Thier Highnesses the Emir and Sheikha Moza Honour QF's Former Board Members

Doha, March 07 (QNA) -HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Founder of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF), and HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, QF Chairperson, on Wednesday night hosted an appreciation gathering in honor of QF s exceptional leaders past and present, and offered a look ahead to a world transformed for the better by QF. Taking place at QF s Al Shaqab equestrian facility, the event gathered together senior members of the QF family for the first time to celebrate the Foundation s journey and achievements in unlocking human potential. HH spoke of QF's modest beginnings, born out of a conversation with His Highness the Amir almost two decades ago, in which she discussed her wish as a mother to provide the best possible education for her children and, seeing herself as mother of all children of Qatar, to ensure a high standard of education for all. The dream of Qatar Foundation was born in 1995. It began to take shape when Her Highness brought together a core team of leaders to work on this vision. 17 years later, QF's success has surpassed all expectations. HH Sheikha Moza spoke of QF as an important vehicle for change, not only through education but also as a catalyst for community development, and as a means of promoting a culture of excellence in all sectors throughout Qatar. HH the QF Chairperson also acknowledged the achievements of QF's former board members and added that a new generation has now been entrusted with taking QF forward. She went on to encourage the Foundation's new board members to move forward with the courage and spirit of QF. QF was established in 1995 as part of HH the emir s vision to support the country s transformation to a knowledge-based economy. Since then, the organization has blossomed and is now home to numerous world-class academic institutions, top science and research organizations, and over 4,000 students and researchers from the region and around the world. A global intellectual hub, QF remains at the heart of social and community development in Qatar. HH the Emir after honoring the former and present leaders of Qatar Foundation, has surprised honoring HH Sheikha Moza in this celebration in recognition of all HH's contributions since the establishment of the Qatar Foundation until now. At tonight s event, each of QF s previous board members, from years 1996, 1999 and 2003, was presented with a commemorative medal by HH the Emir, to applause from nearly 500 members of the QF family, past and present. The former leaders were united in their praise for both HH the Emir and HH the QF Chairperson , who has done so much in her role as QF Chairperson to deliver on the organization s original aims. For his part, QF s first Chairperson, HE Abdullah Bin Khalifa Al Attiyah, personally witnessed this transformation, due in large part to the commitment of Qatar s leadership to building a nation that offers a world-class education. ''The passion and drive of the Emir, may Allah protect him, was not limited to just the establishment of an educational institution like that of Qatar Foundation. It was part of his ambition to continually improve education nationwide," he said. And today, QF has become a hub for academics, researchers and scientists from all over the world. All those in attendance at the event were in agreement that QF s achievements thus far were a cause for celebration. However, with QF s master plan still only 60 per cent complete, many challenges lie ahead. The Foundation s new leaders expressed excitement at the prospect of continuing the great work of their predecessors. Reflecting on QF s unique upbringing, the institution s growth is also attributable to Qatar s rich culture. To bolster the nation s deep cultural heritage, the Foundation features the Sidra tree as its logo, which, like QF, is native to Qatar. "Qatar Foundation believes in the strength of tradition and culture, and instills these values in the country s young generations through its education and outreach programs, with the aim to achieve a culture of excellence," said former QF Vice Chairperson Dr. Saif Ali Al Hajari. "The Sidra tree embodies all that Qatar Foundation teaches, and it is a symbol that is now recognized around the world," Al Hajari added. Since QF s birth, proof of the nation s advancement under HH the Emir s ambitious educational agenda has become increasingly tangible, having successfully attracted international attention as a global leader in the field of education. Commenting on the journey of the Foundation, QF President Dr. Mohammad Fathy Saoud said, "When I started with the other members of the small academic team at QF, our dream at that time was more modest than what has been realized on the ground today. We have been honored to participate in the development of the unique project Education City . Since 1995 the project has been, and still is, both challenging and exciting but it was built on the basic pillars of success: vision, commitment and sustainable resources; more importantly, the visionary leadership of HH the Emir and HH the Chairperson," said Dr. Mohammad Fathy Saoud . Dr. Saoud continued, "There is great pride to all of us for what has been achieved today but much more needs to be done. Our ambitious dream continues to grow with a hopeful outlook for the future when the new generation of Education City alumni shoulder the responsibility of the future of Qatar Foundation and Qatar at large. Our very best wishes for the new board members who shall continue to be pioneers", he added. The pioneering spirit was established with the founding of QF, its first leaders setting out to turn the vision of HH the Emir and HH Sheikha Moza into reality by undertaking a worldwide survey of elite educational institutions, with the goal of establishing branch campuses here in Qatar. For her part, HE Dr. Sheikha bint Abdullah Al Misnad Member of the QF Board of Directors and President of Qatar University said,"Qatar Foundation began with the task of finding centers that could truly be centers of excellence, both for the region and the Arab world, particularly in education, scientific research, healthcare and community service." This task was accomplished beyond anyone s initial expectations, and today QF is home to eight world-class international universities, as well as its own Qatar Faculty of Islamic Studies offering masters degree programs. Meanwhile Engineer Saad Ibrahim Al Muhannadi , the QF Board of Trustees member and Vice President of Capital Projects and Facilities Management, stated, "In just 17 years, Qatar Foundation has positioned itself as one of the most visible brands in the world. Being a part of QF s journey to achieving this involved a series of beautiful challenges that I enjoyed every minute of. It is very true that when you are enjoying doing something, you will excel. And that is our success story." Every step of the way, this success has been underpinned by a determination to learn, and to utilize the latest advancements in educational innovation for the greater good. Addressing the honoring ceremony was also QF s Vice President for Administration Rashid Al Naimi who said, "I am proud to have been able to see the vision of Qatar Foundation implemented as a reality. The more time I have spent at Qatar Foundation, the more I have soaked up the vision of HH Sheikha Moza . Joining the Qatar Foundation family has allowed me to not only contribute to the economy of Qatar, but also to the development of the people and future generations, which is a much greater asset for this nation," Rashid Al Naimi added. Meanwhile HE Dr. Abdullah bin Ali Al Thani, the President of Hamad Bin Khalifa University and QF s Vice President of Education said,"The thirst for knowledge and progress is part of our nation s history, and it is at the heart of everything we do at Qatar Foundation. We will continue to encourage our students, faculty and staff to be innovative and creative because this is vital for the future of Qatar." Paying homage to Past Leaders, Dr. Vartan Gregorian, a former member of QF s Board of Directors, reflecting on his experience at QF, stated, "Many people have money, but have no vision. Many people have vision but no leadership. HH Sheikha Moza has provided both the vision and leadership as well. The ideology or the objective of Her Highness and Qatar Foundation has always been, whatever you do, to do it well and wherever the best is, bring the best to Qatar." In a gracious gesture on part of Qatar Foundation, the late Dr. Mohammad Abdullah Qutba, who was a member of the first Board of Directors of Qatar Foundation, was honoured where the Mr. Abdullah, the son of late Qutba received the honorary medal. For her part, HE Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, QF Vice Chairperson, said, "Qatar Foundation has inspired a new generation of leaders. In a short time we have seen our graduates taking senior positions in various ministries and corporations here in Qatar, starting up their own successful business ventures, and undertaking scientific research. This is just the beginning. I am proud to be a part of the next phase of Qatar Foundation s plans to develop a new generation of leaders." Faisal Al Suwaidi, the newly appointed QF President of Research and Development added, "Qatar Foundation is doing remarkable work in the areas of education, research and development, and community development. I look forward to working with the people of QF to build on the good results that have already been achieved, and to help QF meet its vision in the fields of research and development." Meanwhile HE Dr. Abdullah bin Ali Al Thani, the President of Hamad Bin Khalifa University and QF s Vice President of Education said,"The thirst for knowledge and progress is part of our nation s history, and it is at the heart of everything we do at Qatar Foundation. We will continue to encourage our students, faculty and staff to be innovative and creative because this is vital for the future of Qatar." Paying homage to Past Leaders, Dr. Vartan Gregorian, a former member of QF s Board of Directors, reflecting on his experience at QF, stated, "Many people have money, but have no vision. Many people have vision but no leadership. HH Sheikha Moza has provided both the vision and leadership as well. The ideology or the objective of Her Highness and Qatar Foundation has always been, whatever you do, to do it well and wherever the best is, bring the best to Qatar." In a gracious gesture on part of Qatar Foundation, the late Dr. Mohammad Abdullah Qutba, who was a member of the first Board of Directors of Qatar Foundation, was honoured where the Mr. Abdullah, the son of late Qutba received the honorary medal. For her part, HE Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, QF Vice Chairperson, said, "Qatar Foundation has inspired a new generation of leaders. In a short time we have seen our graduates taking senior positions in various ministries and corporations here in Qatar, starting up their own successful business ventures, and undertaking scientific research. This is just the beginning. I am proud to be a part of the next phase of Qatar Foundation s plans to develop a new generation of leaders." Faisal Al Suwaidi, the newly appointed QF President of Research and Development added, "Qatar Foundation is doing remarkable work in the areas of education, research and development, and community development. I look forward to working with the people of QF to build on the good results that have already been achieved, and to help QF meet its vision in the fields of research and development." Overall, the occasion served as a metaphor for QF s formidable energy, drive and professionalism, having been entirely organized by QF staff. The QF Communication Directorate was responsible for the overall management of the event, and Qatar MICE Development Institute (QMDI) oversaw logistics and planning. Meanwhile, a superb banquet was expertly arranged by Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC). A film produced by Al Jazeera Children s Channel, paying tribute to QF s former board members, was shown in advance of Her Highness s speech. The evening included performances from the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra (QPO), as well as a stunning display of equestrianism featuring some of Al Shaqab s thoroughbred Arabian horses. Members of Qatar Leadership Academy (QLA) performed a marching and drill routine, accompanied by QPO, who also augmented Siwar, the Children s Choir of Al Jazeera Children s Channel, during a joyful performance of Arabic, French and English songs. QF Radio broadcast the entire event live on air. Haya bint Khalifa Al Nassr, QF Communication Director and Acting Executive General Manager at Al Jazeera Children s Channel, said, "This event, and the fact that so many QF Centers have contributed to it, truly shows how far Qatar Foundation has come since the early days of Qatar Academy. We could not have been more proud to show the QF family what we are capable of achieving by working together as an organization." Ms. Al Nassr went on to reflect on the organization s tremendous accomplishment, saying, "Looking back at all the years of hard work, with all its ups and downs, we realize that tonight we are celebrating more than 17 years of achievements across our three pillars. Our goal of unlocking human potential has already delivered success and, by building on these foundations, we can go on to achieve ever greater things in the future." Qatar Foundation is now home to world-class educational institutions and research centers whose scientific innovations have the potential to transform the nation s skills base. The progress made since the first QF member, Qatar Academy (QA), opened its doors is astonishing. Since that time, over 900 students have graduated and eight world-class branch universities have been established. The results of this investment in human capital are tangible, with QF having patents pending for over 40 new innovations. May Al Jaber, now Marketing Unit Head at QF, was part of QA s first graduating class. She said, "Having been part of QF from the beginning, and experiencing the breadth of its vision and how it can better our nation, I felt compelled to contribute and maybe in my own small way pave the way for future generations." Members of the first group of graduates from QF schools attended the event. Al-Rabab Bu-Helaiqa, a Texas A&M University at Qatar alumna from the class of 2009, spoke of the pride instilled by studying at QF. She stated, "I now serve my country as a proud female petroleum engineer at RasGas. My experience in Qatar Foundation is far more than just academic. Apart from offering world-class education in my home country, Qatar Foundation also empowered us as the youth to pursue our ambitions, speak up and help shape the future." At the end of the evening, gratitude was expressed to all who attended, including Minister of Energy and Industry and QF Board Member HE Dr. Mohammed Saleh Al Sada, Minister of Education and Higher Education and Secretary General of the Supreme Education Council HE Saad bin Ibrahim Al Mahmoud, and Minister of Public Health HE Abdulla bin Khalid Al Qahtani. (END)