Latest news with #HamadBinKhalifaUniversity
Qatar Tribune
14-05-2025
- Business
- Qatar Tribune
QF Excellence Award winners feted for their achievements and example
Tribune News Network Doha The Qatar Foundation Excellence Award celebrates students who have made meaningful contributions both within and beyond the classroom, leaving a positive impact on their communities. This year, 16 outstanding members of QF's graduating Class of 2025 have been recognised with the award. Following their recognition at QF's annual Convocation ceremony – which honours the graduates of QF's Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) and its seven international partner universities – a special Qatar Foundation Excellence Award winners' luncheon was held to further celebrate the recipients: young individuals who exemplify how higher education can inspire creativity, curiosity, leadership, and a profound sense of purpose. Lujain Al Mansoori, from Qatar and a recent graduate of Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar (CMU-Q) – a Qatar Foundation (QF) partner university – spoke about what the accolade represents to her, saying: 'This Excellence Award validates and reaffirms that all the effort I have put in over the past years has been more than worth it. Speaking about how she wants to create meaningful change through innovation, she said: 'My goal is to use my education and talents to create technologies that empower people and improve their daily lives. 'QF has empowered me to develop a resilient and innovation-based growth mindset. Every moment, small or large, has been such a meaningful takeaway. The education I received taught me to seize every opportunity and turn every challenge into an opportunity for growth.' Asma Al-Kaabi, who is from Qatar and is a graduate of QF partner university Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q), said: 'Receiving this award is a tremendous honor; it symbolizes the growth I've experienced since first entering QF. 'I joined [QF school] Qatar Academy ten years ago as a confused and uncertain student, unsure of what the future held. Over the course of my time here, I've grown immensely, built lasting friendships, found incredible mentors, and now, I've graduated as a doctor, grateful for the journey. 'My country has given me all the resources to grow and the tools to create. In this next chapter, I want to utilise everything I've learned to give back. As a future psychiatrist, I'm passionate about advocating for mental health – an area still deeply stigmatized in our region. I aspire to educate both my future patients and my community, and to be part of shifting the narrative around mental health. Reflecting on her journey, she said: 'The most meaningful takeaway is to never underestimate yourself. There were times I struggled with self-doubt, but thanks to my family's unwavering support, I kept going. Receiving this award has reminded me of the importance of believing in myself and continuing to strive for excellence.' Maryam Al-Mohammed, a recent graduate of QF partner university Northwestern University in Qatar, and a Qatari national, said: 'It's an honor to be recognised after four years of hard work – especially as part of the QF community. I'm grateful for this experience and excited for the future. Speaking about her future, she said: 'I'm passionate about filmmaking and research, and after my undergraduate studies, I hope to pursue a master's degree. I want to tell stories that highlight women's issues, showcase the voices of women in the region, and reflect the experiences of people like me - through storytelling. 'What I value most at QF is the opportunity to learn and to be part of a community. This is a place where I truly feel I belong – and always will. I've been able to connect with students, teachers, and faculty members, and that sense of belonging is something I will carry with me, along with all the knowledge and experience I've gained here.' The 16 QF Excellence Award winners were presented during Convocation to two students from each of the universities at QF: HBKU, CMU-Q, Georgetown University in Qatar, HEC Paris, Doha, Northwestern Qatar, Texas A&M University at Qatar, Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar, and WCM-Q.
Qatar Tribune
13-05-2025
- Business
- Qatar Tribune
QF Excellence Award winners fetedfor their achievements and example
Tribune News Network Doha The Qatar Foundation Excellence Award celebrates students who have made meaningful contributions both within and beyond the classroom, leaving a positive impact on their communities. This year, 16 outstanding members of QF's graduating Class of 2025 have been recognised with the award. Following their recognition at QF's annual Convocation ceremony – which honours the graduates of QF's Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) and its seven international partner universities – a special Qatar Foundation Excellence Award winners' luncheon was held to further celebrate the recipients: young individuals who exemplify how higher education can inspire creativity, curiosity, leadership, and a profound sense of purpose. Lujain Al Mansoori, from Qatar and a recent graduate of Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar (CMU-Q) – a Qatar Foundation (QF) partner university – spoke about what the accolade represents to her, saying: 'This Excellence Award validates and reaffirms that all the effort I have put in over the past years has been more than worth it. Speaking about how she wants to create meaningful change through innovation, she said: 'My goal is to use my education and talents to create technologies that empower people and improve their daily lives. 'QF has empowered me to develop a resilient and innovation-based growth mindset. Every moment, small or large, has been such a meaningful takeaway. The education I received taught me to seize every opportunity and turn every challenge into an opportunity for growth.' Asma Al-Kaabi, who is from Qatar and is a graduate of QF partner university Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q), said: 'Receiving this award is a tremendous honor; it symbolizes the growth I've experienced since first entering QF. 'I joined [QF school] Qatar Academy ten years ago as a confused and uncertain student, unsure of what the future held. Over the course of my time here, I've grown immensely, built lasting friendships, found incredible mentors, and now, I've graduated as a doctor, grateful for the journey. 'My country has given me all the resources to grow and the tools to create. In this next chapter, I want to utilise everything I've learned to give back. As a future psychiatrist, I'm passionate about advocating for mental health – an area still deeply stigmatized in our region. I aspire to educate both my future patients and my community, and to be part of shifting the narrative around mental health. Reflecting on her journey, she said: 'The most meaningful takeaway is to never underestimate yourself. There were times I struggled with self-doubt, but thanks to my family's unwavering support, I kept going. Receiving this award has reminded me of the importance of believing in myself and continuing to strive for excellence.' Maryam Al-Mohammed, a recent graduate of QF partner university Northwestern University in Qatar, and a Qatari national, said: 'It's an honor to be recognised after four years of hard work – especially as part of the QF community. I'm grateful for this experience and excited for the future. Speaking about her future, she said: 'I'm passionate about filmmaking and research, and after my undergraduate studies, I hope to pursue a master's degree. I want to tell stories that highlight women's issues, showcase the voices of women in the region, and reflect the experiences of people like me - through storytelling. 'What I value most at QF is the opportunity to learn and to be part of a community. This is a place where I truly feel I belong – and always will. I've been able to connect with students, teachers, and faculty members, and that sense of belonging is something I will carry with me, along with all the knowledge and experience I've gained here.' The 16 QF Excellence Award winners were presented during Convocation to two students from each of the universities at QF: HBKU, CMU-Q, Georgetown University in Qatar, HEC Paris, Doha, Northwestern Qatar, Texas A&M University at Qatar, Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar, and WCM-Q.
Ya Libnan
13-05-2025
- Business
- Ya Libnan
Trump arrives in Saudi Arabia, meets MBS
President Trump and Crown Prince MBS speak at the Royal Palace in Riyadh [Alex Brandon/AP Photo] Air Force One landed at King Khalid International Airport in Saudi Arabia's capital, Riyadh, shortly before 10am (07:00 GMT). US President Donald Trump was greeted by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the sounds of a 21-gun salute and trumpets. The two leaders then headed to the Royal Court, where a lengthy procession of dignitaries, officials and business figures waited their turn to shake hands with them. The Saudi-US Investment Forum has also begun with the two leaders expected to take part later today. Saudi Arabia is the first leg of Trump's tour of the Gulf, where he will also visit Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Personal Gain Many in the US argue Trump is using this trip for his own gain. It is no secret that Trump sees this area, in particular, in the eyes of a real estate developer – as a big open area that is ripe for development. It is a developer's dream. In all three of the stops he'll be making, he has personal investments. He has properties and his sons have cryptocurrency and real estate ventures. Just weeks ago, Trump's sons were in these very nations advocating for these very ventures. The White House insists Trump is doing this for the US people, that's it's not for personal gain, but it is really hard to argue there will not also be personal gain. That has opened him up to tremendous criticism from the opposition Democrats. Gaza Trump's trip to the Gulf is likely to show him that 'the Arab world does not take Gaza lightly' and push him to explore alternative ways to end the 19-month war, says Sultan Barakat, senior professor in public policy at the Hamad Bin Khalifa University. Working with Arab states on Gaza could not only help end the bloodshed, but bring 'massive economic benefits' that appeal to Trump, according to Barakat. If Trump wants to be a peacemaker, he says, 'this is one of the issues he's got to tackle. 'He cannot continue talking about being the dealmaker, the peacemaker in the world with the blood in Gaza continuing to spill.' 'True friend' in White House The US president's son, who serves as vice president of the Trump Organization, has spoken to Saudi Arabia's Asharq al-Awsat newspaper about his father's trip to the Gulf, which he says delivers a 'clear message' that the region is a 'key partner in global security'. 'The era of peace will return, and the commander-in-chief of the US armed forces will be in Washington to help safeguard the Gulf's security and stand by its people – because he knows them well and believes in the importance of their friendship,' said Eric Trump. He added that his father has 'exceptional relationships' with leaders in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar – all stops on his ongoing Gulf tour. 'I know some of these leaders personally, and I'm fully aware that the president trusts, respects and considers them true friends,' Eric Trump said. Saudi Arabia, along with the UAE and Qatar, are all sites where the Trump Organization is developing major real estate projects. They include a high-rise tower in Jeddah, a luxury hotel in Dubai and a golf course and villa complex in Qatar. Geopolitical 'challenges The Royal Court is where Trump and MBS are expected to finalise some of their significant agreements, to be announced later today. Topping the agenda is the trade agreement. Crown Prince Mohammed has said in the past that his country is going to invest $600bn in the US. Trump wants Saudi Arabia to invest $1 trillion. I think they are trying to work out the details of how much Saudi Arabia is going to commit. They will then attend a gathering of Saudi and US investors later in the day. This is where we're expecting Trump to address the media. Of course, politics is also going to be on the agenda. Saudi officials are going to talk about Gaza, stability and peace in the Middle East, as well as Syria , Lebanon and Palestinian statehooh. The challenges are massive, and both the US and Saudi Arabia understand that to be able to move forward, they have to have a united front. This explains why they are inviting GCC leaders to join talks tomorrow. Al Jazeera
Qatar Tribune
11-05-2025
- Business
- Qatar Tribune
Sheikha Hind attends HBKU graduation ceremony
Tribune News Network Doha Her Excellency Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, vice-chairperson and CEO of Qatar Foundation (QF), and chairperson of Hamad Bin Khalifa University's (HBKU) Board of Trustees, saw HBKU commemorate its Class of 2025 on Sunday. Honouring the collective and individual achievements of close to 300 students, this year's graduation ceremony marked a significant milestone for HBKU and Qatar's investment in higher education. Speaker of the Shura Council His Excellency Hassan bin Abdullah Al Ghanim also joined the proceedings at the Qatar National Convention Centre, along with government officials, HBKU's senior leadership, the colleges' deans, university faculty and staff, as well as the graduates' families and close friends. HBKU's Class of 2025 consists of 293 students, including 73 Qataris, who graduated from 35 academic programmes, receiving PhD, Juris Doctor, master's, and bachelor's degrees taught at HBKU's College of Islamic Studies (CIS), College of Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Science and Engineering (CSE), College of Law, College of Health and Life Sciences, and College of Public Policy. In his remarks, Dr. Ahmad M. Hasnah, HBKU president, reflected on the importance of values and ethics in navigating today's complex global challenges. He affirmed that ethical principles are the foundation for a meaningful life and impactful work. Addressing the graduates, he encouraged them to let wisdom guide their decisions, define success on their own terms without falling into the trap of comparison, and embrace a lifelong pursuit of knowledge that expands their horizons through conventional and creative means. This year's keynote was delivered by His Excellency Dr. Abdulaziz bin Nasser Al Khalifa, president of the Civil Service and Government Development Bureau, and secretary-general of the National Planning Council. He said, 'Today's ceremony is not only to celebrate the graduation of the largest cohort the university has seen since its establishment, but also your assumption of the scientific responsibility that requires you to mature ideas and believe in enlightening the mind and using it to respond to the shifts and fluctuations of time. 'Since its establishment in 2010, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, which bears a name that is dear to our hearts, has never been a mere academic institution, but rather an ambitious vision to be a platform to prepare change-makers.' In his address, student speaker, Abdulaziz Abdullah Al Obaidli, particularly emphasised the community and personal impact of their academic journey, saying: 'Today marks the beginning of a lifelong commitment to responsibility and progress. Graduation is not a final destination, but rather a true starting point toward shaping the future.' 'Hamad Bin Khalifa University is more than a hub for education - it is a nurturing home and fertile ground where students' dreams flourish,' he added. 'It is a space for forming lifelong friendships in which students are encouraged to not only seek answers, but to pursue the questions that shape their understanding and drive them to become better individuals.' The celebration also featured the HBKU Excellence Awards, which highlighted especially remarkable achievements of HBKU faculty from the past year. Her Excellency Sheikha Hind and Dr. Hasnah presented awards in three categories: the Research Excellence Award was given to Dr. Gordon McKay, College of Science and Engineering, and Dr. Ilias Bantekas, College of Law, for outstanding research recognised by the wider academic community; the Teaching Excellence Award was received by Dr. Tareq Al Ansari, College of Science and Engineering, honouring exceptional knowledge-transfer and pedagogy; and the Service Excellence Award was given to Dr. Mohammed Ghaly, College of Islamic Studies, celebrating his extraordinary service to the university community. Noting the Awards' deeper significance, Dr. Ala Al Fuqaha, acting provost and associate provost for Teaching and Learning, said: 'These awardees demonstrate how HBKU attracts and enables faculty that pursue and achieve genuine impact in their disciplines. They go above and beyond to advance their fields, empower students' academic journeys, and ultimately serve their communities, at home and abroad.' Commenting on HBKU's growing alumni community, Dr. Maryam Hamad Al Mannai, vice-president for Student Affairs, said: 'Our Office of Student Affairs nurtures a diverse and enriching academic environment that facilitates active engagement and continuous growth among its students. Our alumni are outstanding individuals who carry an appreciation of service to their communities and lifelong personal development, which makes them ambassadors for our university and their own societies.'
The National
27-04-2025
- Politics
- The National
I was at the First Minister's summit and Palestinian education summit
'The script of therapeutic, technological, consumerist militarism permeates every dimension of our common life' said Brueggemann. 'That script has failed. It cannot make us safe. It cannot make us happy.' These are weighty words from a philosopher and scholar of rhetoric and theology. To gloss these differently, we might say that the dominant faith in a fix for every ache, trouble or conflict that can just be swallowed, plugged in, bought without consequence or outsourced to a strong man with a weapon, is failing everywhere. And we know it, viscerally. (Image: Jeff J Mitchell/PA)Twenty years on, as I sit in the room with the First Minister at his anti-far-right summit, thinking with a group of good, committed leaders and people with deep lived experience of considerable social ills, these words come back to mind. By being in the room, I am, of course, one of those subject to a barrage of cynicism and criticism for even accepting an invitation to think (my day job) and to commit (my life job) to living in a world without hate, or inequity, or genocide, but where we cleave to common good purpose. READ MORE: Laura Webster: What happened when I was invited to Israel I think I was there because we've recently refreshed the New Scots Refugee Integration Strategy, which I convene, with people who have known the worst of crimes human beings can do to one another, and upon reaching safety have been met with riots and the burning down of their hotel accommodation. The principles of trauma sensitivity, intercultural inclusion, human rights, restorative purpose, integration from day one and partnership and collaboration are at the core. Principles, in short, of love for neighbours and for ourselves. The work of integration is everyone's work across society. It is the work of steady change. Whenever I am anywhere these days, I'm also there with Gaza, Sudan and Tigray in my head, my heart and body daily absorbing news of more violence. I am always trying to commit to more work and wiser, thoughtful, practical counter-measures. The people with whom I work in Gaza have lived under the most atrocious, anti-democratic, xenophobic violence and settler colonial siege for 17 years. This is now evidenceable as a genocide and the International Court of Justice will rule on this when the cases for and against have been heard and the evidence weighed. Gaza is redefining our world of rights and love. It is necessary to hold it as context in a Scotland searching again for how to address the always common task of love and justice, and a sustaining social peace, too. The International Court of Justice in The HagueAt the First Minister's summit, I'm also carrying another summit I've just come from, in Qatar, by way of comparison. Last week, the second Summit on Rebuilding Higher Education in Gaza took place in Qatar at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) University in Education City. I was on the organising committee and co-convening several panels and plenaries, as I had been for the first summit, hosted by the University of Glasgow, in response, in part, to the student protests and staff calls, in December 2024. The Universities of Fort Hare and of Johannesburg in South Africa joined the organisers for the Qatar summit, as did UN ambassadors, ministers of education from Palestine and Jordan, Qatar Foundation, Education Above All, SwissPeace and all of the presidents and leaders of universities in Palestine. Contributions from speakers – researchers and operational managers – were given by those who could travel, including Palestinians who were able to go to Qatar and for whom, sadly, the UK is not presently granting visas. We listened for two long days to the detailed forensic research on the full extent of the devastation. Led by the Emergency Committee of the universities in Gaza's own call to action, we heard of what is happening, what is still possible. A remarkable number of the concrete projects which are providing the lifeline of education to students in higher education in Gaza are of course coming from Palestinian universities themselves and individual initiatives and networks led by stateless Palestinians in the diaspora, and in the region. It is right that the rebuilding and the education in emergency work should be undertaken and shaped primarily by those with direct experience. What the presence of the South African partners demonstrated, however, with their vast and deep experience of apartheid, of the post-apartheid reconstructions and also its failures, was the need for international solidarity, action and support. READ MORE: Red paint thrown over Tower Bridge in London Marathon Gaza protest An awful lot was heard, reflected on, critiqued, debated, discussed, disagreed about and agreed upon. Concentration was high. So was emotion. Some will not entertain a single idea or solution unless it is first subject to shibboleth tests whereby certain descriptive phrases – 'anticolonial, genocidal, settler colonial, apartheid' – preface all statements. Others spoke differently, referring in warnings about surveillance of the summit, with wry smiles: 'I'm sure our friends will be listening.' Such phrases I recognised from practised intercultural diplomacy and a lifetime spent in difficult rooms where people have hated each other so much they have wished each other dead and will do anything to find the weaponry with which to undertake the killing. But we were in the room, making higher education work despite levels of destruction, and despite watching on Zoom calls as the rooms our colleagues in Gaza were speaking from shook from the bombardments from Israeli attacks. The summit attendees were focused on solutions and what was already proving workable. Those I've worked with for more than 15 years on practical ways of enabling education under siege, and now under genocidal conditions, came to Qatar from universities around the world. They told of how they are now undertaking research and teaching with their colleagues, and led by the needs of colleagues and students in Gaza. We also heard from managers responsible for operations and some strangely uplifting, often surprising decisions in backroom operations in the coalition of caring universities who have committed to making vital yet administratively quite boring things happen – sorting out servers, library access, issuing certificates and transcripts, understanding the limits and alternatives to scholarships, navigating hostile governing bodies even when managers may, personally themselves, be regular attenders at marches for a ceasefire. They are bound by governments that threaten to close, defund or sanction universities supporting higher education in Gaza. A strong conclusion, as we summed up the Qatar summit, and made plans for the next one, was the need for a new concept of education, and especially higher education, given that, to paraphrase Brueggemann again, the script presenting higher education as therapeutic, technocratic, military consumerism, has not just failed, but has been burned forever in Gaza. The humanitarian actors cannot alleviate the more than 50 days of forced starvation now in place, hospitals have been destroyed by Israel – no therapeutic alleviation; the tech oligarchs have blocked, shadow-banned and monetised the genocide and are now overtly promoting the destruction of all democracy and promoting violent extremism in speech and in physical action. (Image: PA) Their systems run our higher education and even as someone who has been religiously following calls for boycotts since my first pocket money, I find it well-nigh impossible to boycott the companies engaged in illegal settlement and Israeli arms trade, in my day job. I still use the VPN and word-processing software required for my work, daily. And universities are of course engines of research into weapons development and large-scale investors into the arms trade. Indeed, as we saw with Baillie Gifford and the Edinburgh International Book Festival last year, investments across most of our increasingly distrusted institutions of public life are bound up one way or another in the world's largest industry – the industry of killing. It sticks to us all like glue. It is our collective and unavoidable script – even those who profess and protest for a purity. There is no quick fix to this. We might be able to demand divestment from companies supplying Israel with arms, and I certainly wish this – not blanket arms divestment – was the present demand from our students of their institutions, when protesting. Complete divestment, right now, is pie in the sky. I too desperately want the pie in the sky. But I'm going to have to build a lot of steps to get there, with others. When we consume, we are involved in killing. Deep down we know it. Some are enraged by this and some – we have to face this – love this. Some get off on the violence and algorithms are now programmed to feed this love and worship of violence, not least, the violence against women and people of any minority. READ MORE: David Pratt on how Benjamin Netanyahu's Israel is slowly but surely tearing itself apart In Scotland, mercifully, we are not (yet) Gaza. We still live in relative peace despite the undeniable economic war on the poor by governments that refuse to lift the two-child limit and institute rape clauses and disability benefit cuts. The First Minister and, to their credit, the leaders of those opposition political parties (not the Conservatives or Reform UK) know that a summit 'is just a start' and that countermeasures are indeed required. They are prepared to swallow some dead rats to work towards something, as yet, as with all vision, of necessity vague countermeasures. They may also be up for a radical reset of welfare and wealth distribution. I'm going to hold my breath. Hope is indeed a menace, as my late friend Peter Matheson said after leading a breathtaking successful peace campaign in the 1980s in Aotearoa New Zealand. I get the cynicism. It is a symptom of helplessness, frustration and exhaustion. It is a symptom of knowing that the script of therapeutic, technocratic, militarist consumerism has utterly failed. That we are not safe. And we are not happy. The diagnosis is always the first step to treatment plans and there are no miracle cures. And if we keep insisting on 'new ideas', we will fail radically. For this is a time, as in Gaza, for wisdom, courage, for a great deal of deliberation. Brueggemann also said that people don't change much through doctrine or argument or sheer cognitive appeal. People don't change much because of moral appeal – or at least not these days. If they did, our cries of protest at the daily kill rate in Gaza would have stopped the violence on October 9. But people do change by the offer of other models of old stories half-forgotten, echoes from other peoples and places, tracings, by one conversation, one story, one book or article, one protest and boycott at a time. One summit at a time. Please. Hold your breath with me. Hope must menace us all. Alison Phipps is Unesco Chair for Refugee Integration through Education, Languages and Arts at University of Glasgow
