Dr. Khalid bin Mubarak Al-Shafi, Editor-in-Chief of The Peninsula, receiving a memento from Head of Mass Communication Department, Dr Noureldien El-Miladi at the event. Pics: Baher Amin / The Peninsula
The Mass Communication Department at Qatar University College of Arts and Sciences (QU-CAS) concluded yesterday the three-day event for students’ graduation projects for Fall 2017.
The event highlighted 13 graduation projects presented by female students, who showcased their projects in front of academics, media professionals and the full staff of the Mass Communication Department, as well as faculty members from the College of Arts and Sciences.
Most of the topics of the graduation projects dealt with the blockade and its impact and how Qatar had benefited from it economically, the media of siege countries and how it fabricated news. Also, social topics like domestic violence against children were among the topics of projects. The presentation was held at Ibn Khaldoon Hall at QU.
College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Assistant Dean for Student Affairs, Munira Al Subaie, said: “I’m delighted to witness this event and see this significant number of student projects that show a promising generation equipped with skills, qualifications and knowledge.”
She also added that most of the projects discussed issues we were living in like the blockade and the projects were excellent. “I hope that they benefit from evaluation of the jury and to continue with these projects.”
One of the students at the presentation of Graduation Project at Ibn Khaldon Hall at Qatar University, yesterday.
Regarding the selection of the projects, she said that there are directives from professors to students to choose such topics, but also students had developed the ideas. “This event is one of the major events in the department; it is an opportunity for students to showcase their skills and the result of their academic achievements. The projects vary in quality in terms of content and production. The jury consists of professors from the department as well as media professionals from outside the university, which achieves great transparency and credibility in evaluating these projects,” Head of Mass Communication Department, Dr. Noureldien El-Miladi, said.
Replying a question about why students had chosen those topics, El-Miladi said that the students were observing the suffering of society, pressure of the siege and that was why the topics were initiatives from them and also instructions from their professors. “Some of them also have social relations in the siege countries and some are inspired from the topics related to experiences they were exposed to.”
“We are happy to see that students are interested to discuss social issues. Some of the projects are about what Qatar has achieved in economic field to achieve self-sufficiency. If the graduation projects do not talk about the pains of the society then they lack meaning,” El-Miladi added.
The session was attended by Dr. Khalid bin Mubarak Al-Shafi, Editor-in-Chief of The Peninsula.
Dr. Al-Shafi appreciated the students’ efforts and advised them on the importance of accurate facts and statistics.
Dr. Khalid bin Mubarak Al-Shafi addressing the gathering.
Commenting on one of the project about Qatar’s economy after the blockade, Dr. Al-Shafi said that such topics were very important and the government, by the first quarter of next year, is making efforts to achieve eighty percent of self-sufficiency in dairy products.
Dr. Al-Shafi said that the students were supposed to highlight the economic efforts made by the government during the blockade.
The session was also attended by Mohamed El Amine Moussa, Assistant Professor and Dr. Abdul Muttalib Siddiq Mekki, Managing Editor of Al Sharq daily among others.
In the “Journalism” track, the projects, which were under the supervision of Associate Prof of Journalism, Dr. Nishan Rafi, included the magazine titled “Victory Despite the Siege” developed by students Najlaa Al-Mohanadi and Hessa Al-Hatmi.
“We chose this topic which is about blockade because we lived with this experience, and have witnessed how their media fabricate and give fake news against Qatar. Such media outlets are not respecting ethics of the profession; they are saying that Qatar supports terrorism without provide any evidence,” Al-Mohanadi said.
Another project was also of a magazine titled “Al-Olia” developed by students Sheikha Al Khiareen, Noura Al Emadi and Eman Nouh, and talked about the hate discourse which is directed against Qatar in social media. This discourse aims to divide the GCC home by shattering its unity.
In the “Broadcast/Documentary” track, the projects included TV shows and documentaries, such as the film “Qatar Bldna”, directed by student Fatima Eissa Hamadi under the supervision of lecturer of broadcast and documentary, Dr Njoud Al Ebrahim and the film “Gahwechi” directed by student Hind Al Nema, under the supervision of Associate Professor of Video, Audio, and TV productions Dr Shaker Aiadi.
For his part, Dr. Abdul Muttalib said that the students were keen to keep their projects only about current issues as every one expressed interest in such topics. “They also showed their desire to deal with social issues not discussed very well in the society.”
The total number of graduation projects discussed during last three days are 35.
Head of Mass Communication Department, Dr Noureldien El-Miladi, honoured Dr. Khalid bin Mubarak Al-Shafi, and Dr. Abdul Muttalib Siddiq Mekki, saying that their evaluation and pieces of advice were valuable for students and they must benefit from them.
