Fee exemption at UCQ to encourage students take nursing as career

In an attempt to encourage young people in taking nursing as a career, Qatari citizens, children of Qatari mothers and Qatari document holders are now receiving a full tuition fee exemption for undergraduate programmes at the University of Calgary in Qatar (UCQ). For expatriate students in Qatar, the tution fee has been reduced. 

“Since the very beginning of Qatar’s healthcare system, nurses have worked in diverse settings as leaders in health promotion, prevention, and delivery of acute care,” said Dr. Nabila Al Meer, Deputy Chief for Continuing Care Group and Ministry of Public Health Nursing Affairs. 

“This leadership comes through education and experience. As our healthcare infrastructure continues to grow, more nurses are needed to meet expanding workforce needs. An accredited, culturally applicable university degree programme like the University of Calgary in Qatar is helping to meet these urgent workforce needs, however, there are demands to introduce specialisation programs in Nursing according to priority needs,” Dr. Al Meer, who is also a member of the University of Calgary in Qatar Board of Trustees, said. 

She also emphasised that tuition fee has been reduced for expatriate students in Qatar. 

Dr. Al Meer was joined by Dr. Deborah White, UCQ Dean, UCQ officials, alumni, and students at a press conference held recently at the campus. 

They focused on the importance and impact of nursing education in Qatar during the ‘2020 International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife.’

“Our priority is educating nursing leaders in Qatar and for Qatar,” said Dr White. 

“The World Health Organization says there is a global shortage of nurses and we’re experiencing that for ourselves here in this country. I believe that recognising the need and importance of nursing education contributes greatly to the success and development of Qatar’s healthcare system,” she said. 

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the Year of the Nurse and Midwife is a major global effort to highlight an acute shortage of these crucial health workers. WHO choses  2020 to celebrate the work of nurses because it is the bicentenary of the birth of the founder of modern nursing, Florence Nightingale.

Established in 2007, the UCQ is the only Canadian university in Qatar and the country’s exclusive provider of Bachelor and Master degrees in Nursing to address growing need of nurses in the country. 

“Accredited in Canada and adapted to the local culture, the University’s curriculum provides its nursing students with the knowledge and expertise to become fully-integrated leaders in Qatar’s healthcare sector,” said Dr. JoAnne MacDonald, Associate Dean (Academic) at UCQ.

The UCQ offers two paths to a Bachelor of Nursing degree: a four-year programme for qualified high school graduates and a two-year programme for nurses holding diplomas in nursing from recognised institutions. The University also offers a Master of Nursing. This is a programme designed in collaboration with Qatar’s nursing community to further develop leaders in the profession.

“We offer an integrated, concept and competency-based curriculum that supports best practice pedagogies and clinical practice experiences. This curriculum is uniquely tailored to meet the health needs of Qatar. Our programs foster students to become theoretical, conceptual, critical, and clinical thinkers,” said Dr. MacDonald. “We have over 650 alumni working throughout Qatar’s hospitals, health centres, military, and companies. They are making important contributions to Qatar’s health and wellness”.  

At present the UCQ has 658 students and 520 follow the bachelor’s programme, 34 study the mater’s programme. Among them 43 are Qatari and 61 are male students. 

Applications to UCQ’s programmes are open to Qatari nationals and residents of Qatar through April 1.