Dr. Leslie A. Pal
As Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), a member of Qatar Foundation (QF), marks return to in-person learning for the first time since the pandemic, a senior academic has said that online learning cannot be a long-term substitute for direct, in-class contact and discussion.
According to Founding Dean, College of Public Policy (CPP), HBKU, Dr. Leslie A. Pal, online teaching and learning can accomplish a lot and in many circumstances is a useful and even indispensable channel for both professors and students.
“That said, particularly at the graduate level, it cannot be a long-term substitute for direct, in-class contact and discussion,” he told The Peninsula.
“This is particularly true for the CPP, where we encourage engagement with the wider policy community. We were able to adapt during the pandemic, and I am proud of what we accomplished so quickly in trying to retain the quality of instruction and learning,” he added.
In April 2020, pandemic prompted a switch to online learning. “Despite the limitations of online, we learned a great deal about it as a tool. As we go back into the classroom, I know that faculty will be drawing on the experience gained in the past year and building on the best features of what online tools and supports can provide. So, I am confident that, as we go forward, the student in-class experience will be even better than pre-pandemic,” said Dr. Pal.
More than 300 new students have started their academic journey within the HBKU community’s six colleges. The university offers 34 programmes and provides a rich and rewarding journey that enhances students’ knowledge and skill set.
The College of Public Policy’s flagship programme is its Master of Public Policy (MPP). The college itself is new (launched in July 2019), and the MPP is the first programme. The first cohort of students graduated in 2021, and the College had two successful admissions cycles since then, and the programme has grown robustly.
“While there are other MPPs in the region, ours has several distinct features. One is that our courses have a unique combination of global and local/regional lenses on policy issues that affect Qatar as well as other countries. Another is that after taking the core courses in the programme, our students can specialise in either environmental policy or social policy,” said Dr. Pal.
“We support these specialisations with specialised labs and advanced seminars on key topics in each field. A final distinctive feature of the programme is that students complete their studies with a capstone project, done in small groups with a partner organisation on a real policy issue or problem. This adds an invaluable practical dimension to the MPP,” he added.
Dr. Pal also said that HBKU is applying to launch a Master of Social Policy and Program Evaluation (MSPPE). It will be unique to the region, both with its combination of evaluation and social policy, and in the intensive training students receive in programme evaluation.
“There is no other programme like it in the country or the region, and it will equip graduates to work almost anywhere and for a range of public and private organisations, assessing and evaluating programme impacts, with special expertise in social policy programming,” he said.
