Doha: Qatar has a huge potential to become a vibrant and world-leading business landscape. With sustainability at the core, Qatar’s goal of creating a sustainable economy can be propelled by the next generation of young Qataris in higher institutions conducting relevant researches to solve problems and position the country as a business destination in the region and worldwide.
An ardent researcher of this phenomenon is Mohammed Al Housani. He did his Master of Science in Sustainable Energy programme at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) College of Science and Engineering. During the programme, Al Housani conducted important research and developed photovoltaic (PV) cleaning technologies and techniques tailored to Qatar’s climate to maximize power generation potential.
It is worth to note that solar power is severely undermined because of the dusty weather. Over a year, just one square kilometre of land in the Qatar desert receives solar energy equivalent to 1.5 million barrels of oil. Yet, solar energy potential remains untapped primarily due to two significant obstacles, dusty conditions coupled with heat.
Meanwhile, Al Housani, for his Ph.D. degree in Sustainable Energy, developed an interest in the recent economic crises and subsequent reduction in oil prices, which affected all oil and gas-based economies.
“I was studying economic sustainability in Qatar, and through reading and personal experiences, I clearly understood Qatar’s need to diversify its economy. One of the most impactful ways to achieve that is by further developing the private sector through entrepreneurship. I am now researching the business ecosystem to develop a model that can bring out all of the unharnessed potentials of Qatar’s business landscape,” he said.
In the long term, Al Housani hopes that his research will contribute to Qatar National Vision 2030 and tackle challenges that the country is now facing or will be facing in the future.
“Also, by developing my skills and being a successful pioneer in my field, I believe others will be motivated to follow in my footsteps. This will eventually help Qatar establish itself as a knowledge hub in the region,” he said.
Sharing how his education at HBKU helped Al Housani said, “I was able to enhance my skills and knowledge. I have noticed an improvement in my decision-making capabilities, which also helped me look at things from a holistic, sustainable, and long-term view. This really enhanced my ability to strategize and set long-term goals.”
“I was very proud to win the Education Excellence Award as a student from HBKU because I had the great honour of being awarded by the Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. This was substantial evidence that HBKU students are really delivering at national and even international level,” he added.
HBKU is a young university, yet students benefit from top-tier faculty and a very supportive administration overall.
“I realized that HBKU is already ahead in many ways and will only get better. Today, I feel more confident being part of a very diverse, well-connected yet academically strong, socially, and economically relevant research group led by my advisers Dr. Muammer Koc and H E Dr. Mohammad Al Sada.
“The group also includes a highly intellectual group of Ph.D. candidates studying different sustainability aspects such as sustainable economy, organizational (in)efficiency, human capital strategy, women entrepreneurship, digital media, and sustainable living and habits. Also nanotechnology for efficient solar energy, 3D Printing for advanced medical devices, industry-university partnerships, and strategies for LNG markets,” said Al Housani.
He asserts that HBKU is the right place for anyone seeking a world-class education and to conduct research that is both applicable to real problems and relevant to the Grand Challenges.
