02 May 2018 – 8:46
By Fazeena Saleem / The Peninsula
DOHA: Qatar Foundation (QF) yesterday celebrated academic achievements of the Class of 2018 at its annual convocation ceremony in Education City’s Ceremonial Court in the presence of Father Amir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of QF.
H E Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, Vice-Chairperson and CEO of QF and several other dignitaries also graced the ceremony, held under the theme ‘Then and Now’, highlighting the growth experienced by the graduating students during their time at Education City.
The ceremony honoured 778 graduates from Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) and QF’s eight partner universities in Education City, showcasing student achievements, success stories, and future aspirations.
“Each member of the graduating class of 2018 carries with them the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in a global setting and to benefit Qatar and wider international community. These young men and women have worked hard to achieve their degrees, and we are delighted to celebrate their achievements with them tonight,” said Sheikha Hind.
“Qatar Foundation’s unique education ecosystem offers a diverse range of lifelong learning and research opportunities, and when our alumni move on to their next phase and become active global citizens, we will all reap the benefit of the knowledge they have gained during their time here,” she added.
The students received rings together from Sheikha Hind and deans of the respective campuses and colleges before they did the traditional walk through the ‘Door to the Future,’ symbolising their passage from QF partner universities to the next stage of their lives.
Sheikha Moza presented Swar Al Dahab Ali’s initiative ‘Mercy In Giving’, the winner of the inaugural Akhlaquna Award during the ceremony.
Throughout the years, this door has witnessed the passage of thousands of QF graduates who now hold notable positions in different sectors, and play crucial roles in organisations in Qatar and across the region. This year’s Convocation included a shared keynote speech from two QF alumni.
Ghada Ali Al Khater, Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar (VCUarts Qatar), Class of 2012 offered words of advice to the new graduates. Sheikha Moza presented Swar Al Dahab Ali’s initiative ‘Mercy In Giving’, which aims to promote the value of mercy, the winner of the inaugural Akhlaquna Award during the Convocation ceremony.
The award is designed to recognise and celebrate young people who display exemplary moral character toward the good of humanity and was announced by Sheikha Moza, during last year’s Convocation.
Swar’s ‘Mercy In Giving’ initiative aims to create a movement that brings together various organisations from the education, health, and social sectors, allowing them the freedom to choose the scope of their contribution to tackling specific issues within society. “Receiving the award from Her Highness is the best recognition,” said Swar speaking to media upon receiving the inaugural Akhlaquna Award.
“The purpose of my project will be fulfilled when all the communities in the world come together, regardless of which field they are in, to show mercy. The main idea of my project is that anyone from any community can do it with me – my dream is not just to get the award, my dream is to find others to continue this project with me. So, my next plan is to raise awareness of this initiative in Qatar, and then internationally,” he added.
Father Amir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation; H E Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, Vice-Chairperson and CEO of QF, and other dignitaries during Qatar Foundation’s annual Convocation ceremony at Education City’s Ceremonial Court yesterday. The ceremony honoured 778 graduates from Hamad Bin Khalifa University and QF’s eight partner universities in Education City.
This year marked QF’s 11th Convocation and it was the largest ever group to graduate from QF since its establishment in 1995. Last year 765 students graduated from HBKU and QF’s partner universities. “I am delighted to witness the graduation of the Class of 2018.
These young men and women are empowered and ready to embark on the next phase of their journey as aspiring entrepreneurs, leaders, researchers, innovators, and global citizens, shaping their own futures as well as the future of Qatar. We are proud to be graduating HBKU’s largest class to date,” said Dr Ahmad M Hasnah, President, HBKU.
Since 2008, QF has collectively celebrated the graduation of students from its partner universities and HBKU. This year’s Convocation honored 206 graduates from homegrown research institute HBKU, 105 from Texas A&M University at Qatar, 61 from Northwestern University in Qatar, 67 from Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar, 34 from Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, 90 from Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar, 52 from Georgetown University in Qatar, 51 from UCL Qatar, and 112 from HEC Paris in Qatar.
