Qatar Airways Recognizes High Achieving Scholarship Students During Excellence Day Event

Doha, December 25 (QNA) - At the first Excellence Day event hosted by Qatar Airways National Scholarship Programme (QRNSP), the national airline recognised 16 scholarship students who successfully demonstrated high academic achievements, as well as enthusiasm and initiative in extra-curricular activities at university. Held at Al Sharq Village in Doha, the event was hosted by Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker for the high achievers, their families and airline management, many of whom have been mentoring the students during their work placements. Students were honoured in different award categories Gold, Silver and Burgundy with two achievers earning the CEO Student Award for Excellence. Mohammed Abdulla Al-Jaber, a BSc Electrical Engineering Student at Arizona State University in America and Aisha Mahmoud Al-Heidous, a BS Accounting student at Qatar University, were presented with the CEO Student Award for Excellence by Al Baker. The airline also took the opportunity to introduce 15 new Qatari hires at the event. The individuals have been recruited by the Doha-based global carrier to fulfil key roles in corporate areas such as administration, human resources, and finance, as well as technical fields including engineering, transportation security and flight operations. During the event, Al Baker delivered a motivational address, acknowledging the ambition, drive and commitment of the first group of students to have joined the airline s scholarship programme. "We have been very impressed by the level of engagement that all our students have had in their university environment whether at campuses in Doha or overseas," he said. "It is very encouraging to see these young future airline executives becoming fully involved in both academia and extra-curricular activities for this is exactly the type of leaders that we want to cultivate for the future of the country s national airline. "Through the Qatar Airways National Scholarship Programme, which is now in its second year, we are committed to continuously nurture the personal and professional development of our students enabling them to progress towards a promising career with Qatar Airways." Al Baker also announced the launch of a new Masters of Business Management in Aviation programme, scheduled to begin its first semester in March 2013. To be launched in partnership with Massey University in New Zealand, the programme will enrol a total of 20 national candidates from different aviation fields such as engineering and flight operations for the Masters study. The part-time programme, designed to be completed over an 18-month period, will include a total of 16 modules 13 of which will be taught in Qatar, while students will have the opportunity to travel to New Zealand to complete the remaining three. Added Al Baker: "Massey University is a formidable institution and we are proud to be working with them to offer this prestigious programme. We value the intellectual growth of our employees and this is yet another way for us to give back and invest in our Qatari talent, in order to help develop leadership and build a vision for the future of the challenges at hand. "QRNSP, in line with Qatar s National Vision 2030, places great emphasis on investing in Qatar s human capital and pledges a commitment to provide Qatari youth with the means to pursue studies at the finest international universities." An integral part of the airline s strategic Qatarisation plan, QRNSP is designed to financially support the nation s youth in their post-secondary educational pursuits, with a work experience component that provides internships throughout their programmes and work with the airline upon graduation. More information about the programme can be found at www.qrscholarship.com QRNSP is run and administered internally within the airline, managed by Qatar Airways Vice President Nationalisation, Dr. Kholode Al-Obaidli. Dr. Al-Obaidli said: "Qatar Airways is exceptionally proud of the repertoire of programmes we offer to high-achieving scholarship seekers, new graduates, as well as Qataris working for Qatar Airways. "Introducing innovative learning, training and professional development opportunities forms part of the key framework of the Nationalisation Department, which strives to build and nurture Qatari talent within the organisation." Fuelled by its rapid expansion, Qatar Airways is forging ahead with an aggressive recruitment drive and plans to take on an additional 3,500 staff annually over a three-year period across the group. With over 21,000 employees currently working with the Qatar Airways Group of companies, the increase represents a 50 per cent addition to the head count by 2014. As a truly global airline covering six continents, Qatar Airways employs over 100 nationalities around the world. Within three years, Qatar Airways plans to serve more than 170 key business and leisure destinations worldwide with a modern fleet of over 170 aircraft. Today, the airline s fleet stands at 116 aircraft flying to 122 destinations worldwide.