The Qatar University Core Curriculum Programme (QU-CCP) is co-organising a conference on general education in the Mena region with the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U).
The conference, described as the “first of its kind” in the region, will be held on October 15 under the theme “General Education in the 21st Century: A Paradigm Shift”.
Dr Maha al-Hendawi, CCP director and chair of the conference’s steering committee, told a press conference yesterday that the event aims to promote high-quality practices and research on general education pedagogy in and for the region, and address the fundamental starting point for collaboration on general education, which is seen as the foundation of undergraduate education in the 21st century.
It will bring together presidents and representatives of universities from countries in the Mena region and more than 150 participants from academia and industry to discuss the challenges of educating youth who will become the future generation of leaders in the region.  
The conference will be inaugurated by QU president Dr Hassan al-Derham and feature addresses by QU vice-president and chief academic officer Dr Mazen Hasna, Dr al-Hendawi and AAC&U vice-president of the office of diversity, equity and student success, Dr Susan Albertine.
Dr al-Derham will launch the Mena General Education Network, which aims to ensure high-quality general education programmes for undergraduate education in the region. It will also serve to promote best practices in general education pedagogy at QU and other higher education institutions in the region by providing opportunities for working closely together on common goals and concerns, she added.
Keynote speakers will be vice-chancellor for academic affairs and student development at the University of Minnesota, Dr Lorrie Carrel, and head of direct investment at Saudi Aramco Investment Management Company, Dr Ibrahim Almojel.
Discussions will focus on the paradigm shift of general education programmes in the west and the essential role these programmes play in preparing graduates to tackle the complexity and challenges of the 21st century.
The conference agenda will comprise sessions in the form of workshops that address the importance of leveraging general education courses to equip students with the knowledge and skills they need to be competitive in the labour market. Participants will also share ideas on best practices in Stem education, student-centred teaching and learning and the dimensions of future general education programmes.
On the sidelines of the conference, a pre-conference meeting will be held on October 14 for members of the General Education Network as well as a Stem workshop, titled “Coding for all: Expanding access to computer science through general education”, for participants.
“The conference reflects QU’s pivotal role as a key driver of progress and innovation in higher education in Qatar and the region,” Dr Hasna said.
“We hope the partnership will help educators in Qatar and the US to offer college students the best possible preparation for purposeful work and generative citizenship, as well as flourishing lives,” Dr Albertine said.
“This is the first undertaking between CCP and AAC&U as stipulated in our partnership agreement, which was signed in May,” Dr al-Hendawi added.