Education and development go hand-in-hand: Heir Apparent

The Qatar University celebrated graduation of 420 male students from the Class of 2005 at a ceremony attended by the Heir Apparent H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who is also Chairman of the Board of Regents of the University.

The Prime Minister H H Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani along with a host of ministers, university officials, staff and parents were also present at the function.

In his speech, the Heir Apparent underlined the ongoing education reform process in the country and the role the University has to play in this process.

“The graduation , with the same vitality in which it gratifies our hearts and gives us the feeling of pride, calls upon us to contemplate continuation of efforts to upgrade our educational system which we have all to make sure that it be qualitative and pioneering,” Sheikh Tamim said.

He said it was an occasion to thank graduates for their efforts and determination and an opportunity for giving encouragement to Qatar University. “This national edifice which , with all its capabilities and potentials represents an asset for our society and a basic partner in developing our country.”

Among our most important goals is building the society of knowledge and strongly linking education with development prerequisites. Our vision in this regard rests on making the educational institution in all its levels depend on international quality criteria when drafting plans, adopting strategies, writing curricula and defining means of appraisal, he noted.

Sheikh Tamim said, “quality culture has its prerequisites at the fore which comes with political resolve, and this is guaranteed for us by the direct support of the pioneer of our rise and leader of our quest the Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani.”

He stressed the importance of “creating competition opportunities among the educational institutions with the aim of achieving further development, giving them, within the context of responsibility, freedom in running their affairs and planning their structures while making available human and material means that are necessary for achieving their goals.”

“You are the important part of this wealth upon which we depend in building Qatar. At any position you find yourselves in, you have to always remember that we have a debt to continually honour. This is faithfulness to this dear homeland and devotion in serving it. Your devotion in particular, and that of those of who preceded you and that of those graduates who would follow is what gives us, more than any other factor, a higher rank among nations,” Sheikh Tamim told the graduates.

Addressing the ceremony, Dr Sheikha Al Misnad, President of the University said, this year, the institution had witnessed great academic, administrative and financial changes, among which were the merge of Arts & Science College and the establishment of the College of Law. She said, this would not have been attained without the wise and right vision of the Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who provided support and direction by granting independence to the university and assigning its administration to the Board of Regents.

Al Misnad highlighted the efforts of the university to develop its academic programmes in order to make them apt with the requirements of international standards. This was partially done by devising academic programmes in accordance with top quality standards after deliberate study and investigation internally and externally.

She said the College of Engineering will be the first to receive international accreditation, followed by the College of Business and Economics and the College of Arts and Sciences.

In his speech on behalf of fellow graduates, Sheikh Nasser Hamed Jassem Al Thani promised that they would remain faithful to the principles and values which they have learnt during their studies at the university.

“Today, we are being made to shoulder great things, because we are the pulsating heart of the nation and the symbol of its strength and pride. The triumph of our nation will be proportional to our hard work and contribution,” he said.

For the first time in the history of the University, this year’s graduating class comprised nine students of graduate business studies who have completed the requirements of a Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA). The College of Business and Economics set the precedence in offering MBA programme in Qatar and the first graduating class started their studies in the fall of 2002, said a press statement yesterday.

The graduating 28th batch of the University comprised 1717 students-male and female- coming from various specialisations.