The Gulf Studies Research Centre at Qatar University’s College of Arts & Sciences (CAS) and the Middle East Institute (MEI) of National University of Singapore (NUS) have entered into an agreement to promote joint activities on a range of collaborative projects.
The agreement was signed by Qatar University (QU) president Prof Sheikha Abdulla al-Misnad and NUS provost Prof Tan Eng Chye during the sixth meeting of the Qatar-Singapore high-level joint committee (HLJC) in Singapore.
Attending the signing ceremony were HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani, Teo Chee Hean; deputy prime minister, co-ordinating minister for national security and minister for home affairs of Singapore; high-level ministerial representatives from Qatar and senior QU officials, including CAS dean Dr Eiman Mustafawi.
Areas of co-operation will include organisation of and participation in joint academic activities such as joint conferences, workshops or symposiums; facilitation and promotion of joint research projects between faculty members and researchers; establishment of a visiting fellowship scheme; joint publication of output from joint research events undertaken; hosting of internship students and/or research assistants; and joint supervision of
graduate students.
In its MoU with MEI/NUS, the centre is continuing its mission to engage dialogue on Gulf and Middle East issues with domestic, regional and international institutions; promote collaboration with experts and researchers to advance research on existing and emerging issues in the region; and provide opportunities for students of Gulf studies to interact with individuals with international experience on Gulf and Middle East questions.
Prof al-Misnad said: “This agreement will provide a platform for fruitful collaboration between Qatar University and National University of Singapore in ways that would enrich student experience, campus life, research activities and the academic environment at both campuses. The visiting fellowship and student internship components in particular will facilitate valuable interactions between two institutions, which share opportunities and challenges, as national institutions of higher education in fast-growing economies and increasingly globalised
labour markets.”
Dr Mustafawi said: “It is a great opportunity to have this agreement with an established and experienced institution like National University of Singapore.”
Centre director Dr Abdullah Baabood noted that the agreement is one of several that the newly-established centre is developing with reputable research institutes around the world. “The agreement with the Middle East Institute links the centre to a leading research institute and looks to utilising the institute’s wealth of knowledge and experience in producing high-quality, world-class research on the Middle East and Gulf region,” he added.