His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, Qatar Foundation chairperson Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser and His Highness the Amir's wife Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Hamad bin Suhaim al-Thani attended the annual Qatar Foundation (QF) convocation ceremony at Al Shaqab Tuesday.
The ceremony, which sees graduates of universities at Education City step into the next phase of their lives, was also attended by HE the Shura Council Speaker Hassan Abdulla al-Ghanim, ministers, diplomats, university presidents, deans, and faculty, and the families of graduates.
His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani with the Class of 2020, faculty and officials at the ceremony
The convocation saw more than 800 students from the Class of 2022 from QF’s Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) and partner universities graduate. This year’s convocation celebrations also included QF Classes of 2020 and 2021. Hundreds of graduates of these two classes joined their 2022 counterparts in walking through the Door to the Future, the symbolic and traditional convocation moment that represents the start of a new stage in their journeys.
The convocation ceremony also saw QF pay tribute to its first president, Dr Fathy Saoud, who played an instrumental role in the organisation’s evolution and the creation of its education ecosystem. Dr Saoud passed away in January, and during the ceremony, a film chronicling his contribution to QF was shown. It was also announced that the position of Chair Professor of Biological Sciences in the College of Health and Life Sciences at HBKU will be created in his name, with biological sciences having been Dr Saoud’s field of study.
Addressing graduates, QF vice-chairperson and CEO HE Sheikha Hind bint Hamad al-Thani, said: “There are no orphan ideas, no orphan generations. We will always be connected to those that came before us. We will always be the continuation of our forefathers.
“If you find some truths unbearable, listen to them anyway. Take the time to understand what our forefathers stood for and why. Then take the time to understand what your role is in this journey. Your learning journey has just started.”
With the graduation of the Class of 2022, the number of the alumni of Education City has gone up to almost 8,000.
Among them was Weill Cornell-Medicine Qatar graduate Fatima al-Shibani, who said: “Initially, I wanted to be a doctor to help others, but as I’ve gone through my education at QF, I’ve learned more about other ways in which I can help patients, which is why I will now pursue a Master’s in Public Health.”
Noof al-Naama, who has graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar, said she has “always seen herself as a QF student” having been taking classes and summer courses at the university since she was 13. “I have an artistic background in the family, and I hope I can carry forward that legacy for the next generations to come,” said the grand-daughter of Jassim Zaini, Qatar’s first fine artist.
Eid al-Bordaini (HBKU), Khalid al-Emadi (Texas A&M University at Qatar), Waad al-Khenji (Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar), Iman Abdelbagi Ismail (Georgetown University in Qatar) and Hessa al-Khulaifi (Northwestern University in Qatar), also shared their experiences about studying at Education City.
The keynote speaker for this year’s convocation ceremony was QF alumnus Dr Mohamed al-Nufal, who graduated from WCM-Q in 2012 and is now a paediatrics physician in the US. As a QF student, he was among the speakers in Qatar’s bid to secure the FIFA World Cup 2022.
With less than 200 days to go before the first FIFA World Cup in the Middle East kicks off, Dr al-Nufal told graduates: “I have learned that if you want to achieve anything, big or small, that reflects QF’s vision, you have to first believe in your idea as QF believed in its vision.
“Define your ambitions and expectations – and when the idea exists, and your ambitions are defined, the real work starts. And what matters is not necessarily the time you give to your work, but the sacrifice you make and how you ensure that the time you give is valuable.
“The final lesson I have learned is that you should surrounding yourself with people who have the same spirit, ambitions, and sense of responsibility as you. This team will be the reason for your success, so choose your team wisely.”
His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, Qatar Foundation chairperson Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser and His Highness the Amir's wife Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Hamad bin Suhaim al-Thani attended the annual Qatar Foundation (QF) convocation ceremony at Al Shaqab yesterday. PICTURE: AR Al-Baker.
The ceremony, which sees graduates of universities at Education City step into the next phase of their lives, was also attended by HE the Shura Council Speaker Hassan Abdulla al-Ghanim, ministers, diplomats, university presidents, deans, and faculty, and the families of graduates.
His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani with the Class of 2020, faculty and officials at the ceremony
The convocation saw more than 800 students from the Class of 2022 from QF’s Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) and partner universities graduate. This year’s convocation celebrations also included QF Classes of 2020 and 2021. Hundreds of graduates of these two classes joined their 2022 counterparts in walking through the Door to the Future, the symbolic and traditional convocation moment that represents the start of a new stage in their journeys.
His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, Qatar Foundation chairperson Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser and QF vice-chairperson and CEO HE Sheikha Hind bint Hamad al-Thani with a section of Class of 2020, faculty and officials at the ceremony
The convocation ceremony also saw QF pay tribute to its first president, Dr Fathy Saoud, who played an instrumental role in the organisation’s evolution and the creation of its education ecosystem. Dr Saoud passed away in January, and during the ceremony, a film chronicling his contribution to QF was shown. It was also announced that the position of Chair Professor of Biological Sciences in the College of Health and Life Sciences at HBKU will be created in his name, with biological sciences having been Dr Saoud’s field of study.
The Class of 2022
Addressing graduates, QF vice-chairperson and CEO HE Sheikha Hind bint Hamad al-Thani, said: “There are no orphan ideas, no orphan generations. We will always be connected to those that came before us. We will always be the continuation of our forefathers.
“If you find some truths unbearable, listen to them anyway. Take the time to understand what our forefathers stood for and why. Then take the time to understand what your role is in this journey. Your learning journey has just started.”
QF vice-chairperson and CEO HE Sheikha Hind bint Hamad al-Thani speaking at the event.
With the graduation of the Class of 2022, the number of the alumni of Education City has gone up to almost 8,000.
Among them was Weill Cornell-Medicine Qatar graduate Fatima al-Shibani, who said: “Initially, I wanted to be a doctor to help others, but as I’ve gone through my education at QF, I’ve learned more about other ways in which I can help patients, which is why I will now pursue a Master’s in Public Health.”
Noof al-Naama, who has graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar, said she has “always seen herself as a QF student” having been taking classes and summer courses at the university since she was 13. “I have an artistic background in the family, and I hope I can carry forward that legacy for the next generations to come,” said the grand-daughter of Jassim Zaini, Qatar’s first fine artist.
Keynote speaker Dr Mohamed al-Nufal
Eid al-Bordaini (HBKU), Khalid al-Emadi (Texas A&M University at Qatar), Waad al-Khenji (Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar), Iman Abdelbagi Ismail (Georgetown University in Qatar) and Hessa al-Khulaifi (Northwestern University in Qatar), also shared their experiences about studying at Education City.
HBKU president Dr Ahmed M Hasna
The keynote speaker for this year’s convocation ceremony was QF alumnus Dr Mohamed al-Nufal, who graduated from WCM-Q in 2012 and is now a paediatrics physician in the US. As a QF student, he was among the speakers in Qatar’s bid to secure the FIFA World Cup 2022.
With less than 200 days to go before the first FIFA World Cup in the Middle East kicks off, Dr al-Nufal told graduates: “I have learned that if you want to achieve anything, big or small, that reflects QF’s vision, you have to first believe in your idea as QF believed in its vision.
“Define your ambitions and expectations – and when the idea exists, and your ambitions are defined, the real work starts. And what matters is not necessarily the time you give to your work, but the sacrifice you make and how you ensure that the time you give is valuable.
“The final lesson I have learned is that you should surrounding yourself with people who have the same spirit, ambitions, and sense of responsibility as you. This team will be the reason for your success, so choose your team wisely.”
