with what today’s landscape looks like, but are looking towards the future and working to transform the country into a knowledgebased economy for future generations.” In 2010, the student-led Public Diplomacy & Global Policymaking Programme was developed by students from Texas’ Rice University, with the aim of building bridges with the Middle East.

The first interactions were between Rice students and students of the American University in Cairo in 2010.

Rice and the James A Baker III Institute for Public Policy organised the 2012 Doha Colloquium, which took place parallel to the 2012 Qatar International Conference on Stem Cell Science and Policy.

Rice students engaged in discussions with the Qatarbased students on key issues, including scientific diplomacy, modern research, ideas to promote future scientific collaborations between the US and Qatar and the importance of making science understandable if the public are to be better informed.

Dr Ayman Bassil, head of QF’s Research Training & Development, said: “These sessions reflect Qatar Foundation’s emphasis on the role that youth play in building a bright, peaceful future.” Aisha Ghanim, senior research analyst in QF’s Research Division, helped organise the colloquium.