Qatar University (QU) has set up its ninth college, the College of Health Sciences, by converting the Department of Health Sciences at the College of Arts and Sciences, and scheduled to start from the Fall semester this year.

The announcement follows the approval by the Board of Regents in its January 5 meeting on plans for the new college, student enrollment, new programmes, collaboration with QU colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy and external healthcare institutions and new appointments.

Application process to the College of Health Sciences will begin in September this year and courses will start soon after. The department currently comprises 346 female students, comprising 308 undergraduate and 38 graduate level. The college aims to enrol up to 150 students in its first academic year, with the intention to add male students, department head Dr Asma al-Thani said.

Currently, the department offers five degree programmes- BSc in Biomedical Sciences, Human Nutrition, and Public Health, as well as MSc in Biomedical Sciences, and Public Health.

"The new college will also offer a BSc programme in rehabilitation treatments (physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy), an MSc programme in Clinical Dietetics, and a PhD programme in Biomedical Sciences," Dr al-Thani explained.

The BSc and MSc programmes will be developed in co-operation with Hamad Medical Corporation and Primary Health Care Corporation while the PhD programme will benefit from collaboration opportunities with QU colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy, as well as other leaders in the healthcare sector in Qatar.

During the meeting, the Board also approved the college’s organisational structure, its budget, and the appointment of a new dean to be announced later.

QU president Dr Hassan Rashid al-Derham recalled that over the last three decades, Qatar University established a wide range of quality health sciences programmes such as biomedical sciences, human nutrition, and public health.

"These programmes were developed over the years through dialogue with our partners in the labour market. Additionally, the organisation enhanced its students’ research capacities providing them with the skills to seek sustainable solutions for the challenges facing the healthcare sector in Qatar.”

“The establishment of the new College of Health Sciences will add value to QU’s achievements as it contributes to implementing with the colleges of medicine and pharmacy an integrated academic and research strategy, as well as awareness and community outreach activities. It also contributes to fulfilling local needs for skilled health and medical professionals through the implementation of new academic programmes in the light of the expansion of healthcare services in Qatar and in line with Qatar National Vision 2030.”

Dr Asma added that "the establishment of the new College of Health Sciences will contribute to advancing QU’s health programmes, and to fulfilling Qatar’s needs for high-qualified healthcare providers and well-trained practitioner, in line with the country’s ambitions towards a knowledge-based economy.”