The Centre for Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS) at Qatar University College of Arts and Sciences (QU-CAS) has signed an agreement for collaboration on education, research and training with the Centre for Middle Eastern Studies (CMES) at Lund University, Sweden.
The agreement aims to promote research in the field of humanities and social sciences in Qatar and the region, and develop academic exchanges in the field of education, training and other activities that contribute to the promotion of cultural exchanges between QU and Lund University.
It also includes joint research projects related to epigraphy, languages and cultures of Arabia; joint conferences, seminars and workshops; training for research assistants or co-researchers; and student exchange programmes.
The agreement was signed by CHSS director Dr Kaltham al-Ghanim and Lund University CMES director Prof Leif Stenberg, in the presence of Swedish ambassador Ewa Polano, CAS dean Dr Eiman Mustafawi, QU Social and Economic Survey Research Institute director Dr Darwish al-Emadi, CAS associate deans Dr Khalifa al-Hazaa (outreach and engagement) and Dr Mohamed Ahmedna (research and graduate affairs), as well as CAS faculty and staff.
Ambassador Polano congratulated QU for topping the Times Higher Education’s list of the world’s most international universities 2016, saying: “This agreement not only reflects the interest of Lund University in developing bilateral relations between the two countries, but also the interest of the government and the people of Sweden.” She hoped that the agreement was the beginning of a series of fruitful co-operation between the two institutions.
Meanwhile, Dr Mustafawi said: “The agreement embodies CAS’ drive to enrich interdisciplinary research in the field of humanities and social studies in Qatar and the region.”
She noted that the agreement would help develop academic exchange in the field of education, training, research and other activities that contributed to the advancement of knowledge on both sides.
Dr al-Ghanim added: “This agreement will open many fields of co-operation in the future and be an opportunity for researchers - whether professors or students - at Qatar University to co-operate with their counterparts at Lund University. It will also allow the Centre of Humanities and Social Sciences to be a channel for the exchange process and the promotion of knowledge and research expertise between the two universities.”
Prof Stenberg said: “We are honoured to have such an agreement with QU and will have further discussions to develop common research projects.”