(MENAFN- The Peninsula)
Doha: Qatar University President Dr. Hassan Rashid Al Derham told the Shura Council yesterday that there are plans to develop technical research at the university, including establishing the Qatar University technical company.
Dr. Al Derham said the project had reached advanced stages with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI). He also disclosed plans to establish the Qatar University knowledge group, a consultancy office for government agencies, and others.
Dr. Derham made this known while honouring an invitation from the Speaker of the Shura Council H E Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid Al Mahmoud. The Shura Council held its regular weekly meeting under the chairmanship of Speaker Al Mahmoud.
During his session with the Council, the QU President also disclosed that the university is working on a university endowment project to enhance its financial sustainability. He said studies on it are close to completion. He also announced plans to establish branches of Qatar University in several Asian and African countries.
Dr. Al Derham explained the university's strategy from 2018 to 2022, its goals, and future plans. He highlighted the framework for organising basic and enabling strategies for the university's transformative process and its most prominent initiatives, expressing the university's appreciation for the care and attention it has received from the state's leadership since its establishment. He added: 'We have a clear vision and message.
Meanwhile, the Speaker of the Shura Council welcomed the QU President and extended his thanks and appreciation to the Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani for his interest and sponsorship of university education in the country.
Speaker Al Mahmoud praised the development and expansion Qatar University is witnessing and the remarkable progress it has made in university rankings at the Arab and international levels.
The Shura Council focused on increasing the percentage of Qatari professors at the university and the importance of scrutinising the teaching staff's selection and paying attention to the Qatari administrative cadres. There were also remarks about the significance of developing Qatari administrative cadres to assume leadership positions at the university.
The session also discussed graduating the good and scientifically qualified and how the university's scientific studies and research are linked to Qatar's strategic development plans and its needs for qualified cadres.
They also talked about the university's development in establishing faculties of medicine, pharmacy, dental medicine, and health sciences and the extent of Qatari students' interest in joining these colleges, and the importance of benefiting from retired Qatari cadres in the areas in which the university sees the potential to benefit from their expertise. There were also remarks made on the grades required to accept Qatari students.
Replying to the Council's questions and inquiries, the QU President said the university pays attention to the identity, traditions, and customs of the Qatari society, Arab culture, and Islamic values and has ambitious plans to develop the social and human sciences. He disclosed the number of university students, the percentage of Qatari students, the number of faculty members, the percentage of Qatari professors at the university, and the efforts made to attract more Qataris to work in the teaching staff. Dr. Al Derham stressed that the university has a stimulating and encouraging environment to work despite other institutions' attractive offers.
Dr. Al Derham praised the existing cooperation between the university represented by its Board of Trustees chaired by the Deputy Amir H H Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani and the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF) headed by the Chairperson of the QF H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, and Vice-Chairperson and CEO of QF H E Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani.
The QU President praised the fruitful discussions during the sessions and the remarks made by members of the Shura Council, adding that they will be taken under consideration.
The Speaker of the Shura Council thanked the QU President and his deputies after the session, wishing the university further progress and development in serving the country and providing it with capable national cadres.
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