Doha, September 15 (QNA) - Vice President for Academic Affairs at the Community College of Qatar (CCQ), Dr. Abdullah Al Ali, revealed the launch of three new academic programs during the current academic year. These include a Bachelor of Border Management and Supply Chain, an Associate Degree in Artificial Intelligence, and an Associate Degree in Digital Media.

He noted that the college is actively working to introduce additional programs in business administration, financial technology (FinTech), unmanned vehicle systems, and robotics and automation engineering technology.

In an interview with Qatar News Agency (QNA), Dr. Al Ali explained that these programs come as part of the college's response to the current and future needs of the labor market.

He pointed out that CCQ relies on an evidence- and data-driven institutional methodology to establish new programs, develop existing ones, or freeze them, linking these decisions to labor market demands, national priorities, offerings by other local higher education institutions, program performance indicators, output quality, and sustainability.

He added that the process of creating new programs begins by monitoring present and future job market requirements and leveraging feedback from employers and relevant national entities, including the Annual Employers Forum, alongside evaluating market demand, potential career opportunities, and the program's long-term significance.

Dr. Al Ali emphasized that the college conducts annual evaluations of its academic programs using a range of indicators, such as enrollment trends, average student numbers, retention rates, and completion rates. Assessments also consider alignment with national priorities and labor market needs, quality, effectiveness, resource efficiency, and sustainability, based on which institutional decisions are made to retain, refine, or discontinue a program.

The Vice President for Academic Affairs affirmed that CCQ's flexibility is not limited to launching academic programs, but also encompasses the ability to freeze or close programs when market needs shift, stressing that the institution does not hesitate to make rapid decisions to open, develop, or discontinue programs based on available metrics and data.

He outlined that the college follows two main tracks to launch new programs: a strategic track arising from CCQ's vision and studies of the country's future labor market needs, and a specialized track designed upon request from external agencies and institutions to train their personnel.

He added that the college executes programs in cooperation with entities such as the General Authority of Customs, the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs, and the Ministry of Education and Higher Education.

He explained that the specialized program track features rapid response times, working with requesting bodies to develop and launch a program within six months, and in some cases, as quickly as three months, depending on the nature of the program and required procedures.

In the context of empowering national talent, Dr. Al Ali stated that Qatari academics currently constitute about 25 percent of CCQ's total academic staff. He noted that the "Academic Competence" initiative, launched in 2023, has attracted more than 20 Qatari academics.

He added that 14 current members of the initiative are pursuing graduate studies at the master's and doctoral levels in local and international universities, while others have completed their studies and returned to the college.

He stressed that the goal extends beyond recruiting national talent to developing, qualifying, retaining, and preparing them for future academic and leadership roles.

He continued that the number of courses taught by faculty members under the Academic Competencies initiative rose from 52 courses in the 2023–2024 academic year to 117 courses in the 2024–2025 academic year, viewing this growth as a testament to the increasing contribution of national academic talent to the college's educational process.

He noted that the presence of Qatari academics enables students to benefit from their local expertise and practical experiences, as several members held professional careers prior to joining the initiative, emphasizing the importance of transferring this real-world knowledge to students.

He pointed out that the college works to prepare new academic staff through workshops and training programs covering the educational process, utilization of college systems, classroom management, course delivery, and curriculum development, alongside fostering leadership skills and involving new academics in committees to prepare them for future leadership roles.

Furthermore, he stated that the college collaborates with the Civil Service and Government Development Bureau and the Ministry of Education and Higher Education to send talent on scholarships for postgraduate studies.

He noted that several students and staff members are continuing their studies at local institutions, including Qatar University and the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, as well as foreign universities, with graduates eligible to return and join the college as assistant professors.

Responding to a question regarding the current academic phase of the college, Dr. Al Ali stated that CCQ is working on two parallel tracks: continuing academic growth and expansion while simultaneously enhancing program quality and institutional maturity.

He explained that the college holds a three-year academic plan encompassing expansion in strategic disciplines and tracks, strengthening the quality assurance framework, pursuing academic accreditations, and developing faculty competencies.

He emphasized that CCQ's vision to support students' academic growth and enhance their career prospects translates into a flexible, diverse educational environment accessible to a broad segment of society. The college offers diverse programs spanning technology, science, administration, and arts, alongside modern tracks in cybersecurity and technology.

He added that operational flexibility extends to study schedules, offering morning and evening classes to accommodate full-time students and working professionals seeking to continue their education, alongside hybrid programs combining in-person and distance learning.

He noted that CCQ's admission rates accommodate a wide demographic, while the college continuously reviews output alignment with market demands to boost graduate employability. Most diploma programs allow students to pursue bachelor's degrees at CCQ or other higher education institutions; after completing a two-year diploma, students can utilize bridging agreements to complete the remaining two years for a bachelor's degree.

He explained that a large number of students continue their post-diploma studies, highlighting that students unable to enroll directly at Qatar University based on high school qualifications find CCQ a valuable gateway to fields like technology and engineering before transferring to partner institutions, including Qatar University, University of Doha for Science and Technology, and Lusail University.

Regarding academic accreditation, Dr. Abdullah Al Ali affirmed in his interview with QNA that securing institutional and program-level accreditations stands as proof of institutional operational quality and educational excellence, reflecting CCQ's enduring commitment to continuous evaluation and improvement.

Dr. Al Ali affirmed that institutional accreditation extends beyond academic program quality to encompass operations and procedures across the institution, including human resource systems, facilities, safety, and other organizational aspects.

He noted that CCQ secured institutional accreditation from the National Commission for Qualifications and Academic Accreditation, standing as one of the first higher education institutions in Qatar to apply for and achieve this milestone.

In the interview with QNA, Dr. Al Ali stated that program accreditation provides additional assurance to students, confirming that a degree program has undergone external evaluation and peer review alongside continuous assessment to elevate outcome quality.

He added that programs accredited over the past two years include the Bachelor of Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity, Bachelor of Public Administration, Associate of Applied Science in Information Technology, and Associate of Arts in Public Administration, in addition to the Foundation Program and Languages.

Dr. Al Ali indicated that the college aims, in the upcoming phase, to obtain international accreditations for several other programs, including the Associate Degree in Business Administration, Hybrid Business Administration, Associate Degree in Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Bachelor of Human Resource Management, Bachelor of Project Management, Associate Degree in Digital Media, and Associate Degree in Artificial Intelligence.

Regarding capacity, he explained that CCQ conducted a study two years ago on the actual capacity of its Lusail and C-Ring Road campuses. The findings confirmed that existing facilities can accommodate larger student numbers than current annual enrollments, utilizing course distribution across morning and evening shifts to balance facility usage.

He revealed ongoing consultations with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education and the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) regarding potential future buildings, noting that CCQ maintains additional expansion options should future needs arise.

Addressing the Foundation Program, Dr. Al Ali explained that requirements vary based on specialized program needs, as certain tracks require foundational skill reinforcement while others do not.

He emphasized that foundational skills, primarily English language proficiency, grow increasingly essential amid rapid global advancements, adding that the college continuously evaluates programs and policy frameworks to offer students greater flexibility.

He highlighted that certain students, particularly those enrolled in specialized corporate programs, are exempted from the Foundation Program when specialized outcomes do not require it. Other internal policies allow students to take select foundation courses concurrently with specialization coursework.

Dr. Al Ali noted that CCQ attracts a diverse demographic across different ages and backgrounds, including working professionals returning to education post-employment to advance their qualifications. Consequently, the average student age at CCQ remains higher than at other local universities.

He added that the college provides flexible scheduling and policies that accelerate graduation, such as hybrid and independent study, allowing a student to take a course individually with a faculty member when necessary to fulfill graduation requirements.

On adjunct faculty, the Vice President for Academic Affairs explained that CCQ complements its full-time staff with adjunct faculty drawn from various institutions based on alignment with course requirements. The target ratio stands at 70 percent full-time faculty to 30 percent adjunct faculty, with teaching loads in certain departments reaching 40 to 45 percent adjunct instruction based on demand.

Highlighting key achievements of the 2025–2026 academic year, Dr. Al Ali considered the approval of CCQ’s faculty employment system a major milestone, providing a framework for academic hiring and granting broader authority to refine internal policies regarding academic ranks, promotions, sabbaticals, leaves, and allowances.

He added that obtaining institutional accreditation from the National Commission for Qualifications and Academic Accreditation marks another prominent achievement, reflecting operational maturity, educational excellence, facility standards, faculty caliber, and robust policy structures.

Outlining upcoming academic priorities, Dr. Al Ali identified three main pillars: attracting and developing academic talent, updating internal regulations, and completing program-level academic accreditations.

He emphasized artificial intelligence as a priority area for faculty and student skill development and curriculum updates amid rapid technological evolution. He stressed the importance of updating internal policies in light of the new employment system while pursuing international accreditations across programs.

Looking ahead to CCQ's five-year vision, he affirmed the goal of solidifying its identity as Qatar's largest national community college, ensuring the student experience reflects Qatari culture and environment while boosting national representation across administrative and academic ranks.

Concluding his statements, Dr. Abdullah Al Ali stated that preparations are underway to serve broader community segments, including individuals with disabilities, through tailored educational environments and integrated programming to enhance educational inclusivity and CCQ's social mission. (QNA)