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  When Faheem Khan decided to study design at the undergraduate level, he was breaking away from societal conventions and family expectations. Coming from a family line of specialists in either engineering or business, his acceptance into Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar (VCUarts Qatar) meant that he would be the first in the family to enter an art and design university. Faheem Khan (left), with his parents, when they visited his thesis presentation at the BFA MFA 2022 exhibition That was in 2015. After having graduated in 2019 with a BFA in Graphic Design, earned a place on the Dean’s List several times, participated in three Student Leadership Exchange trips/Semester Abroad programmes, served on VCUarts Qatar’s Search Committees, elected as the Student Government Association President, and worked part-time in Student Employment Positions at Texas A&M University at Qatar (Tamuq), VCUarts Qatar’s IT Department, FabLab and PrintLab, Faheem Khan graduates with an MFA in Design from VCUarts Qatar this year. He is proud. Yet, for Faheem, there is one achievement that is as significant as the accolades and degrees he’s earned over the years at VCUarts Qatar – his father’s acceptance, and recognition, of his choice of study, and career. In this conversation, Mohamed Shahjahan Khan, Faheem’s father, and Farzana Ahmed, his mother, recall how their son brought about a radical shift in mindset about career choices. And, about design itself. From the perspective of your children’s education, what was the context when Faheem applied to VCUarts Qatar? Mohamed Shahjahan Khan (MSK): I was an engineer working with Qatar Electricity and Water Company at Ras Abu Fontas. My wife is a homemaker. Our life in Qatar was similar to that of most expatriates here. I came here from Bangladesh to make a living, for a better quality of life, and much like many parents from my country, I had hopes that my sons would pursue my path, or at least take up studying the sciences. I have three sons. Faheem is the third. By the time his turn to apply to university came by, my eldest son, Farhaan, having chosen the commerce and business streams for his undergraduate studies, was pursuing an MBA in finance in Australia. My second son, Mouhyemen, had gained admission into Tamuq where he was studying Electrical Engineering. What was your response when Faheem said he wanted to study design at VCUarts Qatar? MSK: My immediate response was utter silence. As most parents would, we had expectations from our children – we came here from Bangladesh, we sacrificed a lot, and we wished that our children do well in life. By ‘do well in life’, I mean study and take up a job in a respected and recognised sector. And studying design was not something that fit into that formula. At that point, I couldn’t imagine how a career in design could provide a sustainable or respectable livelihood. So, yes, I was worried. As my first son had taken the business stream, I talked to my second son and convinced him to take up engineering. When it came to Faheem’s turn, though, I preferred to keep quiet, partly because I was disappointed and partly because I was outranked – my two older sons were supportive of Faheem, and so was his mother. Farzana Ahmed (FA): I could read my son through and through. I knew his capabilities more than anyone did. For the same reason, I have always been his staunch supporter. When he was a child and then a teenager, I noticed how he could make informed decisions; how focused he was on whatever he chose to do. When Faheem said he wanted to study design, I knew he would excel in it. As did my other sons. In fact, my second son, Mouhyemen, much like Faheem, was an equally good creative. They’ve both won several school-based and Doha-wide art or design competitions throughout their school years. So, when it came to Faheem’s turn to join university, both my older sons and I supported Faheem’s decision. But it was obvious my husband was disappointed. His silence, and inability to discuss the matter, spoke volumes. So, what did it take for both of you to reach the same level of acceptance, that your third son did indeed make the right choice? MSK: I know this sounds archaic, but even in these times and in this century most of the parents from the subcontinent still look at grades as the only factor that defines their child in school and university. But that is the way things are, and I was no exception. By the end of his first year at VCUarts Qatar, Faheem had made the Dean’s List. When I met his professors in university, they told me he was an excellent student. That was the beginning; mollified, my attitude changed, albeit slowly. Another comforting factor was knowing that Faheem had access to resources in Education City, and specifically, in VCUarts Qatar. When I first visited VCUarts Qatar, I’d hardly been inside an art and design university before, and certainly not one as well-equipped as this. For someone who had little knowledge of art and design, the place seemed to be bursting with state-of-the-art material, technology, and labs. I’d say it took me around two years to reach a point where I accepted that Faheem had made the right choice. FA: The university’s presence in Qatar Foundation’s Education City was another aspect. We were familiar with EC (Education City) through our second son who studied at Tamuq. So, we knew Faheem would still be in touch with students from other disciplines. And indeed, that helped on that front. Later, when Faheem started working part-time at Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar, and Tamuq, as well as at VCUarts Qatar, I realised the benefits of studying in EC wasn’t purely academic – it was experiential and holistic as well. Did your acceptance of Faheem’s decision influence your understanding of design itself? MSK: There’s no doubt about that. It was a learning process, but from son to father. I had always viewed design as a single broad field that didn’t dive deep into any one topic. I had no idea that there were so many specialisations in art and design. Nor did I know that there were so many applications of design in daily life. When I saw the products that Faheem made during his undergraduate and graduate studies, the engineer in me was amazed at the practicality of those designs. That was revelation number one. Revelation number two was regarding employment. It was clear he was working hard. And getting good grades. But I confess I had my moments of doubts for quite some time – what if, after all this, he didn’t find a job? He proved us wrong. Even before he graduated with a BFA in graphic design, he had secured a job at Qatar Financial Centre Regulatory Authority (QFCRA). The job gave him the professional experience and financial stability he needed – he was able to pay off all his student loans. Right now, he’s working part-time at QFCRA, as well as with Tamuq and VCUarts Qatar. Plus, since I retired a few years ago, he is contributing to the family’s finances. A few weeks back he surprised us with a gift – a new car – which he’d bought with the money he saved. And he did this while juggling his studies for an MFA in Design, and his part-time jobs. FA: Another eye-opener was how competitive and demanding the study of design is. I had always assumed that only students who studied engineering and medicine burned the midnight oil. I was surprised to see the amount of work that Faheem had to put in to get good grades. I remember how he’d spend days at VCUarts Qatar, with hardly any sleep. He wouldn’t come home, often sleeping in the university or his car. He was working part-time, juggling a demanding programme, and participating in hackathons and bootcamps across EC. He didn’t have the time to eat from the restaurants within EC. So, I’d cook food, and my husband and I would drive down to his university from Al Wakra where we lived, just to make sure he ate. You’ve been in Doha since 1979 and experienced its expansion. What do you feel about Faheem being part of the country’s creative economy? MSK: The Doha I landed in, in the November of 1979, is perhaps an era away from the Doha that you see today. Yet even back then, it was obvious that the country had a soft corner for creativity; thirty years ago, Doha hosted art and design events and exhibitions, though at a smaller scale. That soft-corner has continued – you see that in the way public art and design are flourishing. There are gallery and exhibition openings almost every week. As an engineer, I was always on the move, and nowadays I’ve noticed that you can’t drive a mile without an art installation or a striking building or a beautifully landscaped walkway or public space, catching your eye. And it’s not just outdoors – Qatar’s expansion in architecture, telecommunications, health, and education creates opportunities for designers. There isn’t a single sector that doesn’t employ a designer. It’s the right ambiance for people like Faheem to not just earn a living, but also experiment and explore new creative avenues. Would you like to wrap up this conversation with a thought – perhaps there’s something you’d both like to share with parents who, like you once were, are unsure of their child’s academic choices? FA: I do, and it’s this: allowing children to choose unconventional pathways doesn’t mean they automatically lose their innate skills in other areas. Rather, it might boost those other traits. I speak from experience. Prior to joining VCUarts Qatar, I’ve seen Faheem help my second son in Tamuq complete his semester projects. That hasn’t changed. If at all, his hands-on exposure in various programmes at VCUarts Qatar has only enabled him to help Mouhyemen, who is currently studying for his PhD at Georgia Tech. The same applies to his extra-curricular activities. In school, in addition to art and design, he was a regular at local competitions, participating in accelerator programmes at Qatar Science & Technology Park. In fact, he started one of Qatar’s first robotic institutes with his brother in August 2013, when he was in his 10th grade. Studying design didn’t stop him from participating in such events; on the contrary, it only sharpened the performance and outcomes of such participation at the university level. MSK: What I’ve realised is that if you let your children follow their hearts, they’ll find their feet with confidence. Some children might take longer than the others; some might take a path you’re not familiar with. But if your child is not afraid, why should you, the parent, be? Eventually, they’ll get to that place that fulfils them, both emotionally and professionally. And for any parent, I guess that’s what matters the most – to see their child content and fulfilled.

    Olive International School celebrated World Book Day recently. Literary characters "jumped off the pages and into the classroom corner" where the mini library was arranged for the World Book Day celebration, held to promote children’s literature and the joy of reading, the school said in a statement. The event took place from April 22 to 27 as one of the highlights of the extracurricular activities in KG. The little Olivians were the biggest contributors to this event as they came to school and eagerly contributed their favourite storybooks for everyone to read and enjoy.

    MES Indian School has held its first ever middle school investiture ceremony. The student council members were elected through a process involving campaigning, ballot and personal interviews with the nominees. The chief guest, principal Hameeda Kadar, felicitated the young leaders and urged them to contribute significantly to the development of the school by showing perfection in the given responsibilities. Boys' Section headmaster Jas and Girls' Section headmistress Souda Jaleel announced the names of the appointees from the respective sections. The key student officials are head marshals Mohamed Rasal bin Rasheed and Evelyn Johnly, vice marshals Sourav Sandeep and Annette Hannah Jetty, sports admirals Aboobacker Siddiq and Denica Jane Machado and cultural secretaries Mohamed Zidan and Farah Rashid. The students come under the four houses: Blue, Green, Red and Yellow. Earlier, head boy Abdul Rahman Hazem welcomed the gathering and head girl Sahala Kabeer proposed a vote of thanks.

Principals of Indian schools in Qatar recently attended an interactive session with the visiting Minister of State for External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs, V Muraleedharan. The educators represented the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Principals’ Forum of Qatar Chapter. The minister acknowledged and appreciated the earnest and tireless efforts of the school principals and leaders in providing ethical, diverse and quality education to the expat community in Qatar and asked them to raise their concerns and discuss issues faced while implementing the core values of education. DPS-Modern Indian School principal Asna Nafees, who strongly believes in ‘Inclusive Education’ and works continuously to include the differently-abled children in the mainstream education, mentioned the challenges faced by special needs children in getting the right type of certification from CBSE Board, New Delhi. The union minister assured that he would address the issue at the earliest. The principals expressed their gratitude to the Indian embassy for providing them this avenue to share their experiences.    

Qatar Computing Research Institute (QCRI), part of Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), has welcomed a group of the country’s most promising undergraduate students to its summer internship programme. The students are from Qatar University, HBKU, Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar, Texas A&M at Qatar, Northwestern University in Qatar, the University of Doha for Science and Technology, as well as Princeton University. Following two successful virtual editions, the group of interns once again have an opportunity to gain first-hand experience under the guidance of QCRI’s world-leading engineers and research scientists at its state-of-the-art research facility over the summer. The intensive eight-week programme, which began on May 15 will continue till July 7. The programme engages students in research and software development training in the fields of Arabic Language Technologies, Cyber Security, Data Analytics, Social Computing and Software Engineering. Students select the research area that matches their interest and gain hands-on experience working with QCRI’s world-class scientists and software engineers on one of QCRI’s research projects. The programme will offer mentorship and hands-on training in research and scientific processes, testing of new technology, data analysis and other important areas. “Helping to grow Qatar’s knowledge economy begins with developing the next generation of scientists and their advanced computing skills. Our summer interns have this chance to gain real-world, applied experience in a high-impact environment to begin making the transition from academic knowledge to practice,” said Dr Eman Fituri, director of educational initiatives, QCRI. “The internship programme comes with opportunities for them to make contributions to QCRI’s multidisciplinary, result-oriented research. They will work with experts on projects designed to advance a global computing agenda, help identify specific problems, and generate proven technology solutions for improving lives,” Dr Fituri, added.    

MES Indian School conducted an orientation session for teachers recently, themed ‘Teachers’ Development, Take a Step Forward’. The orientation began with a counselling session on 'Effective Strategies in Dealing with Challenging Behaviour' by the school principal, Hameeda Kadar. She got the teachers acquainted with the art and ways of dealing with the challenging behaviour of students, which will reduce disruptions in classrooms, making the children reach expectations and attain educational goals. Among the other training topics covered during the orientation sessions were ‘Learning Styles in Inclusive Education - Teaching Strategies’ by Jisha A G, Fathima Samar and Fashna Abdul Samad, student counsellors; ‘Mathematics in Everyday Life’ by Mohamed Haneefa; ‘Innovative Teaching Strategies’ by Dr Aniket Srivastava and S Chand Group; ‘Differentiated Instruction’ by Mary Cynthia; ‘Classroom Management Tips’ by Renu Vinod Rathuri and Cheryl Victoria Soans; and ‘Setting Behavioural Expectations and Encouraging Positive Behaviour in the Classroom’ by Jisha A G and Fathima Samar. The sessions presented by the school officials and teachers were engaging and unique in its own way. The orientation brought out the various talents of teachers besides instilling confidence. Sibi Susan, Jisha A G and Aboobacker Siddique (Boys’ Section), Mary Cynthia (Girls’ Section), Resmi Ajithkumar and Shemeera Shameer (Junior Section), and Jesna Siju and Suja Mathew (Kindergarten) were the in-charge teachers of the orientation session.    

* Curators from the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia are encouraged to apply as part of the Qatar-Menasa 2022 Year of Culture     The Fire Station, a contemporary art space in the heart of Doha which supports artists and engages local communities through cultural programming, announced its annual open call for the Curator in Residence programme. This year, the residency is in collaboration with the Qatar-Menasa 2022 Year of Culture to support curators from the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia. For this edition, two curators will be invited to join the programme from October 17 to January 17, 2023. The deadline to apply is June 18. The three-month residency offers wide-ranging support to the burgeoning talent, including a round-trip ticket to Doha, off-site accommodation, and a monthly per diem. The two curators selected for the residency will also have access to a furnished workspace at the Fire Station and assistance in developing their curatorial concepts. The residency is designed to immerse participants in the dynamic local art scene through interactive sessions with local artists and curators, participation in Open Studio events, public programmes, and opportunities to organise exhibitions. The residency programme is open to independent and institutional curators of all curatorial and research-based practices from the MENASA region. Curators from the following countries are eligible: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Bhutan, Egypt, India, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Maldives, Morocco, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen. Students enrolled in an Academic programme (excluding doctoral candidates) at the time of residency are not eligible to apply. Fire Station launched its Curator in Residence programme in 2020, taking place twice a year for three months in conjunction with the Artist in Residence programme. Three curators have gone through the programme since 2020. David Suárez Mira, a Colombian curator based in New York, conducted curatorial research on sound art in Qatar and the Gulf region during his residency, which was presented at the Fire Station in an exhibition featuring local artists titled Acts of Listening from Future Generations. Fahad al-Turky, a Qatari cultural professional and Exhibition Manager with Msheireb Museums, served as a Curator and part of the development team for Msheireb Museums' permanent exhibitions, with a specific focus on the history of slavery in Qatar, the Indian Ocean Region and global Modern Slavery in Bin Jelmood House. Hadeel Eltayeb explored identity and cultural production in her work. Her research explores facing down the haunting effects of ghosts in the archive, negotiating narratives of ownership through oral histories, and negotiating the tension between individual, social and public remembering through cultural practices.    

Qatar University Young Scientists Centre (QU-YSC) has prepared and presented several courses and workshops in a programme dedicated to information and communications technology (ICT) for students at different academic levels. The centre launched the programme in 2020 to provide participants with 21st-century skills by improving their capabilities in the field of ICT, developing their creativity and using these skills as a lifelong learning tool. Accordingly, the centre developed a training programme for high school students in mobile applications development, and specialists delivered several interactive workshops to teach programming languages over several months. "Although these workshops were implemented virtually using modern learning methods, their output was great. For example, a group of students was able to make an application that helps chemistry students solve all chemical equations easily, and another application that helps visitors of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 to learn about the most important tourist attractions in Qatar, which will guarantee them a distinct experience in Qatar," QU said in a statement. QU-YSC also offered high school students a programming workshop for digital games, which lasted for five months. Through it, the students learned to develop games using programming languages. The students were able to apply what they learned in designing and making educational digital games. Another group of participants in the smart sensor workshop were able to learn the basics of programming using the language to make smart sensors with important realistic applications, such as the ultraviolet ray sensor that warns and reduces skin cancer. The centre also developed workshops for preparatory students, in which they learned the basics of the programming to design a platform that enables users to develop applications. The workshops were implemented virtually and lasted a month. These were characterised by strong outputs for several applications. Primary school students also had a share of the centre's workshops in the field of ICT, with introduction of the Arduino programme. What distinguishes this programme is the integration of the field of electronics with the foundations of programming to stimulate the creative thinking of students, as the students built various projects using sensors and programming. Students acquired logical thinking skills that enable them to be creative and develop solutions to all contemporary problems. Prof Noora al-Thani, director of QU-YSC, stressed the expansion of the centre's aspirations with regard to ICT programmes, "after the great success that was witnessed through the projects of the participating students". The development of the proposed programmes and the provision of the latest programmes and tools to implement them is one of the priorities of the centre, in an effort to attract the largest number of Qatari youth to acquire basic skills that will open up various paths and horizons for them in the future, the statement added.    

Acknowledging the nurses' selfless services and highlighting the nobility of their profession, MES Indian School celebrated International Nurses Day on May 12. A special assembly saw students delivering speeches expressing gratitude to nurses for their unwavering commitment and compassion with which they take care of humanity. As a tribute to the nurses, students adorned the class bulletin boards with colourful posters. A video presentation, role play, essay writing on the contributions made by the nurses during the Covid-19 pandemic, skit and other activities were organised. Students dressed up as nurses and displayed cards and posters to highlight the vital role nurses play in a society. Teachers too attired in the white dress to show solidarity and gratitude to the professionals in the nursing field. Principal Hameeda Kadar spoke. Students honoured the school nurses Shiju Sebastian, Gincy Wilson and Praseela Augustine with bouquets, gifts and ‘Thank You’ cards.    

As part of the World Book Day celebration, MES Indian School organised an art competition for students. A total of 200 students participated in the competition which was conducted in various categories under the theme ‘World Book Day’. The winners (in the order of first, second and third prizes, respectively) : KG – I: Hawwa (I-K), Izra Cherukapulli (I-L), Aima Xavier (I-G). KG –II: Shadleen A P (II-A), Dhiqrah Binth Shanavas (II-J), Khadeeja D Mehak (II-I). Classes 1 & 2 (Junior): Simra Backer (2-B), Izzah Jaseel (1-F), Meenakshy (1-C). Classes 3 & 4 (Junior): Sohan Sandeep (3-K), Hana Mariyam K V (4 -D), Ayaan Mohamed (4 -H). Girls’ Section (Intermediate): Aashita Biju (7-L), Nasma Samad (8-K), Fidda Hariz (8-R). Boys’ Section (Intermediate): Evin Rajeev Joseph (5–C), Krishna Mahesh (7–E), Abhinav P K (8–A). Principal Hameeda Kadar distributed the prizes.    

To acknowledge and uplift the diligent hands of the working community, MES Indian School observed International Workers’ Day on May 1. Students and staff took part in a special virtual morning assembly. Students were enlightened about the contribution of labourers to the society and how they are the key components of the growing economy. Thought-provoking speeches by the students and teachers highlighted the dignity of each profession, and the manner one must respect every job irrespective of its nature. Students expressed their gratitude to Covid-19 warriors, especially doctors, nurses and frontline health workers. As a tribute to the dedication of the working community, students attired as engineers, nurses, doctors, teachers, drivers, maids and guards expressed their gratitude by presenting self-made badges and 'Thank You' cards, besides displaying placards and posters to highlight the role that each of them play in the welfare of the society. The special assembly left a significant impact on students and enabled them to show reverence and love for various professions.

The investiture ceremony for academic session 2022-23 was held for the student council members at the three primary campuses of Olive International School (OIS). General Directorate of Civil Defence administrative officer Lt Faraj Ali al-Buzawir and Qatar Police Sports Federation's Sports Affairs head Capt Abdullah Khamis al-Hamad were the chief guests of the ceremony held at Al Thumama campus. Ministry of Interior officials Capt Abdul Waheed Gareeb al-Enazi and Faisal al-Hudawi were the chief guests at the Umm Salal Ali campus while the Nuaija campus guests were Mohamed Abdul Nama (awareness officer), Thameem Usama (awareness researcher) and Umer Hudawi (public relations office). The guests urged the student leaders to make use of their leadership skills to bring about positive changes in the institution. The dignitaries along with OIS principal Jacob Mathew, vice-principal (operations) Anupama Sajith, and vice-principal (academics) Jackson M V administered the oath and invested the badges for the new council members. The school choir added zest to the event with their melodious songs.

As a part of the World Book Day celebration, MES Indian School organised an art competition for students. A total of 200 students participated in the competition which was conducted in various categories under the theme ‘World Book Day’. The winners (in the order of first, second and third prizes, respectively) : KG – I - Hawwa (I-K), Izra Cherukapulli (I-L), Aima Xavier (I-G). KG –II - Shadleen A P (II-A), Dhiqrah Binth Shanavas (II-J), Khadeeja D Mehak (II-I). Classes 1 & 2 (Junior) - Simra Backer (2-B), Izzah Jaseel (1-F), Meenakshy (1-C). Classes 3 & 4 (Junior) - Sohan Sandeep (3- K), Hana Mariyam K V (4 -D), Ayaan Muhammed (4 -H). Girls’ Section (Intermediate) - Aashita Biju (7- L), Nasma Samad (8-K), Fidda Hariz (8-R). Boys’ Section (Intermediate) - Evin Rajeev Joseph (5–C), Krishna Mahesh (7–E), Abhinav P K (8–A). Principal Hameeda Kadar distributed the prizes.    

A special assembly in conjunction with the Earth Day celebration was organised by DPS Modern Indian School's students of grade I and II, to bring about awareness on conservation and saving the planet. The assembly commenced with a prayer and was followed by a song by grade II-A. The students of grade I-A presented a skit highlighting the importance of Earth Day and the ways in which the planet can be protected. The children of grade II presented a dance. Principal Asna Nafees, vice-principal (Jr. School), Shifa Shaikh, and headmistress Sini Menon (I-V) were present.    

The tiny tots of Olive International School marked World Earth Day with a ‘Go Green’ activity to evoke respect, concern and action to conserve natural resources. The importance of growing more trees and preserving the environment to make the world a healthier place to live in was conveyed through different activities.    

The kindergarten section of Rajagiri Public School (RPS) celebrated World Earth Day, reiterating the importance of saving the planet. The tiny tots wearing head gears, posters and slogans went around the campus urging the seniors to reuse, recycle and replenish. An array of activities were organised to create awareness about the vital need of protecting mother earth. The idea of plogging was well communicated to the spectators when the little joggers picked up paper bits from the auditorium premises. Principal Sanjeev Kumar flagged off the procession and kindergarten head Kajal Moosa co-ordinated the events.    

Podar Pearl School Meshaf Campus organised a training session on 'Basics of First Aid Management' for all school bus drivers and attendants. Dr Nidha Ayoob from Asian Medical Center, Wakra, conducted the session which educated the participants on how to handle emergencies during students' travel time. Topics covered were CPR, Epistaxis, head injuries and use of First Aid Box. Asian Medical Center also conducted a free medical camp for all drivers and support staff for checking their basic health parameters and vital signs.    

Bullying is often seen in schools especially among students entering adolescence.While bullying is an act associated with a show of power, there might be a way to steer the wheel of bullying toward positive competition. Highlighting ways to address this phenomenon and the importance of emphasising the moral purpose of fasting to students, Haya al-Dosari, teacher of Islamic studies, Arabic language and Qatar history at Tariq Bin Ziyad School – a school under Qatar Foundation’s Pre-University Education – says: “The holy month of Ramadan is considered an opportunity to reinforce moral values in the hearts of our children, and to instill in them the value of self-discipline. “It is a time we live every year, in which the meanings of patience and abstinence are exemplified. Abstinence not only from food and drink but also clearing our intentions and being mindful towards people and the environment around us. “And as teachers, we take advantage of this month to present practical ideas to our students to live out these values. We read stories from the biography of our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), which play an influential role in shaping a child's psyche, especially in the early years of education. This is done by introducing to them good role models who can strengthen their moral and behavioural values, such as honesty, perseverance, humility and respect for others.” Children in their primary years can be introduced to the concept and benefits of fasting during Ramadan, and this year Tariq Bin Ziyad School shared a questionnaire with parents to find out who would like to have their children trained to go through the experience of fasting. Al-Dosari also highlighted the importance of efforts between the school and parents to educate students about fasting as one of the pillars of Islam. "Co-operation is essential between the school and parents to respond to the child's curiosity and answer their questions about Ramadan. “We advise parents to talk to their children, be close to them, encourage them to perform acts of worship, and instill self-discipline appropriate to their age, capabilities and health, all of which will make it easier for them to perform the obligation of fasting when they reach the age that is required to fast.” On how to manage bullying that may occur in school communities, al-Dosari believes that dialogue is a key part of the solution. “I always tell my students that fasting is rewarded by God, and we are not entitled to judge others. On the other hand, it is necessary to understand the reasons that prompted a child to bully others by talking to him or her calmly with the aim of correcting their behaviour, and not reprimanding them. Also, students attending classes with the school's social worker contributes to curbing such behaviours." Al-Dosari also emphasised the possibility of utilising the sense of competition among students and channeling it into positive activities, such as initiatives that focus on motivating students to do good deeds through which they can learn from their peers and promote positive competition supervised by teachers, and with the support of parents. “Tariq Bin Ziyad School launched the ‘Say and Do’ initiative, which highlights the importance of matching our values and principles with our actions. This initiative aims to consolidate faith and moral values in the students' conscience, and invest the blessed days of the holy month of Ramadan in worshipping God and doing good deeds.” The ‘Say and Do’ initiative includes a set of activities related to the holy month, including the Holy Qur'an competition that aims to spread the culture of memorising the Qur'an among children, and holding zikr circles, which is a series of simplified lectures that discuss a specific moral value on a weekly basis. The school also hosts the ‘Charity Basket’, an activity during which students collect donations and aid for school workers in appreciation of their efforts throughout the year. Showing their strong sense of advocacy in addressing acts of bullying, students from QF schools - starting with Qatar Academy Doha - embarked on an anti-bullying campaign titled Bullying Hurts Everyone, which will start rolling out on social media. The topic is one that the students chose to shine a light on, to emphasise its impact on the lives of young people across their schools and in the community.    

With a funding from Qatar National Research Fund obtained by Dr Moez Ben Messaoud, the mass communication department at Qatar University's (QU) College of Arts and Sciences organised a two-day international scientific conference on 'Media, Sports and Marketing Mechanisms of Qatar 2022: Challenges and Potentials'. The conference, co-ordinated by Dr Messaoud, associate professor of strategic communication in the department of media, brought together a number of Arab and non-Arab intellectuals and professionals working in the media, marketing and advertising sector. Participants presented their perceptions regarding the promotion and marketing mechanisms of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and highlighted its impact on Qatar's image and the ability to promote it as a tourist destination and a cultural capital. The event discussed the importance of international sporting events in promoting the image of Qatar as a World Cup organising country and consolidating its national and regional identity rooted in its Arab and Islamic affiliation. The recommendations will serve the World Cup 2022 communication and marketing activity, QU said in a statement. Dr Jamel Zran from Manouba University, Tunisia, asserted that sports, like communication, is a social phenomenon that is strongly present in all societies and constantly transforming, which makes it a scientific topic that interferes in its multidisciplinary interpretation. The relationship between communication and sports is a structural one, Zran said. Dr Abdellatif Ben Sfiaa, director of the Higher Institute of Information and Communication, Rabat, Morocco, focused on a presentation titled 'International Sports Events and Betting on the Media: Qatar 2022 and Managing Media Performance', dealing with the importance of the Olympic Games, world and continental championships, and the role of the media in managing their potentials. Dr Noureddine Miladi, professor of mass communication at QU, indicated in his presentation, 'Media, Sports and the Formation of National Identity', that some media and communication scholars believe that identity, in the modern nation-state, is no longer formed through traditional means only. The nation's image is rather built through national institutions such as museums, educational systems and the media, he said. In a presentation titled 'Sports and football as catalysts for building local identity and highlighting soft power: BeIN Sports channel as a model', Dr Sebastian Sons, a researcher at the Centre for Applied Research in Partnership with Orient in Germany, pointed out that in recent years, sports - and football in particular - has become a relevant factor in building identity in member-states of the Gulf Co-operation Council. Dr Hala Guta and Dr Eiman Issa from the mass communication department of QU gave a presentation titled 'Marketing the State of Qatar’s Sports Identity on TikTok: #The Road Towards 2022' and emphasised the importance of using social media to promote the identity of Qatar as a sports centre. Dr Khaled Ghulam, dean of the College of Media and Arts at the University of Tripoli in Libya, through a paper titled 'The Impact of Sports Identity on the Representations of the Mental Image of the West towards Arabs' shed light on the importance of the role of sports in changing the West’s stereotypical view of Third World countries in general and Arab countries in particular. Dr Fouad Abdel Aziz focused, in a presentation titled 'The Formation of the Mental Image for Viewers of Sports Pictures', on the importance of sports in bringing people together and fuelling the feelings of “national spirit”. On the second day of the international scientific symposium, Dr Abdalmotalab Saddiq Makki presented a paper titled 'Sports Discourse and the Dilemma of Hate and Racism'. The topic revolved around the fact that sports is an arena for competition that calls for a commitment to honour this contest so that it does not turn into a battle of conflict, hostility and possibly fighting, as was said in many countries. Dr Mohamed Jouili, professor of sociology at the University of Tunis, focused in a presentation titled 'Football as a Social Demand', on the importance of shifting interest in football from a mere competitive game perspective to an interest in it as part of the social demand for a spectacle, the states’ political challenges, and the continuous process of building local, national and international identities. In a presentation titled 'Sports diplomacy or soft power', Adel Brinsi explained the importance of investing in sports as a means for countries to achieve the cherished foreign policy, build their soft power, shape their mental image and pave the right way for peoples from different cultures to exchange relations. During the discussion session, Khaled al-Naama, director of the Digital Media Department and official spokesperson for the SC, stressed the importance of the communication work carried out by the Supreme Committee to promote World Cup activities and the work done by the digital media in this process. The symposium also hosted Ahmed Ghassab al-Hajri from Qatar Media Corporation and journalist Amer al-Titawi. At the end of the symposium, Dr Ben Messaoud, gave a presentation on a book project as an important outcome of the symposium and of the research grant obtained. The book, titled 'Media and Sports: Representations, Approaches and Intersections', will include a number of chapters by prominent academics from QU and Arab and non-Arab universities and will be an important addition to the Arab library due to the scarcity of writings in this field.    

Students and researchers from Qatar Foundation universities demonstrated their environmental stewardship at an ideathon on 'Islam, Sustainability and My Carbon Footprint'. The event was presented by Maker Majlis, a platform under the College of Islamic Studies (CIS) at Hamad Bin Khalifa University, in partnership with Qatargas. It is the first of the college’s strategic collaborations as part of the Qatargas Go Green Environmental Awareness Programme. The 30 participating students and researchers represented a cross-section of academic disciplines. Adopting an innovative teaching approach, sessions featured sustainability experts, academics, and practitioners in the Maker Majlis network, with HE Dr Mohammed Saleh Abdulla al-Sada, the former Minister of Energy and Industry, delivering the opening remarks. Qatargas environmental experts interacted with students on the concept of My Carbon Footprint, which aims to provide a holistic view of the impact of individual daily lifestyle choices on human-driven climate change. During the workshop, CIS students and researchers were given the opportunity to calculate their individual carbon footprint using a specially designed Personal Carbon Footprint (PCF) calculator, which is available on the Qatargas website. The Qatargas PCF Calculator explores the personal carbon impacts of everyday activities such as shopping, water use, waste generation and travel, enabling users to make better informed choices to reduce their carbon footprint. The programme also featured an inspirational talk about social enterprises and innovation by Leila Mroueh, strategic communications manager, Qatar Foundation. Presentations by Dr Odeh Jayyousi, an expert in sustainability and innovation, and Dr Evren Tok, assistant dean of Innovation and Community Engagement and associate professor of Islam and Global Affairs, CIS, encouraged participants to connect their Islamic values to sustainability efforts. Design thinking sessions by Dr Nui Vatanasakdakul, Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar, and Marwen Hijri (UX design) aimed to stimulate creative thinking and innovation. Participants then had the opportunity to activate their learning and exchange ideas on reducing their individual carbon footprint in Qatar during their interaction with Qatargas representatives. Leading the Qatargas team at the Ideathon, environmental affairs and regulatory manager, Hilal Saad al-Mohannadi, remarked: “Sustaining the highest environment standards and proactively engaging our stakeholders and community to enhance environmental awareness and culture is a key element of Qatargas’ Long-term Environment Strategy. I am very pleased with our engagement with HBKU on the importance of sustainability and its correlation with Islamic values and principles.” Dr Tok said: “Encouraging students to explore the nexus between Islam, sustainability, and their individual carbon footprint was at the heart of our ideathon. It was exciting to witness them connecting their academic studies with the skills to ideate and collaborate on their individual commitments, but also understand how their ingenuity as social entrepreneurs can address a global challenge.” CIS faculty members who also participated were Dr Syed Ali, director of the Research Division and the Centre for Islamic Economics and Finance, and Dr Dalal Aassouli, assistant professor and programme coordinator of the Master of Science in Islamic Finance programme.