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Qatar Tribune
4 hours ago
- General
- Qatar Tribune
NU-Q welcomes Class of 2029 at 2025 convocation
Tribune News Network Doha Northwestern University in Qatar (NU-Q) officially inducted the Class of 2029, one of its largest, most dynamic incoming classes, at its 18th Convocation ceremony. The event marked the formal entry of first-year and transfer students into the global Northwestern community, capping Wildcat Welcome Week and inaugurating their undergraduate journey. In his opening address, Dean and CEO Marwan M. Kraidy called on the new students to see Convocation not simply as the start of their studies but as the beginning of a lifelong journey of tajdeed, renewal in Arabic. 'Today is not only your first day of university. It is the first day of the rest of your life,' he said. 'It is a moment of transformation. You have left behind familiar people and places, and you now stand at the threshold of an extraordinary journey.' Framing renewal as both personal and collective, Kraidy explained that by choosing Northwestern Qatar, students had already begun a process of redefining their sense of self and purpose. 'You embody the richness of our world,' he told them. 'Like the classes before you, you all contribute to nurturing and cultivating the community that makes NU-Q what it is.' He urged students to embrace experimentation, curiosity, and resilience as they face a rapidly evolving global landscape. 'Be courageous in your renewal. Reinvent yourselves often. Be open to discovery, to growth, to transformation. Embrace change like your future depends on it, because it does,' he said. Joining Dean Kraidy in welcoming the new students, Convocation Speaker Miriam Gamoran Sherin, associate provost for Undergraduate Education at Northwestern University, described Convocation as one of life's rare moments when 'our worlds pivot.' She reflected, 'For all of you in the Class of 2029, today is one of them. These moments are wonderful and exhilarating. But they also can seem overwhelming and even a bit frightening. You know part of the path that you have chosen, but other aspects remain unknown, and will gradually reveal themselves over the next four years.' Sherin outlined three guiding principles for students as they begin their undergraduate journeys: cultivating their stories, developing the discipline of noticing, and finding strength in community. 'Your story is developing and evolving,' she said. 'A moment that is challenging now might in the future feel like a key moment when we learned to do something new, when we persevered through a difficult time, or when we came to see a new part of ourselves. Have patience with yourself, and have confidence that this is a worthwhile and meaningful journey.' She went on to emphasise that success at Northwestern is built on collaboration: 'We learn through talking with others, by explaining our ideas to our peers, by sharing our thinking through writing, filmmaking, and reporting. This is something I think we do so well at Northwestern – bring people together to share and learn in ways that have the potential to transform not only ourselves and our communities, but also the world.' The ceremony also featured reflections from Northwestern Qatar Student Government President Deema Al Sulaiti, Class of 2026, who shared her own journey and encouraged the Class of 2029 to approach their induction as the start of a journey of growth and discovery.
Qatar Tribune
06-05-2025
- General
- Qatar Tribune
Northwestern Qatar celebrates graduation of Class of 2025
Tribune News Network Doha Northwestern University in Qatar (NU-Q) celebrated the graduation of the Class of 2025 at its 14th annual ceremony, held at the Qatar National Convention Center. The event brought together university leadership, faculty, staff, families, and guests to honour the achievements of this year's graduates, who now join a growing global network of Northwestern alumni. The Class of 2025 represents a dynamic and resilient group of students who completed their undergraduate journey during a period marked by rapid global change and regional challenges. Hailing from more than 18 countries, the 118 graduates studied journalism, communication, and liberal arts while also contributing to award-winning student projects, groundbreaking research, and community initiatives in Qatar and beyond. In his address to the graduates, Marwan M Kraidy, dean and CEO of Northwestern Qatar, reflected on the symbolic power of light—or nūr—as a guiding principle for the journey ahead. 'A flame is not only burning heat; it is also light and warmth,' said Kraidy. 'As you leave here, take that habit of critical reflection with you. Use the flame to build a hearth. Start from a place of openness. Pause. Consider all sides. Then decide where your light should shine.' Encouraging graduates to lead with purpose and integrity, he reminded them that 'one small flame can ignite a thousand candles.' In a unique, full-circle moment, HE Sheikha Najwa bint Abdulrahman Al Thani, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Labour in Qatar and Class of 2015 alumna, returned to the stage as this year's graduation speaker, a decade after delivering the student address at her own graduation. Reflecting on the transformation from student to professional, she said, 'The Najwa that went to Northwestern feels like a different person from a different life.' Her speech balanced humour with heartfelt advice, encouraging the Class of 2025 to 'trust the process, play the long game, and change the way you see yourself.' She also recounted her journey since graduating, from navigating postgraduate studies in Oxford to building a career shaped by rejection, resilience, and reinvention. 'While many before me have carved out the space for those of us from the region, we remain underrepresented,' she said. 'We have a value to bring to the table, a voice that cannot be substituted by those who write about us.' Drawing from Arabic philosophy, she urged the graduates to embrace wasilah—the means by which we pursue our goals—as the true measure of character. Class of 2025 Speaker Fairuz Yosef Issa addressed her fellow graduates, congratulating them on their achievements and reflecting on the spirit of resilience and perseverance that defined them. 'We arrived here as individuals,' she noted, 'but today, we leave as a collective, bonded by shared challenges, late-night deadlines, and the belief that stories matter.' A journalism student known for her advocacy and commitment to amplifying underrepresented voices, she reflected on the unique journey of her class: from entering university at the height of the global COVID-19 pandemic to graduating at a time of a rapidly shifting world. 'Northwestern didn't just teach us how to write headlines,' she said. 'It taught us how to listen closely, speak honestly, and show up—especially when it's uncomfortable.' Another highlight of this year's ceremony was the attendance of a senior delegation from Northwestern University's home campus, underscoring Northwestern's support for the campus and community in Qatar. The group included members of the Northwestern University Board of Trustees, Peter J Barris, chair of the Board, and Provost Kathleen Hagerty. Alongside Dean Kraidy, they participated in the graduation processions and engaged with students, faculty, and staff during the visit. The ceremony concluded with graduates processing out beneath the Weber Arch, a powerful reversal of their symbolic entry into university life.
