Qatar University wins energy award

Qatar University (QU) has won the Partnership Recognition Award as one of the best educational institutions that contributed to the Strategic Plan of Qatarization for the year 2012. This was announced at the 13th meeting to review the Plan in the energy and industry sector, QU said in a media statement Tuesday. HE the Minister of Industry and Energy Dr Mohammed Saleh Al Sada presented a trophy to QU President Professor Sheikha Abdulla Al Misnad in appreciation of QU's long and effective participation in the field of energy and industry. This is the first time the Partnership Recognition category was included among the Ministry's annual awards. This recognition was the result of the efforts of QU members over the past 10 years to implement the best Qatarization practices and provide various sectors with responsible and qualified generations of Qatari nationals in line with objectives outlined in QNV 2030, National Development Strategy, and the National Research Strategy, QU said. Commenting on the award, Prof Al Misnad said, "Qatarization is an aim that QU promotes and highlights in its short and long-term targets. Our role is important in advancing Qatar's development and we continue to step up to the responsibility of this process which is not only to Qatarize jobs within QU, but also to provide professional sectors with capable and qualified Qatari nationals. It is a mission of great responsibility and we extend every effort to achieve it." In its drive to meet Qatarization objectives, QU, as the state's only national university, has taken the lead to provide the national labour market with qualified individuals who are capable of guiding the future of Qatar. The organization has established a number of long-term plans to increase the number of students and provide a distinguished faculty body to serve the expectations of the wider community. Towards this goal, QU launched three initiatives a scholarship programme for national students, a program to support national competencies, and another to expand post-graduate programs. The scholarship programme has witnessed a remarkable increase in the number of Qatari students who have been sent abroad for further study at prestigious international universities. Currently, 21 students are pursuing Masters degrees and 32 students pursuing doctorate (PhD) studies. In its programme to support national competencies, QU provides professional development opportunities and research training for national faculty to advance their experience in academic and research initiatives. QU has added over 13 diploma, MA and PhD programmes to its academic portfolio, covering a wide range of disciplines that are aligned with the needs of the community and the labour market. "We provide optimum support to encourage students to pursue further study in the top institutions worldwide. We nurture and encourage our Bachelor students to continue their educational journey abroad, and we expect an increase in the number of scholarship students to reach 60 in the near future," said Prof Al Misnad. Our role to provide the labour market with qualified graduates is as important as our responsibility to academic quality and excellence. Over four decades, QU has graduated more than 37,000 students from different colleges and departments, and our graduates go on to assume high ranking positions in government and other sectors throughout Qatar, she added.