Qatar University (QU) signed an agreement with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MEHE), Mowasalat, and Dolphin Energy aimed at developing a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) mobile laboratory.

A part of the ‘STEM on wheels project,’ the first of its kind in the region mobile laboratory will bring real-life and daily STEM experiences to students and educators, QU said in a statement.

The project aims to motivate students and encourage them to explore out-of-the-classroom STEM experiences through a contemporary learning approach that adopts new applications and serves the school curriculum.

“QU is proud to be part of this state-of-the-art project that will promote quality education within high schools in Qatar while reinforcing relations between the partnering institutions,” QU president Dr Hassan al-Derham said.

The agreement was signed by Dr al-Derham, MEHE Undersecretary HE Rabea Mohamed al-Kaabi, Mowasalat managing director Khalid Nasser al-Hail, and Dolphin Energy Qatar general manager Hassan al-Emadi. Dolphin Energy government and public relations director Ajlan al-Enazi was present.

As part of the agreement, Mowasalat will provide a bus with Dolphin Energy sponsoring its interior and the needed equipment for the STEM technology.

MEHE will create a comprehensive plan for the bus trips to schools, including those in rural areas. QU engineering students will design the bus interior and provide technological applications and equipment.

Al-Kaabi said the project makes a complete connection between general education and higher education institutions in a creative way.

“It helps students make use of such techniques, which enables them to become the scientists of the future in the area of STEM,” the Minister added.

The event also saw a signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Qatar Transportation and Traffic Safety Centre (QTTSC) and Mowasalat at QU’s College of Engineering to collaborate on new research and consulting programmes that will be used for studies on traffic safety in Qatar.

Mowasalat’s Karwa Driving School will offer exclusive and various training programmes accredited and certified by global institutions. It will also provide information and statistics to support the projects while QTTSC will handle the projects.

CENG dean Dr Khalifa al-Khalifa said such collaborations highlight their commitment to developing partnerships with private and government organisations aimed at investing in research and development, and promoting STEM education among high-school students.