The Gulf Studies Centre (GSC) at Qatar University College of Arts & Sciences (QU-CAS) has organised in conjunction with Durham University a two-day conference on “Transformational changes in the Middle East”.  
The event, which was held last week,  was part of an agreement recently signed between QU and Durham University with the aim to initiate a dual award PhD in Gulf Studies.
It brought together experts and practitioners also from Kuwait University to exchange their ideas and share their experiences on the transformational changes in the Middle East. Attendees included QU faculty and students, as well as representatives of the academic, research and diplomatic communities in Qatar.
The programme agenda included presentations delivered by officials from various institutions. They discussed a wide range of topics related to Gulf region.
They included “Mena de-regionalisation and fragmentation in the light of hegemonic competition between the regional powers”, “The apparent facture in the US-GCC relations”, “Factionalism in the post-Khomeini Iran”, “Comparison of electoral process in the GCC states”, “Impact of changing East Asian energy market on the Gulf”, “Gas finds of East Mediterranean, Statehood”, “Recognition in international relations and the Saudi-led war in Yemen” and “Religion, electoral rules and women representation: a cross national examination and policies of integration in Kuwait”.