DOHA: The Department of Health Sciences (DHS) at Qatar University College of Arts and Sciences (QU-CAS) will be converted into College of Health Sciences this year. It will be QU’s ninth college.
QU’s Board of Regents in its recent meeting approved plans for the new college, student enrolment, new programmes, collaboration with QU colleges of medicine and pharmacy and external healthcare institutions, and new appointments. The application process for the college begins in September and courses will start soon after. The department has 346 female students on its rolls.
The college will seek to enroll up to 150 students in its first academic year, including male students, said Dr Asma Al Thani, Head of the department. The department offers five degree programmes — three BSc in biomedical sciences; human nutrition; and public health, and two MSc in biomedical sciences; and public health.
Dr Al Thani said the new college will offer a BSc programme in rehabilitation treatments (physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy), an MSc programme in clinical dietetics, and a PhD programme in biomedical sciences.
The BSc and MSc programmes will be developed in cooperation with Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) and Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) and the PhD programme will benefit from collaboration with QU colleges of medicine and pharmacy and other leaders in the healthcare sector in Qatar. The board also approved the college’s organisational structure, budget and the appointment of the dean.
QU President Dr Hassan Rashid Al Derham said, “Over the last three decades, QU established a wide range of quality health sciences programmes such as biomedical sciences, human nutrition, and public health. These were developed over the years through dialogue with our partners in the labour market to whom we supply competent graduates who can meet demand for well-qualified healthcare personnel.
“The organisation also enhanced its students’ research capacities, providing them with skills to seek sustainable solutions for challenges facing the healthcare sector in Qatar.”
He said the establishment of the College of Health Sciences will add value to QU’s achievements as it contributes to implementing with the colleges of medicine and pharmacy an integrated academic and research strategy and awareness and community outreach activities.
It also contributes to fulfilling local needs for skilled health and medical professionals through implementation of new academic programmes.
Dr Al Thani said, “The establishment of the new College of Health Sciences will contribute to advancing QU’s health programmes and fulfilling Qatar’s needs for high-qualified healthcare providers and well-trained practitioner in line with the country’s ambitions towards a knowledge-based economy.” The Peninsula
