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Qatar University Young Scientists Centre (QU-YSC) has launched the 22nd cycle of the 'I am a researcher' programme for the 12th year in a row with the participation of six secondary schools in the country. The objective is to provide secondary students with extensive scientific research skills to find innovative solutions for many of the challenges in various fields. Students work as research assistants for experienced researchers at QU to apply what they have learned in conducting scientific research to refine their practical and thinking skills, investigate, and arrive at facts. They also learn about many scientific fields at QU, especially in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. QU-YSC director Prof Noora Jaber al-Thani said: "Our need for scientific studies and research is increasing day by day, as science is in a race to obtain as much accurate knowledge as possible to ensure comfort and well-being for humans. "The primary function of scientific research is to expand knowledge to create better conditions for human survival, safety, and well-being. Scientific research has a great impact on youth and society, as it helps to develop their abilities to innovate based on knowledge to achieve innovative solutions in all aspects of life. It is also the main engine of the wheel of development and progress, offered through discoveries in all areas," she added.    

Continuing their history of excellence, students of Pakistan International School Qatar (PISQ) showed outstanding performance with 100% pass percentage in the IGCSE May/June 2022 series examination of Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE). Of 58 students who sat for the exam, 35 or 60% secured A* and A’s in multiple subjects. Students of IG-II (Year 10) and IG-III (Year 11) sat their CAIE exam for various subjects including English, Mathematics, Islamiyat, Biology, Physics, Chemistry and Computer Science among others. In IG-III, Khadija Yousaf and Noura Muhammad topped with 7A*; Hakeemat Opeyemi, Rumaisa Attique and Omer Said scored 6A*; Maheen Rahat grabbed 5A* and Ayoyinka Halimat got 4A*. This year, students of IG-II also took their first CAIE examination for English, Islamiyat and Global Perspectives. Sojoud Hamid, Momina Moazzam, Huda Nasir and Haiqa Anwar bagged 3A*, securing the top position while Aayan Zeb, Aisha Amir, Fatima Javed, Rida Fatima and Arsha Fatima scored 2A* each. PISQ principal Nargis Otho congratulated the students, parents and teachers on the achievement. Pakistan’s ambassador to Qatar, Syed Ahsan Raza Shah, expressed satisfaction over the results and urged the students to continue their best efforts.    

Muallemi, a new educational startup supported by Qatar Foundation’s (QF) Qatar Science and Technology Park and founded by two Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q) students recently concluded its first pilot programme for two international schools in Doha, providing 54 primary school students with 612 hours of academic support in mathematics and bringing the promise of the multi-billion dollar e-learning industry to Qatar schools. The startup was launched by Abdulrahman al-Thani, now a GU-Q graduate, and Abdullah Nazeer, an International Economics major at GU-Q, a QF partner university. Their educational programme works in conjunction with schools, parents, and students to devise a tailored curriculum taught through 1-on-1 online sessions with Muallemi’s internationally based teachers. Through academic interventions, the duo aim to boost learning outcomes and close knowledge gaps in mathematics for students in grades 2-12 in Qatar. Dubbed “mathemagicians,” Muallemi’s instructors are trained in pedagogical learning, and boast years of experience teaching Math and STEM related subjects. With affordable lessons that cost far less than traditional tutoring in Qatar, Muallemi aims to revolutionise out-of-classroom learning options and offer a path to improving Qatar’s global mathematics education rankings by offering accessible supplemental electronic learning initiatives at scale, explained Abdurahman al-Thani. “According to a 2018 OECD assessment that measures 15-year-olds’ ability to use their reading, mathematics and science knowledge and skills to meet real-life challenges, Qatar ranks below average globally, and fares worse than countries with far smaller GDPs," said Abdurahman. “While classroom learning remains key to success, we thought that a solution that leverages the increasing impact of digital education and works directly with educators would offer the option of an effective and accessible path to improved math outcomes for students in Qatar, and in time, for students across the region.” The initial idea for the startup was inspired by co-founder Abdullah Nazeer from his experience as a mathematics tutor, where he gained experience in fostering deep understanding of course materials for a sustained impact. “At Muallemi, we take a concept-based learning approach to studying mathematics. We want our students to understand how to solve an equation, but they also need to understand key concepts on a fundamental level," he said. “We do that by integrating students’ own experiences and teaching them to construct and solve their own word problems. Students are the most important stakeholders in their own learning journey.” Muallemi has already partnered with other schools for additional pilot programmes, and the co-founders said they have hopes to expand academic offerings to include reading and writing skills. The educational startup will also be expanding their education footprint with an agreement to conduct in-person lessons for 50 students twice a week at Brighton International Academy. Muallemi is also collaborating with the Royal Commission for AlUla, a Saudi government body, in creating new approaches to learning. In an upcoming demo as part of that collaboration, Muallemi will teach students grades 3-8 in class as part of an innovative learning programme. So far, the response to their startup has been phenomenal, driven in part by the programme’s points-based system that rewards students for participation, not just for achievement. ”Kids are smart, that’s not the reason they are struggling in mathematics,” said Abdulrahman. “They just need to be inspired.”    

Texas A&M University at Qatar (Tamuq), a Qatar Foundation partner, presented the Texas A&M University Association of Former Students (AFS) for distinguished achievements in teaching award to Dr Bilal Mansoor, director of the Centre for Teaching and Learning and a mechanical engineering faculty member. He received the award for his dedication toward achieving excellence in engineering education, and for his distinguished record of teaching, research and service. AFS represents the more than 525,000 graduates of Texas A&M around the world. Mansoor said: “It is great to be recognised, especially when the recognition comes from your students. I am deeply honoured, and I am especially indebted to the Texas A&M University Association of Former Students. I believe deeply in what this award represents — the importance of faculty commitment to the student learning process, passive caring, and that faculty can be both outstanding teachers and excellent researchers, and vice versa. This award is the culmination of years of constantly experimenting with teaching modalities and collaborating with colleagues in Education City and College Station to help my students learn better.”    

More than 30 high school students participated in the Future Engineers programme organised by Texas A&M University at Qatar (Tamuq), a Qatar Foundation partner. They were introduced to engineering elements in freight transportation, the fundamentals of robotics, 3D CAD design, and basic programming and spent a week designing and building a focused engineering project based on this year’s theme: robotics and transportation. The students learned about mechanical design, radio-controlled systems and taking experimental measurements. Benjamin Cieslinski, STEM laboratory manager at Tamuq said: “The Future Engineers Programme encourages students to think out of the box, and to build robots from the scratch. Our participants had to assess the gaps in the freight transportation industry and then address those with their novel creations. The workshop also showcases how engineering is not just about building something, but about addressing real-world concerns.” At the end of the programme, the students competed in teams to design, build, program, and test an advanced robot that can transport freight between various shipping locations. Using state-of-the-art components and engineering materials, participants were able to build a robot to complete the assigned mission. They also presented and defended their designs to a panel of robotics experts. Dawud Baker-Markar, a student of the Gulf English School, said, “ We learned to convert a few metal pieces and nuts and bolts into a functioning robot. And to see it come together has been very exciting and informative. This workshop has been a lot of fun, and we have learned a lot about engineering too." The programme aims to encourage the youth and increase their passion for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. Twelfth-grader Meenakshi Ram said that participating in Future Engineers was a productive experience. “When I joined the programme, I — like the rest of my team — had no experience in robotics,” Ram said. “I still can’t believe that we managed to build, code and customise a robot in just one week. The approach to the sessions were quite refreshing and engaging.”    

Commemorating the 77th Independence Day of Indonesia, the Association of Indonesian Community in Qatar (Permiqa), supported by the Indonesian embassy, recently held badminton and table tennis tournaments titled “Ambassador’s Cup”. The event at Green Stadium Al Wakra was opened by Indonesian ambassador Ridwan Hassan. There was also food stalls offering traditional dishes. Hassan underlined the importance of solidarity and solidity among the Indonesian community members, saying: “Diplomacy is not only about promotion and representation. It’s also about community engagement.” He noted that the positive engagement with community members will surely help his mission in maintaining a good relationship with Qatar. “In other words, community members are also our ambassadors in this country,” the envoy said. In the men's badminton competition, the beginner category was won by Khairul and Sigit, the mid-level category by Yuni Setiawan and Mohamed Sumanto and the advance category by Suratmin Pamungkas and Saiful Udin. The ladies' badminton contest was won by Desti and Zubed, the men's table tennis tournament by Imron and Novi, and women's table tennis by Rini and Ani. Around 200 Indonesian expatriates from Dukhan, Al Khor, Wakra, Doha, and Mesaieed were the participants.    

Pak Shama School principal Nabila Kaukab organised a teachers' orientation session on student empowerment and student learning outcomes (SLO). Classroom elements CPPL (Content, Process, Product and Learning environment) were introduced. Kaukab discussed how the learning environment affects students' attention and focus, fosters meaningful learning experiences, supports greater levels of student achievement, and encourages them to develop higher-level critical thinking abilities. A brief conversation on SLO with mentors focused on achieving long-term goals.    

To bring the study of Qatari culture, history, and society to life, Dr Rogaia Abusharaf, a professor of anthropology at QF partner, Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q), has developed a course on Qatar Ethnography that connected students to documentarians, architects and historians of Qatar who shared their own explorations of Qatar’s development and offered inspiration for a final documentary assignment. To prepare students to produce their short documentary film, the course culminated with noted broadcast journalist, Stephanie Dekker of Al Jazeera English, who spoke about her experience in producing a documentary about the endangered habitat of Qatar’s whale sharks “What a privilege: Swimming with endangered whale sharks in Qatar” and what they represent for the global environmental heritage. Dekker’s talk to the students, who included 16 Qataris, focused on sharing her techniques and tips for producing a documentary, from collecting the research, talking to experts and shooting the footage, and how she used the film to raise funds and awareness for stopping habitat loss. Other experts brought to the class included Prof Muhammad Hammam Fikri, the author of the book “Driving Force Behind Qatar Heritage”, who provided insight on Qatar’s travel literature and what can be learned from secondary sources such as maps and documents. Independent Qatari writer, director, and filmmaker Hamida Issa showed her film "The Elevator" to the class and led a discussion on cultural issues in Qatar relating to the environment and returning to cultural roots. Qatari architect and author Ibrahim al-Jaidah, designer of Al Thumama Stadium for the FIFA World Cup 2022, was also invited to speak about the history of architecture in Qatar, and how Qataris managed to survive for centuries without air conditioning thanks to traditional building techniques. Many of his designs incorporate elements of traditional Qatari culture, including his stadium design, inspired by the traditional Qatari headdress. “His presence was met with a vibrant and positive response from the students, with mutual interaction,” said, Dr Abusharaf. HE Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim al-Thani, invited the class to visit his private museum “during which he recounted the experiences of his childhood, and the stages of transformation that Qatari society has undergone gradually, reaching the state of current economic prosperity,” said, Dr Abusharaf. Further inspiration for the aspiring documentarians came from their peer Saud al-Ahmad, whose ethnographic study "The Good Generation" earned him honors in culture and politics. According to Dr Abusharaf, Saud’s presentation reminded the students of what is possible, and what is at stake.    

Science India Forum (SIF) Qatar, under the patronage of the Indian embassy, along with SIF GCC Chapters celebrated the 103rd birth anniversary of Padma Vibhushan Dr Vikram Sarabhai through an online event. The function was organised under the theme 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav', as part of the celebration of India's 75 years of independence. SIF Qatar president Ravikumar Narayanan welcomed the dignitaries and underlined the importance of celebrating the birth anniversary of Dr Vikram Sarabhai, a great visionary and father of the Indian space programme. Indian embassy first secretary (education and culture) Sachin Shankpal was the chief guest. In his inaugural address, he appreciated the work done by SIF Qatar for students as well as the scientific community. Vijnana Bharati national secretary Dr Vivekanand Pai was the guest of honour. The highlight of the event was a keynote speech by Padma Vibhushan and Padma Bhushan Dr G Madhavan Nair, former chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). He recollected his interactions and experiences with Dr Sarabhai and his impeccable personality and integrity. The establishment of the ISRO was one of Dr Sarabhai’s greatest achievements. Dr Nair also interacted with the young minds in a Q&A session. Over 100 students and teachers from different schools across the GCC countries attended the event. The recorded session is available on SIF Qatar YouTube Channel and website.    

Nikhil Manoj Kumar from class XII of MES Indian School has qualified to represent Kerala state for the south zone athletic meet by winning a silver medal in hammer throw and bronze in shot-put in the under-18 boys category of the 17th Kerala State Inter-District Club Athletic Competition earlier this month. The south zone athletic meet will be held at Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, on September 9. MES principal Hameeda Kadar congratulated the winner and wished him success at the zone-level competition.    

Teachers of Birla Public School had four days of skill development sessions on the thought ‘Learn how to teach so that you can teach how to learn’ by the academic director - principal Harish Sanduja as a kick start for the new academic session. Vice chairperson Maria Thomas initiated the ice breaking activity - ‘The person who knows it all takes it all’. Vice principal Edna Fernandez highlighted ‘the major skills that students should possess when they graduate from a school’. The teaching fraternity was divided into groups to discuss, prepare and present the final ideas. Counsellor Ankitha Hariharan took a class on specific learning disabilities, range of disabilities' the students face and psychological counselling at school. The theme for day two was Team Building, which was led by a series of activities by Shruti Chauhan and Lissy Mathew. Lakshmi Devi and Ranchini Binu shared insights on the 3C’s of classroom management. Teachers actively participated in open discussion on examples of instances where they effectively managed the class in difficult situations. A session on Child and Adolescent Mental Health, by Dr Jithendra Nagpal and Aprajitha Dixit, explained the flags of certain learning spectrum and early identification. Headmistress' Divya Mary Vincent and Josephine Fernandes presented a session on differentiated learning and to equip the teachers with tailor-made lesson plans that fits each child in the class. Day three saw Sanduja taking an activity-based session on Design Thinking. The teachers were able to understand the importance of training students’ mind to think out of box and to bring about new ideas. On day four Neha Sharma, principal, G D Goenka School, Delhi, took a session on theatre that helped teachers gain an insight on how to add an element of drama into classrooms. The book, ‘Joy of Theatre’ was introduced for further reference. Vice chairperson Maria Thomas presented a session on ‘Risks for Children in the Digital Environment’. The session shed light on topics including cyber bullying, communication and generation gap. The session became more interesting when she presented the ‘new vocabulary’ of children of the Alpha age.    

Birla Public School witnessed a meeting of the management, leadership team, and academic and non- academic staff recently, marking the conclusion of four days of CPD sessions organised at the main campus. Academic director-principal Harish Sanduja welcomed the gathering. Chairman Gope Shahani congratulated the teachers on the sterling results. Director Dr Mohan Thomas presented a short summary of the board results. While congratulating the teachers he urged them to continue working to maintain high standards of education. Director C V Rappai emphasised the different basic qualities, linked with self-assessments, required by a teacher and how to implement them in classrooms for the ultimate benefit of the students. Director Lukose K Chacko stressed that all should strive together to achieve more. This was followed by the sharing of highlights of the CPD sessions by vice principal - academics Edna Fernandez and Kindergarten headmistress Josephine Fernandes. Prizes were distributed for winners of ice breaking session, games and activity. The Scoo News award for Birla Public School in the Global Educators Fest 2022 was handed over to the management by the principal. Vice principal - co-scholastic Rajesh Pillai proposed a vote of thanks.

A closing ceremony held at Qatar Foundation partner Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q) honoured 14 graduates of the International Executive Master’s in Emergency and Disaster Management (IEDM) degree programme. An exhibit of student capstone projects contributing original research on key issues in global incident management underscored the critical need for emergency response education to keep communities safe when disaster strikes. The IEDM programme is offered through Georgetown University’s School of Continuing Studies in Washington (SCS), DC, and supported by the Office of Executive and Professional Education at GU-Q. This year’s fifth cohort of graduates, drawn from diverse fields including healthcare, engineering, law enforcement, and social services, gained the skills and knowledge necessary to prepare for and respond to a wide variety of natural, technological, and man-made disasters through hands-on experience and engagement opportunities with leading experts in the field. This year’s guest speaker was Dr Hassan al-Thani, head of Trauma and Vascular Surgery Sections of Hamad General Hospital and a 2019 IEDM graduate. Dr Kelly J Otter, dean of SCS and dean of GU-Q, Dr Clyde Wilcox addressed the newest IEDM alumni.

  Adhidev Kolath Madathil (VIII-I) ) of MES Indian School has entered the India Book of Records in the 'Extraordinary Feat, Extraordinary People’ category for floating in the ocean near Qatar's Dukhan beach. A native of Kozhikode in the southern Indian state of Kerala, Adhidev stayed afloat in the ocean for a record time of seven minutes and 23 seconds at the age of 12 years and 10 months, as confirmed on June 28, 2022 by India Book of Records. “It is indeed a proud moment for MES Indian School," principal Hameeda Kadar said while congratulating the achiever.

Twenty-five students from Texas A&M University at Qatar (Tamuq) and eight students from the main campus in College Station participated in the Texas Summer Research Experience programme. Students from the Doha campus were matched with research teams on the College Station campus and given an opportunity to work on projects with other undergraduate students, graduate students, post-doctoral researchers, and Texas A&M faculty. Students from College Station were also matched with research projects for the summer in Qatar and worked in labs at the Tamuq Engineering Building in Education City. Apart from research education at the respective universities, students got to experience different cultures and perspectives during their summer abroad. Dr Ryan McLawhon, executive director, Student Affairs and Academic Services at Tamuq, said, “The Texas Summer Research Experience provides students a unique opportunity to combine undergraduate research and global competence. Through these experiences, students gain real-world problem-solving, research, and inquiry experience while immersed in another culture.”

  Loyola International School is gearing up for reopening on August 16 after the summer vacation. School staff has put up welcome boards and engaging classroom décorations. Principal Pramod Kumar Ranwaka’s vision of creating a competent and proficient 'taskforce of teachers' is underway with various capacity building programmes and workshops. Quality teaching and learning methodologies, engaging multiple intelligence, activity-based learning and inter-disciplinary approaches to education were the main focus areas of these sessions. Loyola International School believes in creating an environment that thrives and inspires students and staff alike.

High-school students from across Qatar participated in the STEAM summer camp organised by Texas A&M University at Qatar (Tamuq). The goal of the STEAM summer camp was to provide high school students with the opportunity to engage in hands-on activities so they can enhance valuable skills including critical thinking, problem solving, communication, collaboration, creativity and innovation. Over the week-long programme, students learned to incorporate arts practices, elements, and design into STEM fields. The students worked to improve public speaking skills and design prototypes for solving pressing engineering problems, as well as used 3D printing techniques and explored several mathematical concepts. Bissam Abdulghany, a student of QF’s Qatar Academy for Science and Technology who participated in the programme, said: “It was a valuable experience for me. The insights provided by these incredible mentors definitely helped me see a different perspective. Building robots, and working on my public speaking skills are my personal highlights from this experience.” Sarah Soltan, a student from Qatar Academy Doha, said: “This programme helped me improve my social and communications skills, working alongside students from various different schools. One of the most surprising lessons from this experience is how there is an emphasis on mathematics, arts and influences of nature on engineering. I never thought of it like that before. I am glad I participated in this camp.” The sessions were mentored by experts from Tamuq and other Education City campuses. At the end of the programme, students were split into teams and had to showcase their projects. Tamuq is dedicated to educating “the whole engineer” who can integrate all types of knowledge when engineering solutions to real world problems. Dr Aymen Elsheikh, the director of STEAM initiative, Tamuq said: “It is amazing to see how students can come into their own and shine when given the right opportunities. We focused on developing skills that will enable them to become a better version of themselves – beyond academics. There were sessions on public speaking, creating graphics, and finding engineering solutions to everyday problems. The workshop witnessed students stepping out of their comfort zones, networking with other students and mentors, and putting their best foot forward during the STEAM showcase presentations.”

Pak Shama School secured 100% results in the SSC – II Exam held in June 2022 by the Federal Board of Intermediate & Secondary Education, Islamabad. Fatima Saeed Saeed Ahmed (1062 marks) was the school topper, followed by Amarah Raza Muhammad Asif and Maria Hafeez Hafeezullah (1049 each) and Muhammad Ahmed (1035). The other top achievers were Haniya Shahid (1033), Abdur Rehman Shahid (1020 marks), Haadiya Shahid (1016), Samavia Mahmood (997), M Imtinaan Shahid (988), Salman Nasir (986), Muhammad Samiullah (976), Erum Faisal Khan (975), Fatima Bilal (944), Kulsum Sher Marjan (943). Principal Nabila Kaukab congratulated the teachers, parents and students for their excellent performance. School president M A Shahid applauded all the members of the staff for the remarkable progress and said he expects better results to be achieved by the students in the future. He also appreciated the management committee for their co-operation.

The first graduation ceremony of the University of Southern Philippines Foundation's (USPF) Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency Accreditation Programme (ETEEAP) was held recently in Doha. The event was facilitated by Sigma Educational Consultancies. Thirty Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) currently working in various industries across the country, were conferred with bachelor’s degree by the USPF. Done through blended learning, the students’ bachelor’s degree was completed through the ETEEAP of the Philippine government and administered by the Commission of Higher Education (CHED) under Executive Order 330 (EO 330). The event was graced by USPF representatives who flew in from Philippines, Dr Ernesto L Alolor (vice-president for Academic Affairs) and Dr Venus M Empuerto (dean, School of Business and Accountancy, and director of USPF-ETEEAP). Also in attendance were the assistant labour attache from POLO/OWWA, Atty. Don Albert Philippe C Pangcog, who delivered the commencement speech, and Hassan Mohamed al-Hammadi, the sponsor of Sigma.

The Board of Governors of Milestone International Education Institute of Higher Education (Savitribai Phule Pune University’s Doha Campus) met recently to make strategic decisions and approve the business plan for the new academic year starting in August 2022, a statement said. The meeting at MIE-SPPU’s campus in Ayn Khalid The Commercial Avenue was presided by Ali bin Abdulatif al-Mesnad, chairman of MIE-SPPU. The members of the Board of Governors who attended the meeting were Mohamed bin Hammam (chief patron), Aisha bint Mohamed bin Hammam (patron), Hasan Chougule (president), Yasir Nainar (vice-president), George Thomas (director), Haider Khaqan (director) and Dinesh Bakshi (head of operations). The Board members were pleased to note the high demand for admissions for the new academic year at the MIE-SPPU and also discussed the activities, staffing, industry relationships, and training programmes. The Board also approved the budget for the new academic year and endorsed continuing a low fee structure. MIE-SPPU is the first international campus of Pune University in Doha, Qatar. The university offers full-time four-year undergraduate courses through its state-of-the-art campus at The Commercial Avenue. The courses offered are BA, BSc, BCom, and BBA.