Doha, May 16 (QNA) - HE Vice Chairperson and CEO of Qatar Foundation (QF) and the Chairperson of Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU)'s Board of Trustees Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al-Thani witnessed HBKU honor the Class of 2023 in a graduation ceremony attended by HE the Speaker of the Shura Council Hassan bin Abdulla Al Ghanim along with several of Their Excellencies Sheikhs, Ministers, and Senior Officials, as well as the deans of HBKU's six colleges, members of the university's staff and faculty, in addition to the families and friends of the graduates.
Held at the Qatar National Convention Centre, the ceremony, which featured College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS) alumna Ghoroor Abdelwaheed as master of ceremonies, saw HBKU award degrees to 241 distinguished students. All the graduates completed programs from the university's six colleges: the College of Islamic Studies (CIS), College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS), College of Science and Engineering (CSE), College of Law (CL), College of Health and Life Sciences (CHLS), and the College of Public Policy (CPP).
The multicultural Class of 2023 represented 41 nationalities and featured 152 female and 89 male graduates, including 59 Qatari graduates - almost 25 percent of this year's cohort. This achievement reflects how HBKU's unique learning environment naturally reinforces Qatar's strategy to invest in human capital and economic diversification by providing students with the knowledge and skills to thrive in a rapidly changing and entrepreneurial environment.
This year's graduation ceremony also featured the HBKU Excellence Awards, which acknowledge remarkable achievements and excellence by HBKU faculty. HE Sheikha Hind presented the awards onstage in three categories: the Research Excellence Award, which recognizes outstanding research that has received recognition from the wider academic community; the Teaching Excellence Award, which honors exceptional pedagogy; and the Service Excellence Award, which celebrates exceptional service to the university and its community.
Professor at CHLS and Acting Executive Director at HBKU's Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI) Dr. Omar Albagha and Principal Scientist at HBKU's Qatar Computing Research Institute (QCRI) Dr. Issa M Khalil were awarded the Research Excellence Awards. Associate Professor at CSE Dr. Yusuf Bicer was honored with the Teaching Excellence Award, and Professor and Associate Dean at CSE Dr. Amine Bermak was presented with the Service Excellence Award.
In his opening remarks, HBKU President Dr. Ahmad M. Hasnah said: "Science and education are neither separate nor abstract, but rooted in human values. They nevertheless differ in their interpretation of these values and our understanding of our world. Within our culture and religion, science and education are also linked to a divine concept that answers what the human mind cannot. This concept links science, education, and knowledge to the goal of creation, which is the architecture of the universe." For his part, HE Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al Khulaifi said: "Despite being a relatively young university, HBKU has already claimed an esteemed reputation among its peers throughout the region and across the world. The university has steadily expanded its program offerings to cover a wide array of disciplines, providing the Qatari labor market with many skilled graduates in fields critical to national development." HBKU Provost Dr. Michael Benedik said: "HBKU's integrated, cutting-edge teaching and research environment has nurtured these top-tier students to excel, equipping them with the expertise and skills necessary to empower change and innovation in their communities. The Class of 2023 graduates are ready to embark on new journeys where they will apply their experiences to positively impact Qatar and the world, whether by introducing their own novel technologies or working to advance our understanding in their chosen fields." At the heart of HBKU's institutional commitment to innovation, research and entrepreneurship are its 40 academic programs, which span multiple disciplines and align with five key focus areas: Precision Health, Artificial Intelligence, Progressive Education, Sustainability, and Social Progress.
Vice President for Research at HBKU Dr. Richard O'Kennedy stated: "These five focus areas are vital to sustaining Qatar's ever-evolving economy in light of rapid technological advances that are shaping society today. HBKU has dedicated itself to developing multidisciplinary academic programs and national research capabilities that drive collaboration with the world's best institutions, prepare future leaders with an entrepreneurial mindset, and shape novel solutions for positive local and global impact." For her part Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Maryam Al Mannai commented: "HBKU's Office of Student Affairs provides the university's student and alumni community with a second home, a central contact point and dedicated team that supports them with a holistic set of services for all questions and needs, be they academic or personal. We invite our graduates to continue staying in touch with the HBKU community and engage at our events including the Alumni Reunion." The newest HBKU graduates represent a wide range of disciplines, including Applied Islamic Ethics, Islamic Finance, Humanities and Social Sciences, Translation Studies, Computer Science and Engineering, Sustainable Energy, International Law and Foreign Affairs, International Economic and Business Law, Genomics and Precision Medicine, Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Public Policy, Social Policy and Program Evaluation, and more. (QNA)