His Excellency Dr. Hassan bin Rashid Al Derham, the President of Qatar University, stressed the role of scientific research in the country’s development process.
This came during Ramadan tent organized by the Ministry of Culture as part of the activities of Ramadan Book Fair at Darb Al-Saai headquarters in Umm Salal, which will last until April 5.
Ramadan Majlis was held in the presence of His Excellency Dr. Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Kuwari, the Minister of State and President of Qatar National Library, a number of officials at the Ministry of Culture and a group of thinkers and intellectuals.
During the evening, Dr. Hassan Al-Derham spoke about his scientific career, which began with a scholarship to study architecture in the United States, and after the study, he joined Qatar University as a teaching assistant, to obtain a master’s degree in civil engineering from Georgia Tech University in the United States, then switch to specializing in construction project management, until he obtained a doctorate in construction project management from the University of Glamorgan (currently the University of South Wales) in the United Kingdom, he referred to the keenness of the administration of the College of Engineering at Qatar University to attract Qatari students in engineering disciplines, especially architecture, adding, “I taught, then assumed the presidency of the Civil Engineering Department in 2003, passing through several positions until I assumed the position of President of Qatar University on June 15, 2015.”
During Ramadan Majlis, His Excellency the President of Qatar University discussed the history of universities globally, as they have always been a place to contain knowledge, and they also play their role in spreading knowledge and science and transmitting them to generations, as well as their role in constantly developing science, stressing the importance of the role of universities in their cultural and social environment, stressing that Qatar University Since its establishment, it has been an incubator for generations, to show generations that pledge and develop our country.
Dr. Hassan Al-Derham said that the vision of establishing Qatar University was from the beginning related to scientific research, so the establishment of research centers in applied and social sciences and others, so the best professors in various disciplines were attracted, indicating that the university was interested in promoting scientific research not in connection with academic promotions, but in order for scientific research to be related community issues, pointing out that the establishment of the Qatar Scientific Research Fund had a role in promoting the culture of scientific research, as it was an opportunity for the university to re-establish university centers and direct researchers towards research that is concerned with the challenges facing the State of Qatar and contributes to its development.
He added that the university has developed a plan that is in line with the state’s vision and has grown in various fields, as it now has 16 research centers, most of which are independent and some of which belong to colleges, but they are all linked to the state’s research plan, pointing out that the university’s strategic plan has moved from mere teaching to the development stage and then to the innovation stage. Qatar University Holding Company was established, which is a platform for researchers, innovators and entrepreneurs to develop the ideas and skills of entrepreneurs among students based on scientific research.
His Excellency the President of Qatar University stressed that the university’s development and its attainment of advanced positions in international rankings and institutional accreditation came as a result of the unlimited support of the wise leadership, pointing out that there are academic plans at the university, including the establishment of a college of mathematical sciences, the conversion of the media department in the college into an independent college, and the establishment of a college of architecture, design, and others. These plans will be submitted to the Board of Trustees for approval in due course.
The evening witnessed interaction from the attendees and participants, the most prominent of which was the intervention of Dr. Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari, Minister of State and President of Qatar National Library, who said that the Ramadan Book Fair is an important contribution to cultural life, with its activities, especially Ramadan Majlis, which reviews the development process in various fields in our country with Lecturers were part of this process.
Dr. Al-Kuwari also appreciated the cultural and scientific role of Qatar University in society, as it contributes to advancing the cultural movement, appreciating its initiative to establish Qatar University Publishing House in this regard.
For his part, Dr. Ghanem bin Mubarak Al-Ali Al-Maadeed, the Assistant Undersecretary for Cultural Affairs at the Ministry of Culture, called for strengthening cooperation between the Ministry of Culture and Qatar University in promoting volunteer work, which was welcomed by the President of Qatar University, pointing out that the university is working to spread the culture of volunteer work and the practice of volunteer work as well.
It is worth mentioning that Ramadan Book Fair will be held from March 30 to April 5, 2023, at the Darb Al-Saai headquarters in Umm Salal, with the participation of 79 local, Arab and international publishing houses, and it will be accompanied by many cultural events.