Over 1,500 Qatar University (QU) alumni and their friends and relatives gathered recently at QU Library courtyard for the 2016 Alumni Reunion. The event aimed to reconnect graduates with their alma mater and encourage mutual support and interaction between the institution and its graduates.
Organised by QU Alumni Association (QUAA), the annual gathering is an opportunity to bring together friends, faculty and QU leaders to re-energise the spirit of pride, friendship, and loyalty and to remind alumni of their lasting connection with their alma mater.
Attendees included QU president Dr Hassan Rashid al-Derham, members of QU leadership and college deans, QUAA president Dr Saif al-Hajri, Alumni and Partner Relations manager Rana al-Falasi, and QU alumni Trade and Industry Department director at the Co-operation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf Dr Hilal Almukhaini (class of 1983) and Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait Strategic Alliance & Other Fess Income Department head Khaled Farooq Sabri al-Khatib (class of 1983), as well as several QUAA members.
The programme featured a short film screening on the association, entertainment activities by Embrace Doha, and live performances including poetry recitations by renowned Qatari poet Hamad al-Daiya.
Also on the programme was a kids’ zone organised and supervised by QU Early Childhood Centre with activities for children that included a puppet show, career role playing, handicraft and painting.
Awards were presented to Sheikh Hamad bin Thamer bin Mohamed al-Thani (Class of 1987) for Distinguished Alumni, College of Pharmacy Chapter for Distinguished Chapter, and CAS student Fatima Alsheeb for the Design Competition Alumnus & Alumna category.
Mohamad Alhasel won first place in the photography competition, while student Farah Dawwas and student Abdelaziz Issa won second and third place respectively.
Dr al-Derham noted that since its inception in 1973, QU is committed to graduating highly-qualified individuals to join leadership ranks in the labour market, and actively contribute to Qatar’s growth and development.
“The university is today home to nine colleges, 17,000 students and more than 62 academic programmes at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Our mission is to ensure that we keep abreast of the society’s fast growth by developing new programmes, promoting research, and contributing to providing solutions to problems within the society,” he said on the occasion.