With the slogan ‘Imagine Tomorrow’ highlighting ‘a spark of imagination ignites a renaissance’, Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), celebrated the graduation of its Classes of 2020 and 2021, conferring degrees on more than 400 students at a virtual ceremony on Monday.
The event also witnessed HBKU, part of Qatar Foundation (QF), reaching the milestone of passing the 1,000th graduate in the 10th year since its founding and the HBKU alumni growing to nearly 1,250.
The diverse graduates include more than 130 Qatari citizens. Close to 60% of all graduates are women. The graduating classes represent 33 academic degree programmes, with 110 graduates from the College of Islamic Studies (CIS); 74 from the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS), 154 from the College of Science and Engineering (CSE), 49 from the College of Health and Life Sciences (CHLS), 24 from the College of Law, and 10 from the College of Public Policy (CPP).
The ceremony witnessed 11 ‘first cohorts’. Among those were first graduates in CHLS’ PhD in Genomics and Precision Medicine; and from CSE’s Master of Science in Sport and Entertainment Management, Master of Data Analytics in Health Management, Master of Science in Logistics and Supply Chain Management, and Master of Information Systems in Health Management and CHLS’ Master of Science in Exercise Science.
CPP welcomed the first graduates from its Master of Public Policy, the College of Law its first LLM in International Law and Foreign Affairs cohort, while CIS honoured its first graduates in the Master of Arts in Applied Islamic Ethics, Master of Arts in Islam and Global Affairs, and Master of Science in Islamic Art, Architecture and Urbanism.
Dr Ahmad M Hasnah, president of HBKU, in his message noted, “The economic, social and educational challenges that have emerged constitute an important incentive for us to consider our priorities and ability to adapt and be innovative.
“Transforming and developing the world begins with individuals like you. HBKU and its community, including its faculty, has made an effort to support your passion for learning and innovation, and your attainment of the knowledge and personal skills that will enable you to be active citizens supporting the path of development and growth of your communities and your nations. We know you will turn your ideas and knowledge into a reality for us all to be proud of.”
An inspirational keynote speech was delivered at the event by Roya Mahboob, co-founder and CEO of the Digital Citizen Fund, named one of TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World for 2013 for her work of building internet classrooms in high schools in Afghanistan.
Explaining the educational scenario in her country and the need to educate children especially girls, Mahboob exhorted the graduates, “Graduates, equip with the foolproof education that you gain from this institution. Realise the potential for the changes for life inside of you by bringing out your unique expertise and creativity.”
Student speaker, Ghoroor Abdulwaheed, from CHSS said, “Every graduate at this amazing ceremony has a personal story, motivation, and vision for a better future, each one in the area they have chosen and excelled in - our insistence on drawing the features of a brilliant future for our local communities and the entire world is a common aspect. I deeply believe that our university has instilled in us the principles, values, knowledge, and skills necessary to face this rapidly evolving world.”
“We are immensely proud of our graduates and the efforts that have gone into this achievement. They will find that the critical thinking skills and interdisciplinary mindset that we nurture at HBKU are in high demand. We hope they will take advantage of their education and use this knowledge for the betterment of our globalised world, and its scientific, social, and economic development,” explained, Dr Michael J Benedik, HBKU provost.
Dr Richard O’Kennedy, vice president for research at HBKU, and the vice president for research, development and innovation at QF, highlighted, “Our 2020/21 graduates leave HBKU with a research-based education that will open doors for them wherever they go. The world is facing significant transformation and HBKU has prepared these graduates to generate novel approaches that can be applied to solve national and global issues. HBKU’s achievements over the past 10 years have aimed to advance Qatar’s vision of being a knowledge-based economy that is highly competitive in the international arena.”
“Rising above the challenges of the past year, our Class of 2020 and 2021 prove that there are no limits except for the limit you set for yourself. We are confident that HBKU has equipped them with the knowledge and skills to envision the future and become innovators with an impact in local and global communities,” added, Dr Maryam al-Mannai, vice president for Student Affairs at HBKU.
The event also witnessed HBKU, part of Qatar Foundation (QF), reaching the milestone of passing the 1,000th graduate in the 10th year since its founding and the HBKU alumni growing to nearly 1,250.
The diverse graduates include more than 130 Qatari citizens. Close to 60% of all graduates are women. The graduating classes represent 33 academic degree programmes, with 110 graduates from the College of Islamic Studies (CIS); 74 from the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS), 154 from the College of Science and Engineering (CSE), 49 from the College of Health and Life Sciences (CHLS), 24 from the College of Law, and 10 from the College of Public Policy (CPP).
The ceremony witnessed 11 ‘first cohorts’. Among those were first graduates in CHLS’ PhD in Genomics and Precision Medicine; and from CSE’s Master of Science in Sport and Entertainment Management, Master of Data Analytics in Health Management, Master of Science in Logistics and Supply Chain Management, and Master of Information Systems in Health Management and CHLS’ Master of Science in Exercise Science.
CPP welcomed the first graduates from its Master of Public Policy, the College of Law its first LLM in International Law and Foreign Affairs cohort, while CIS honoured its first graduates in the Master of Arts in Applied Islamic Ethics, Master of Arts in Islam and Global Affairs, and Master of Science in Islamic Art, Architecture and Urbanism.
Dr Ahmad M Hasnah, president of HBKU, in his message noted, “The economic, social and educational challenges that have emerged constitute an important incentive for us to consider our priorities and ability to adapt and be innovative.
“Transforming and developing the world begins with individuals like you. HBKU and its community, including its faculty, has made an effort to support your passion for learning and innovation, and your attainment of the knowledge and personal skills that will enable you to be active citizens supporting the path of development and growth of your communities and your nations. We know you will turn your ideas and knowledge into a reality for us all to be proud of.”
An inspirational keynote speech was delivered at the event by Roya Mahboob, co-founder and CEO of the Digital Citizen Fund, named one of TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World for 2013 for her work of building internet classrooms in high schools in Afghanistan.
Explaining the educational scenario in her country and the need to educate children especially girls, Mahboob exhorted the graduates, “Graduates, equip with the foolproof education that you gain from this institution. Realise the potential for the changes for life inside of you by bringing out your unique expertise and creativity.”
Student speaker, Ghoroor Abdulwaheed, from CHSS said, “Every graduate at this amazing ceremony has a personal story, motivation, and vision for a better future, each one in the area they have chosen and excelled in - our insistence on drawing the features of a brilliant future for our local communities and the entire world is a common aspect. I deeply believe that our university has instilled in us the principles, values, knowledge, and skills necessary to face this rapidly evolving world.”
“We are immensely proud of our graduates and the efforts that have gone into this achievement. They will find that the critical thinking skills and interdisciplinary mindset that we nurture at HBKU are in high demand. We hope they will take advantage of their education and use this knowledge for the betterment of our globalised world, and its scientific, social, and economic development,” explained, Dr Michael J Benedik, HBKU provost.
Dr Richard O’Kennedy, vice president for research at HBKU, and the vice president for research, development and innovation at QF, highlighted, “Our 2020/21 graduates leave HBKU with a research-based education that will open doors for them wherever they go. The world is facing significant transformation and HBKU has prepared these graduates to generate novel approaches that can be applied to solve national and global issues. HBKU’s achievements over the past 10 years have aimed to advance Qatar’s vision of being a knowledge-based economy that is highly competitive in the international arena.”
“Rising above the challenges of the past year, our Class of 2020 and 2021 prove that there are no limits except for the limit you set for yourself. We are confident that HBKU has equipped them with the knowledge and skills to envision the future and become innovators with an impact in local and global communities,” added, Dr Maryam al-Mannai, vice president for Student Affairs at HBKU.
