Qatar University

Qatar University

184px Qatar University
Former names	University of Qatar
Type	Public
Established	1973 (1973)
President	Hassan Rashid Al-Derham
Academic staff	>800
Undergraduates	>1500
Location	Doha , Qatar
Campus	Urban 2,000 acres (8.1 km2)
Language	Arabic and English
Publications	Campus Life (English) Campus Today (Arabic)
Affiliations	Union of Arab Universities League of Islamic Universities International Association of Universities
Website	[1] (English)
Qatar University logo

Qatar University (Arabic: جامعة قطر‎‎; transliterated: Jami'at Qatar) is a public university in Qatar, located on the northern outskirts of the capital Doha. As of 2014, there are over 16,000 students. Courses are taught in Arabic (in education, arts and social sciences courses) or English (in natural sciences, engineering and business courses). The university is the only government university in the country. The university hosts seven colleges – Arts and Sciences, Business and Economics, Education, Engineering, Law, Sharia and Islamic Studies, and a College of Pharmacy – with a total of almost 8000 students at a 13:1 student-teacher ratio.

Students entering the university are placed in a “Foundation Program”, which ensures the acquirement of skills such as math, English, and computer technology.

Many of its academic departments have received or are currently under evaluation for accreditation from a number of organizations. In addition to undergraduate academics, QU has a research infrastructure including research labs, an ocean vessel, technical equipment and a library housing thousands of books, including a collection of rare manuscripts.

The university serves on behalf of the government and private industry to conduct regional research, particularly in areas of the environment and energy technologies. Qatar University has a student body of fifty-two nationalities, 65% of which are Qatari nationals. About 35% are children of expats. Women make up approximately 70% of the student population, and are provided their own set of facilities and classrooms. QU has an alumni body of over 30,000 graduates.

History

East View of Qatar University

The institution was established as the College of Education by a decree from the Emir of Qatar in 1973. The college began with a total of 150 students (93 women and 57 men) and was later expanded to become the University of Qatar in 1977 with four new colleges : Education, Humanities & Social Sciences, Sharia & Law & Islamic Studies, and Science.

Three years later, the College of Engineering was established. By then, the number of enrolled students was 2,600. This was followed by the establishment of the College of Business & Economics in 1985. The new colleges prompted a large expansion of the university campus, which was overseen by Aga Khan Award for Architecture recipient Kamal El Kafrawi. By Fall Semester 2005 / 2006, the number of registrants for study at Qatar University had reached 7660 male and female students, equaling almost 1/6 of the eligible Qatari population.

As of 2011, there are seven colleges: College of Education, College of Arts and Sciences, College of Shariah and Islamic Studies, College of Engineering, College of Law, College of Business & Economics, and College of Pharmacy. The new College of Pharmacy was established in 2006, with its first intake of BSc (Pharm) students in 2007.

Between 2003 and 2015, the president of the university was Sheikha Abdulla Al-Misnad. She left in 2015. Her replacement was Hassan Rashid Al-Derham, who currently holds the position, and is the university’s sixth president. Al-Derham received his doctoral degree from the University of South Wales (United Kingdom).

In December 2015, the university awarded its first-ever honorary doctorate degree to Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Reform Project (2003–2007)

The Qatar University Reform project evaluated and restructured the university administration and direction to enhance the quality of instruction and place emphasis on research. The reform was initiated in 2003, led by His Highness Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, QU President Dr. Sheikha Al Misnad, and the newly established Office of Institutional Research and Planning (OIPD). It focused on three principles; “Autonomy”, “Decentralization”, and “Accountability”. While the university had previously operated as a government entity, the reformed institution would be an autonomous body governed by a board of regents who reported to the Emir. This change allowed the University to manage its own finances, stated objectives and vision, and personnel and decentralization within the university granted similar financial and personnel control to colleges, departments and programs.

Academically, the reform resulted in the establishment of offices such as the Student Learning Support Center (SLSC) and Student Counseling Center (SCC). Construction was undertaken to ensure accessibility of university facilities by handicapped persons. A newsletter, Tawasol, began publication in the university

The reform changed the title of the university from “University of Qatar” to “Qatar University” with a new slogan; “Qatar University, Changing for You” and a new university logo.

Local significance and interaction

The research vessel used by the Qatar University Environmental Studies Center in 2005

The university contributes to the process of “Qatarization”, which places an emphasis on the hiring and support of national citizens. While western nations may have trouble implementing such a system due to equality legislation, Qatari nationals only account for approximately 1/4 of the country’s population, and this movement is deemed necessary to maintain cultural and national identity.

World view and influence

Qatari leaders have recognized the fallibility of oil and natural gases as a long-term economic model, especially for a smaller area such as Qatar.

The university has directed funding towards contributions to international projects. This has included taking part in global environmental studies through regional measurements, promotion of energy-awareness, and the recent contribution to CERNE of data gathered through the university’s new positron beam.

Since graduate programs are not available in many fields, Qatar University often works closely with a network of international affiliate schools. Students who have shown exceptional potential or progress can often receive sponsorship from the University for graduate studies abroad, on the condition that they will return to work once finished.

Construction

Qatar University is situated on the northern edge of Doha, approximately 16 kilometers from the city center. Due to the growth of the city, this area has recently become more valuable, and a popular development site for upscale residential and commercial buildings. QU has agreed to lease a portion of its property to the construction of new commercial zones to the north and east, as well as a substantial plot for the College of the North Atlantic to the south.

A QAR 20 million Scientific and Applied Research Center is under construction to advance the University’s research efforts and abilities.

Colleges and Departments

College of Arts and Sciences

The Women's College of Arts and Sciences at Qatar University in 2008

The College of Arts and Sciences was established in 2004 through the merging of two former colleges; the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, and the College of Science. It is the largest college by both number of programs and student population at Qatar University, with a total of 2,383 students; 1,933 Arts majors and 450 Science majors. This reflects approximately 37% of the student body. The College has 240 faculty members, including Dean Dr. Kassim Ali Shaaban.

Departments:

• Department of Arabic Language
  • History
• Department of Biological & Environmental Sciences
  • Biological Science
  • Emvironmental Science
• Department of Chemistry & Earth Sciences
  • Chemistry Program accredited by the CSC
• Department of English Literature and Linguistics
• Department of Health Sciences
  • Biomedical Program accredited by the NAACLS
  • Human Nutrition Program
• Department of Humanities
• Department of Mass Communication & Information Science
  • Mass Communication Program
• Department of Mathematics, Statistics & Physics
• Department of Social Sciences
  • Social Work
  • Psychology
  • Sociology
  • International Affairs
  • Policy, Planning and Development
  • Statistics
• Sport Science

Programs:

• Arabic for Non-Native Speakers Program

College of Business & Economics

Men's College of Business & Economics at Qatar University in 2008

Founded in 1985, it has begun work on a new QR 185 million facility to accommodate its student body and provide resources. Dr. Nitham M. Hindi was appointed as Dean in August 2010.

Departments:

• Accounting and Information Systems
• Finance and Economics
• Management and Marketing
• Marketing
  • The College is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). An MBA degree program is available for graduate students, as well as a CPA testing program.

College of Education

Qatar University's College of Education - Men's side entrance in 2008

The College of Education was the primary academic body under which Qatar University was founded in 1973. The dean is Dr. Hissa Sadiq.

Departments:

• Educational Sciences
• Psychological Sciences
• Art Education

College of Engineering

Men's College of Engineering corridor at Qatar University in 2008

The College of Engineering was established in 1980, and has become one of the largest at Qatar University. The College’s previous Dean, Dr. Alfadala, was also the founder and former Chairman of the University’s Gas Processing Center (GPC) research facility. The current Dean is Dr. Rashid Alammari.

Departments:

• Architectural Engineering
• Chemical Engineering
  • (ABET Substantial Equivalency accredited)
• Civil Engineering
  • (ABET Substantial Equivalency accredited)
• Computer Engineering
• Computer Science
• Electrical Engineering
  • (ABET Substantial Equivalency accredited)
• Mechanical Engineering
  • (ABET Substantial Equivalency accredited)
• Industrial Engineering

College of Law

Men's College of Law at Qatar University. Women's facility is currently combined with the College of Sharia and Islamic Studies building.

In 2004, Qatar University instated a College of Law by separating the law department of the existing College of Sharia. 45% of its graduate program is instructed in English. In 2008, it asked the ABA to conduct a full-scale, on-site evaluation of all aspects of the school’s objectives, programs, and administration. Hassan Abdelrahim Okour was appointed dean in August 2010.

Programs:

• Undergraduate Law

College of Pharmacy

The College of Pharmacy at Qatar University was founded as a college in 2008. It is the first pharmacy college to be established in Qatar. It began as a program in 2006, and saw its first student intake in 2007. 2008 also marked the college’s accreditation by the CCAPP (Canada), and became the first international pharmacy program to receive accreditation by that organization. Peter Jewesson has been the College Dean since its inception, and had also been the director of the previous Pharmacy program.

The College of Pharmacy offers three degrees:

• 5-year program Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy – BSc (Pharm)
  • Accredited by CCAPP
• 6-year Doctor of Pharmacy - PharmD
  • The PharmD degree is targeted for select graduates pursuing advanced clinical training. It is offered as a full-time study plan for QU graduates, and a part-time study plan for BSc (Pharm) pharmacists practicing in Qatar
• 2-year Master of Science in Pharmacy - MSc (Pharm)
  • The MSc (Pharm) degree is designed to build on the undergraduate degree experience.

College of Sharia and Islamic Studies

Qatar University women's College of Sharia and Islamic Studies Building. Also contains the women's College of Law, and women's College of Business & Economics classrooms.

College of Sharia and Islamic Studies was among the first founded at Qatar University when it was established in 1977. In recent years, it added new major and minor programs in subjects such as “Da’wa and Media” and “Banking and Insurance”. Dr. Aisha Yousuf Al-Mannai is the current dean.

Departments:

• Islamic Jurisprudence
• Islamic Culture & Preaching
• Foundations of Islam

College of Medicine

in December 2014, Qatar University announced the establishment of the College of Medicine which is planned to take the 1st batch in by Fall 2015 (September) and graduate them by 2021.

Sport Science Program

The Sport Science Program was opened to students in the fall 2009 semester. The program was constructed as a joint project sponsored by Aspire Academy. While QU's Sport Science program is not an independent college, it has been formed with autonomy from the other colleges, much as the College of Pharmacy began.

The Program offers a Bachelor of Science degree which allows for one of 3 concentrations:

• Sport Management
• Exercise and Fitness
• Physical Education

Honors Program

Qatar University's Honors Program was established in 2009. to provide academic opportunities for high-achieving students. Students in the program complete 24 credit hours of honors courses, as part of the 120 credit hours necessary for their undergraduate program. Students must graduate with an overall GPA of 3.5 or above, with a minimum score of 3.0 in all honors courses. Qatar University holds strict requirements for students wishing to apply:

• Minimum of 90% or higher in high school certificate or an equivalent certificate (current QU students must complete 12 to 18 post-foundation credit hours with a 3.5 GPA)
• Minimum score of 500 on the TOEFL exam or 5.5 on the ILETS
• Minimum score of 550 in the Math portion of SAT, 24 on the ACT
• Two letters of recommendation from current or previous instructors, counselors or academic advisers
• Copy of transcript
• A written essay
• Pass an interview

In addition to academic advisers, Honors students are assigned an adviser to assist with honors issues and other consultation. For courses which are not offered as Honors, students may propose an "Honors Contract" to specify honors-level objectives and goals to be monitored by a sponsoring professor.

External links

• Official website (English)
• Official website (Arabic)