Qatar University (QU) participated in the second Times Higher Education (THE) Mena Universities Summit at the UAE University.
The university presented an information booth at the event which brought together university leaders from around the region.
QU president Dr Hassan Rashid al-Derham joined THE World University Rankings editor Phil Baty, Gulf and Middle East educators, academicians, and education policy and governance experts to exchange information, experiences and ideas under the theme ‘World class higher education as a driver of sustainable national development’.
Dr al-Derham participated in the panel debate on ‘Engaging stakeholders for improved performance’ where he gave a brief insight into QU’s status as the country’s first national university, its student population, colleges and programmes.
Dr al-Derham detailed ways in which Qatar University engages stakeholders such as students, partners, funding sources and other academic institutions in its plans and goals with the aim to respond collaboratively to the country’s transition to a knowledge-based economy.
He pointed to QU building a relationship of trust and co-operation with employers and the energy sector at different levels leading to significant areas of support such as professorial chairs, advisories on market needs, summer internships, and high school STEM outreach initiatives.
“QU sets the criteria for these partnerships in how best they can support our objectives and mission from the perspective of the intake of QU graduates into the labour market,” he said.
He discussed how QU has also developed an ongoing relationship with stakeholders such as Qatar Foundation, Qatar National Research Fund, Qatar Science and Technology Park, and the international branch campuses at Education City such as Texas A&M Qatar and Weill Cornell Medicine Qatar – on existing and emerging national priorities.
Dr al-Derham also highlighted the university’s Qatar Mobility Innovations Centre which developed smart transport products to mitigate traffic challenges emerging from the construction of the national rail system.