(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Qatar University (QU) successfully implemented a summer training programme with the participation of 234 undergraduate and postgraduate students online for the first time due to the preventive and precautionary measures imposed over the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Six research centres participated, including the Center for Advanced Materials, Biomedical Research Center, Central Laboratories Unit, Social and Economic Survey Research Institute, Laboratory Animal Research Center and the QU Young Scientists Center, which launched programmes focusing on national priorities and needs in various fields consistent with the QU Strategy 2018-2022 and support the country's orientation towards a knowledge economy.
The training programme at the Center for Advanced Materials focused on projects that are compatible with the country's needs regarding the application of nanotechnology and emerging technologies in water production, energy production, alternative energy sources, and support for innovation in sustainable development areas, along with protecting materials against corrosion or the electric field.
The training programme at the Biomedical Research Center for students of the Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Engineering Faculties included highly specialised technical laboratory applications presented by specialised lecturers, in line with the Qatar Research, Development, and Innovation Strategy 2030, including the qualification of Qatari cadres in scientific research.
In the Central Laboratories Unit, the programme was designed to be in line with the most prominent local needs and the latest global scientific developments, in the industrial, medical, agricultural and other service areas at the general level, with attention to the practical aspect of accurate measurement devices and chemical analysis for eleven devices.
The Social and Economic Survey Research Institute training programme involved focus on all stages of developing field surveys from designing questionnaires, methods of data collection, including data collection through telephone contact with survey respondents (CATI), data collection through the field visit and face-to-face interview with respondents (CAPI), and data analysis using the STATA programme, used in writing published reports and magazines.
The Laboratory Animal Research Center presented a programme that focused mainly on the foundations and standards for quality assurance for laboratory and professional practices in the world in scientific research laboratories and diagnostic and monitoring laboratories in the field of microbiology, in addition to environmental and health monitoring techniques, risk management and laboratory waste, which contribute to meeting some of the society's needs in the field of scientific laboratories that seek to apply international standards and meet the requirements of professional accreditation through various accrediting agencies.
The QU Young Scientists Center training programme focused on the research skills necessary to keep on the same level of global trends related to scientific research, clarify the foundations and concepts necessary for its professional and correct implementation as well as refine the basic skills necessary for students to serve the general trend towards building a knowledge economy such as leadership and adaptation skills with different conditions: innovation, problem-solving skills and the ability to analyse data and information.
In a statement to Qatar News Agency (QNA), Vice President of Qatar University for Research and Graduate Studies Professor Mariam Ali Al Maadeed spoke about QU's success in implementing the summer remote training programme for students, through training programmes that were adapted in a way that is compatible with the current challenges imposed by the coronavirus disease, and included maintaining the standards usually used in training within the research centre.
Al Maadeed said that the QU's keenness to implement remote training programmes reflects its ability to overcome challenges in order to advance knowledge and drive leadership and innovation, and interest in its students and the level of their educational achievement as it is a student-centred institution and seeks to produce distinguished competencies that contribute to the development and implementation of national development strategies.
She added that the interest in summer training programmes is part of the 2018-2022 transformation strategy at Qatar University, which is known for its qualitative distinction in education and research and aims to train students in scientific research methods and techniques and enhance students' research skills through their work in research laboratories and their participation in research projects with cadres in the research and graduate studies sector.
For their part, the officials of the research centres, in statements to QNA, praised the enthusiasm shown by the students during the training period, and the motivation and desire they demonstrated for learning, which reflected positively on their research performance.
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