TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK

DOHA CARNEGIE Mellon University in Qatar (CMUQ) will host Qatar Statistics Authority (QSA) President Sheikh Hamad bin Jabor bin Jassim al Thani as part of the Dean’s Lecture Series on Wednesday.

The lecture will be on Qatar’s National Strategy for the Development of Statistics (NSDS) and will involve higher education in the national development strategy. It will take place at CMUQ’s building in Education City from 12 pm to 1pm, and will be open to the public.

“The Dean’s Lecture Series is the principal forum for high-level leaders and industry officials to bring their knowledge and perspectives to CMUQ and to broaden students’ understanding of important issues,” said Ilker Baybars, dean of CMUQ.

Sheikh Hamad was instrumental in QSA’s formation in June 2007. He supervised the preparation of the NSDS; pioneered the 2010 National Population, Housing and Establishment Census; established the National Population Policy; and established the Qatar Information Exchange (QALM).

Sheikh Hamad also served as director-general of the General Secretariat for Development Planning (GSDP) till November 2011. He played a vital role in the development of Qatar Vision 2030 and the National Development Strategy 2011-2016. He is also a member of the board of directors for the Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee.

The QSA provides the necessary data to support research in the country. For example, data from the authority is currently being used in research undertaken by CMUQ faculty Kelly Hutzell and Rami el Samahy, who are looking at the physical growth of Doha and the city’s architecture over time in a project titled ‘4dDoha’ (www.4ddoha.com). Those attending the lecture may visit an exhibition of their research at the CMUQ’s library.