HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani has said that recent changes to the Cabinet and mergers of ministries will improve efficiency and help the country achieve its 2030 national vision.  
Interacting with students who were honoured at the Ministry of Education and Higher Education’s ceremony marking the ninth Education Excellence Day Award for academic year 2014-2015 at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel yesterday, the Emir stressed that development projects, spending on infrastructure, education and health will remain at good levels despite the fall in oil prices.  
The Emir said that  he was keen on meeting the award winners to listen to their views on the country and development. The Emir added that Qatar was continuously looking for national talent that pushes the country forward in all fields.  
The Emir added that education was an important phase, but business and work after graduation were an even more important. He urged the youth to stand resilient in the face of bureaucracy to facilitate development for their generation and the coming ones.  
The award winners thanked the Emir for attending the event, which reflected his commitment to education.
Earlier the Emir presided over the ceremony marking the ninth Education Excellence Day Award for academic year 2014-2015 at the Ritz Carlton Hotel.
The ceremony was attended by Sheikhs and Ministers, along with the heads of diplomatic missions accredited to the State, senior officials in the field of education; and parents of the students who were honoured.
Addressing the ceremony, HE the Minister of Education and Higher Education Dr Mohamed Abdul Wahed Ali al-Hammadi thanked HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani for honouring the ceremony.  
He stressed that celebrating the 9th session of the Education Excellence Day reflects the State’s commitment to develop the capacities its people, and its keenness to launch their creativity and to encourage individuals and educational institutions to improve their performance and spread the spirit of fair competition in the field of scientific excellence.
Education Excellence Day is a commitment to guide individual and institutional energies towards excellence, and to promote positive attitudes among citizens towards participation in the knowledge industry, the Minister added.  


^{HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani presenting the Education Excellence Award
at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel yesterday.}

The Minister of Education and Higher Education congratulated the honorees and called for greater excellence and creativity.  
On behalf of the honoured students, excellence award winner (Doctoral Degree Category) Dr Abdulaziz al-Ibrahim underlined that honouring the outstanding students of Qatar reflects the State’s great attention to education and scientific research to serve the homeland and its citizens.
The Emir then presented the awards to the winners.
Meanwhile, Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid al-Mahmoud said the patronage of the Emir of the ninth Education Excellence Day award for academic year 2014-2015 reflects his keenness to support innovators in the Qatari society.  
The Deputy Prime Minister congratulated the winners for their recognition. He wished them further success in their academic and scientific future.  
Meanwhile, in his address, HE the Minister of Education and Higher Education Mohamed Abdul Wahed Ali al-Hammadi said that every country needs its young talent to contribute to development as the world seeks a knowledge-based society.  
As a result Qatar continues working on developing its educational system in order to build an entire generation of young people well-equipped to innovate and keep up with the modern world. This would help reach sustainable development in light of the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030, the Minister added.  
Furthermore, he said the ministry was keen on supporting the educational process with the latest technologies that help develop the capabilities of young people in Qatar.  The Minister said that the winners were delighted that the Emir was present to recognise their efforts.  
Addressing the winners, he said that the recognition puts them against bigger challenges to maintain their achievements.  
For her part, HE Minister of Public Health Dr Hanan Mohamed al-Kuwari said that the attendance of the Emir will give a boost to the education sector and to students to innovate and develop themselves.  
HE the Minister of Development Planning and Statistics Saleh Mohamed Salem al-Nabit said that encouraging science and innovation reflects the vision of Qatar’s wise leadership and its commitment to education as the cornerstone of sustainable development.  
HE the Minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs, Dr Ghaith bin Mubarak al-Kuwari, also congratulated the winners and said that the event reflects the appreciation of  Qatar to the relevance of education.