Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani honoured 87 outstanding male graduates of Qatar University’s 42nd batch for 2019 during a grand graduation ceremony held at the Sports and Events Complex at Qatar University (QU) yesterday.
The President of Qatar University, Dr. Hassan Rashid Al Derham, handed the certificates to all 752 male graduates in various disciplines during the ceremony. The graduates of the 42nd batch include 3,220 students, 2,468 females and 752 males. With graduates of class 2019, the number of graduates of Qatar University crossed 50,000. Female students will graduate today.
The ceremony was attended by Prime Minister and Interior Minister, H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani; Speaker of the Shura Council,
H E Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid Al Mahmoud; a number of Their Excellencies Sheikhs and Ministers, members of the University’s administration and faculty, parents of graduates and guests.
A documentary film was screened on QU’s achievements in 2019, global rankings it has achieved and its role and vision in serving the society and the State in accordance with Qatar National Vision 2030.
The President of Qatar University delivered a speech on the occasion in which he hailed the country’s renaissance in all fields, which would not have been achieved without the accumulation of the efforts exerted by its people and their standing behind their leaders from the time of the founder until the present time.
President of the QU praised the achievements of the State of Qatar under the wise leadership of H H the Amir.
“As we celebrate the 42nd batch of graduates from Qatar University, our beloved nation is witnessing a renaissance of sorts that has manifested itself in all fields. No doubt, this renaissance would not have been achieved without the accumulation of efforts by the sons of our nation and their standing behind our leadership since the time of its founding until the present day. Qatar University has the great honour of contributing to this renaissance through successive generations of graduates who now exceed 50,000,” said Al Derham.
“Today we celebrate 3,220 sons and daughters of Qatar University on this blessed day, who have succeeded in the building and development of our great nation.”
He said that during the past few years, the University made remarkable achievements — thanks to Allah — and the continuous support of the Board of Regents, an advanced role in international university rankings.
“The university has placed 276 in QS Quacquarelli Symonds Global Rankings and 408 in the Times Higher Education Rankings World University Rankings,” said Al Derham.
Dr. Hassan Al Derham addressed His Highness, assuring him of the University’s implementation of his directives. “In your last address to the Shura Council, you articulated a golden and central phrase that started with, ‘The human being remains, the core, focus and target of the development plans.’
“We have strived at Qatar University, to embody this wise direction through three main roles,” said Al Derham.
He said that the first role of the QU is to provide academic programmes that follow high international standards for the undergraduate and postgraduate level, that work to realise the state’s development plans.
“In this context, QU offers 45 bachelor programmes and around 40 graduate programmes in various academic disciplines, which compete with the best universities globally,” he added.
He said that this year also marks the establishment of the College of Dental Medicine, which received its very first class of students this academic term, and now makes up the 10th college at QU.
“The second role focuses on the production of knowledge and international research that distinguishes itself through its impact on ground and touches on the central needs of the Qatari community,” said Al Derham.
Dr. Hassan Al Derham referred to the efforts of the Qatar Mobility Innovations Center (QMIC). The QMIC builds integrated systems and solutions for technology development that has resulted in a number of technology platforms, such as a smart transportation platform and a valuable data bank about traffic and mobility behaviour in Qatar, which serve major projects for national institutions such as Rail, Ashghal and state ministries. The QMIC also developed a smart heat stress monitoring solution for the safety of workers in the 2022 project, and for the oil and gas sector.
In addition, QU recently founded QU Press, which aims to lead in the dissemination of scholarship in the region in accordance to the highest standards. Third, QU considers itself as a house of expertise that provides various state institutions with academic advice that contributes to public policy.
Here, Dr. Hassan Al Derham referred to the efforts of the Social and Economic Survey Research Institute (SESRI) in supporting government and non-government entities with sound and reliable data that is based on high quality field research.
The institute’s research agenda spans a wide range of substantive areas of importance to Qatar, such as education and health, family structure, national identity, the financial and business environment and other annual and semi-annual comprehensive surveys.
Dr. Hassan Al Derham spoke about the intellectual and cultural interests of QU, stressing that as the national university, QU plays a key role in addressing the urgent needs of society.
This includes issues of identity, attitude and culture. He said these issues had immersed public opinion in Qatar and Arab societies in general and could only be confronted through objective academia.
In this context, Qatar University established the Ibn Khaldon Center for Humanities and Social Sciences, which bridges the gap between theoretical studies and actual needs of Muslim-Arab societies in collaboration with leading institutions and researchers —locally, regionally and internationally— who share the center’s intellectual concerns.
Dr. Hassan then addressed the graduating Class of 2019 saying, “Our graduates, as we celebrate you, and as you take the first step in this new phase of your life, you are armed with the knowledge you gained from Qatar University, and the skillsets you have built during your time here. You are driven towards success and excellence.” “This success would not have been possible without the efforts of your faculty, who have gifted you with their expertise. It is my duty, as I stand here, to applaud their endeavours. I thank them and extend my thanks on behalf of you as well. Education is a path we walk on, not a goal we reach. Every stage of learning that we face is in fact a station, from a number of stations in life that does not end,” he added.
“As you receive your diplomas, in the presence of our fair leader, you must remember your responsibilities towards Allah (SWT), your nation, H H the Amir and your family, when you shape the future of the nation, while protecting its values and message. This will not be possible without intention and hard work in everything you do.”
Dr. Hassan Al-Derham closed his speech by addressing His Highness the Amir of Qatar saying, “Qatar University, in its role as the primary institution of higher education in Qatar, and a deep history spanning four decades, with 20,000 students, finds itself committed — through your direction — to being a leading and active player in its mission. We take it upon ourselves, to be a force against challenges, and protective in our responsibility towards our beloved nation Qatar.”
Abdulaziz Al Obaidly, a graduate from the Class of 2019, spoke to his fellow graduates about the benefits of receiving an education from QU. He said, “We stand before you today as lawyers, as engineers, judges and diplomats, researchers and scholars of our Arab authenticity, Islamic culture and national identity.”
As the graduation ceremony came to a close, H H the Amir of Qatar honoured the graduates by handing them their diplomas, symbolising the beginning of the next phase of their lives.
