In the upcoming MENA Universities Summit which Qatar University (QU) is co-hosting with Times Higher Education (THE) magazine, participants will include regional and international university leaders, representatives of leading educational, business and industry organizations, and world-renowned experts of higher education (HE).
The event has also drawn sponsorship support from a host of leading organizations in Qatar such as Qatar National Bank (QNB), Commercial Bank and Qatar Petrochemical Company (QAPCO).
The Summit, which is being held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani, Deputy Emir, will see the participation of academic institutions including QU, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Imperial College London, St Joseph's University UAE, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM), Sultan Qaboos University, New York University (NYU) Abu Dhabi, Northwestern University Qatar (NUQ), Al Akhawayn University, and Community College Qatar (CCQ).
A gala dinner will open the event and will be presided over by Hamad bin Khalifa University President and Vice-Chair of QU Board of Regents H.E. Sheikh Dr Abdullah bin Ali Al Thani who will represent His Highness.
The Summit's program agenda will include keynote addresses, discussion sessions, a master class, and an open consultation session on proposals for a full THE MENA University Ranking.
Welcoming speeches will be delivered by QU President Sheikha Abdulla Al-Misnad and THE editor-at-large Mr Phil Baty, and keynote speeches by Imperial College London Prof Alice Gast, KAUST president Prof Jean-Lou Chameau, and World Bank official and tertiary education expert Dr Jamil Salmi.
A panel discussion on university-industry collaboration will include CEOs and directors from Qatar Airways, QatarPetroleum, Amwal, QAPCO, Ooredoo, Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation, and Qatar Rail.
QU VP for Institutional Development Dr Saif Al-Sowaidi will join university leaders Dr Alfred Bloom (NYU Abu Dhabi), Dr Nisrine Abiad (St Joseph's University), Dr Everette Dennis (NUQ) and Dr Driss Ouaouicha (Al Akhawayn University) in the session on "Satellite Campuses and Transnational Education".
Additionally, the session on "Strengths & Weaknesses of HE in MENA" will draw participation of experts from Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI), Qatar Foundation Academy for Academic Leadership and CCQ, while representatives from QU, Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) and Elsevier will discuss the "Social Economic Impact of Universities: Emerging New Metrics".
Another highlight of the program is the master class on ranking to be delivered by Phil Baty in which QU Scholarships Office, officials from MENA AIR, Association of Arab Universities, and others, will participate.
-Ends-
Media enquiries to Judith Bennett Henry, +974 4403 3063; jbennetthenry@qu.edu.qa.
About Qatar University:
Qatar University is one of the leading institutions of academic and research excellence in the GCC region. It provides high quality undergraduate and graduate programs that prepare competent graduates, primed to shape the future of Qatar. The organization's strong relationship with Qatari society is reflected in its community service efforts and in its vibrant research portfolio that addresses relevant local and regional challenges, advances national goals towards a knowledge-based economy, and contributes actively to the needs and aspirations of the society.
© Press Release 2015
