DOHA: Qatar University (QU) organized its Annual Convocation for the Academic Year 2024-2025.
The event included a speech by QU President Dr Omar Al Ansari and a panel discussion by the university's vice presidents. Additionally, several awards were granted to outstanding individuals in academic and administrative fields, as well as the distinguished Young Alumnus of the Year Award.
In his opening remarks, Dr Al Ansari expressed his pleasure at meeting with the university community during the Annual Convocation. He welcomed the new vice presidents who recently joined the university's senior administration, emphasizing their role in advancing the institution towards broader horizons in line with its vision, mission, and strategic goals.
Dr Al Ansari also commended the efforts of the previous vice presidents who had made significant contributions to QU's achievements.
In his speech, Dr Al Ansari highlighted that QU is a unified community where colleges and departments collaborate with dedication to achieve excellence and leadership across all fields. Every member of the university plays a crucial role in advancing education, learning, scientific research, and community service.
He noted that QU is committed to enhancing the quality of academic education by continually refining its programs to offer students a distinctive university experience. He also congratulated the award winners, as well as the outstanding faculty, staff, and graduates, emphasizing that receiving these awards is not the end but the beginning of their journey. These achievements should catalyze continued excellence and a renewed determination to pursue their goals with perseverance.
For his part, Professor Ibrahim Al Kaabi, Vice President for Academic Affairs, emphasized that QU developed a harmonious and integrated plan among academic programs, ensuring academic quality through good academic planning that aligns with the needs of the job market. In his speech, Dr. Aiman Erbad, Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies, focused on the efforts of the Research and Graduate Studies Sector in promoting scientific research, through offering various grants such as internal grants, involving students in research grants and projects, and supporting research in all colleges.
In turn, Professor Asma Al Thani, Vice President for Medical and Health Sciences, explained that the Medical and Health Sciences sector includes five colleges operating under one umbrella to coordinate and cooperate with various health sectors in the country and facilitate operational processes in the colleges. Therefore, strengthening partnerships with healthcare institutions in Qatar, such as Hamad Medical Corporation, Sidra Medicine, and the Ministry of Public Health, directly impacts the development of academic programs in colleges. These collaborations help identify labour market needs, improve the quality of academic and medical programs, and better prepare students for medical exams.
She added that obtaining international accreditation for the academic programs of the colleges contributes to creating job opportunities for graduates of the sector in various countries.
Vice President of Student Affairs Dr Mohammad Diab outlined the Student Affairs sector's plans to enhance the student experience. This initiative supports QU's strategy to help students succeed and build their character, equipping them with essential attributes for the labour market, in collaboration with all university sectors.
Finally, Dr Muna Al Marzouqi, Chief Strategy and Development Officer, commented on the sector's role in employing data-informed research to achieve institutional excellence and the university's strategic goals. In the meantime, upholding the core values of excellence, which is the key to institutional excellence; social responsibility, which encourages the provision of high-quality services and creates a participatory environment that, stimulates creativity and challenges; and integrity, which reflects credibility and commitment to ethical standards.
The Annual Convocation included the distribution of awards to honour the distinguished faculty, staff, and graduates across multiple categories.