(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Health sciences educators, researchers and students from Qatar, Canada, the GCC and Lebanon met at the University of Calgary in Qatar (UCQ)'s Teaching and Learning Conference 2015 in Doha to share research and innovations in inter-professional teaching and learning.

Hissa al-Ali, associate director of the College of Nursing Project, opened the conference with comments on Qatar's vision for healthcare and education, and praise for UCQ's initiative both in educating nursing leaders and in drawing this interdisciplinary and international group of healthcare scholars and leaders together in a common goal.

On behalf of UCQ, she applauded the "wise vision and leadership of HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, which is based on investment, particularly in Qatari human resources, and of HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, who championed bringing the University of Calgary to Qatar and who believed in the University of Calgary and its ability to educate the nursing professionals of Qatar's future".

Over a two-day period, 60 speakers representing UCQ, Hamad Medical Corporation, Primary Health Care Corporation, Qatar University, Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, Texas A&M University at Qatar and College of the North Atlantic - Qatar, as well as health and education leaders from Saudi Arabia, Lebanon and Canada, presented on topics ranging from academic integrity and overcoming learning barriers to the educational roles of simulation in medical training and pain management strategies.

Conference papers will be published in a special upcoming issue of the international Journal of Educational Thought.

Keynote speaker Dr Lynn Taylor, vice-provost (Teaching and Learning), University of Calgary in Canada, set the tone for the conference theme with a presentation on fostering change in the context of inter-professional learning.

Additionally, UCQ Teaching and Learning Centre director Dr Mary Gene Saudelli announced the creation of a new journal through UCQ € The Journal of International and Transnational Nursing Education. This publication will add research conducted in Qatar and the GCC countries to the growing scholarly profile of nursing scholarship.