(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Qatar University (QU) has said it is close to adopting its new strategic plan for 2018-2022, which will serve as a road map for a comprehensive transformation that the university aims at in the coming years.
The new academic year was inaugurated yesterday with the annual convocation address, in which QU president Dr Hassan al-Derham highlighted the university's achievements in the last academic year and its continued efforts to meet the labour market's needs and provide an optimal learning environment to ensure student success.
The event was attended by the QU leadership, deans, heads of departments, programme directors, faculty members, staff, students and alumni.
Dr al-Derham also honoured QU members in various categories — Outstanding Teaching Award, Merit Award, Media Award, Employee of the Year Award and Young Alumnus Award.
Speaking at the convocation, Dr al-Derham stressed that the new strategic plan would be a road map for moving from reform to comprehensive transformation, the official Qatar News Agency (QNA) reported.
He said the 'plan started with an in-depth analysis of the challenges, such as the academic risks that a large number of students may face, the small number of Qatari students who are enrolled in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) programmes, the gap between the university's outcomes and the ever-changing needs of the labour market, and the limited social and economic impact of research, among many others, QU said in a statement.
Dr al-Derham said the new plan would be accessible for the QU community within weeks for review and to learn about its platforms, goals and indices, noting that several teams from different university sectors participated in drafting the plan. He reiterated that selective education and the nurturing of national cadres was the most important tool for thwarting dangers and promoting the country towards the achievements that it deserves.
He touched on QU's achievements in the previous academic year at all levels, which reflected on the university's ranking in global indices QS and Times Higher Education. QU ranked 349th on the QS global index for 2018, a jump of 44 places from the year before to be fourth among GCC states and fifth among Arab countries. The university has also become one of the world's top 500 universities according to the Times Higher Education ranking, which placed it in sixth place among the best 15 Arab universities.
QU president said these achievements wouldn't have been possible if it hadn't been for the support of the wise leadership and the efforts of the QU community, which led to establishing QU as a model for the whole region. On new academic programmes, Dr al-Derham said five new programmes will be introduced in physical education, physical therapy, Qur'an and Sunna, creed and da'wa, and Islamic jurisdiction (Fiqh).
He said the internally awarded research scholarships amounted to more than QR10.9mn in 2016, stressing the importance of students' participation in scientific research in order to develop and enhance this skill.
He noted that the research sector is currently working to develop a research strategy at QU for the next five years so as to increase the effectiveness of research. He also touched on the infrastructure expansion and the main projects that were opened over the last year as well as the ones that will open in the future.
Dr al-Derham also noted that QU has advanced its infrastructure and facilities via a range of building projects such as the inauguration of class halls for women and a gymnasium for men, as well as the student dormitories and establishment of the Early Childhood Centre. 'This is part of QU's commitment to providing its students with a supportive learning environment geared towards improved outcomes and success, he said.
Following his address, Dr al-Derham distributed the following awards:
* Outstanding Teaching Award: Hasan Abdalla, lecturer of Mathematics at QU College of Arts and Sciences (CAS).
* Outstanding Teaching Award runner-up: Prof Farhan Mujahid Chak, CAS associate professor of international affairs.
* Merit Award: Prof Maha Khalil al-Hendawi, director of the QU Core Curriculum Programme, and Dr Ahmed Awaisu, associate professor of Clinical Pharmacy and Practice at QU College of Pharmacy.
* Media Award: Dr Mohamed Kirat, CAS professor of Public Relations, and Dr Mahjoob Zweiri; CAS associate professor of Modern History.
* Employee of the Year Award: Lolwa al-Mansoori, manager of Central Business Services at QU Social and Economic Survey Research Institute, and Raouf Mohamed Neffati, section head of the Student Information System.
* Young Alumnus Award: Issa Abdullah and Alanoud Ali al-Fohaidi.
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