QU Gains Accreditation for BSc and MSc Environmental Sciences Program

Doha, December 10 (QNA) - Qatar University (QU) Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) held a ceremony to celebrate gaining accreditation status for the College's BSc and MSc Environmental Sciences programs from the Committee of Heads of Environmental Sciences (CHES) and the Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES). CHES is the leading accreditation body for environmental science higher education degree programs across the globe. As a rule, CHES accredits only honors and graduate programs; however, an exception was made for QU s BSc program because of its rigorous nature, putting it at the same level as an honors program in other universities. The ceremony was attended by QU President Prof Sheika Abdulla Al-Misnad, CAS Dean Dr Eiman Mustafawi, CHES Chair and IES Trustee Prof Philip Wheater, Head of Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences Prof Samir Jaoua, former head of the Department, now Director of QU Laboratory Animal Research Center Dr Hamda Al Naemi, and QU and CHES officials. In her remarks, Dr Mustafawi said: "I am proud to say that the College of Arts and Sciences is home to these two pioneering programs, the only Environmental Sciences programs across the entire region to receive prestigious CHES accreditation. Today, these programs join a growing list of accredited programs at the College that includes the Biomedical Sciences Program accredited by the National Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences in Fall 2008; Chemistry Program accredited by the Canadian Society for Chemistry in Fall 2009; and Statistics Program accredited by the Royal Statistical Society in Spring 2011. Two additional CAS programs -- Mass Communication, and Human Nutrition -- are currently undergoing the rigorous process of accreditation". "Offering our students internationally-recognized programs contributes to the realization of our mission to become a model national university. In fact, these two multidisciplinary programs in Environmental Sciences exemplify QU's standards of excellence by emphasizing advanced principles in this field in areas such as conservation, pollution control, marine ecology, climate change, environmental biotechnology, environmental law and economics, and sustainable development. In addition, these programs showcase the organization's high caliber staff, world class facilities and most importantly, its passionate students who are determined to become the region s scientists of tomorrow. By graduating from accredited programs such as those celebrated today, I am confident that our students will be well-equipped for such roles in the future", she added. Prof Wheater said: "Since the discipline of environmental science is relatively young, such accreditation is an important milestone in gaining recognition of the quality of standards of the education provision. Membership brings with it a number of benefits including a range of membership grades appropriate for students and professionals at different stages of their careers. There are also routes available to attain chartered status". "Qatar University also benefits by becoming one of a growing number of higher education institutions that are joining CHES/IES -- the larger this group becomes, the more influence these professional bodies have in representing and supporting their members. These programs at both Bachelor and Master's level are well-resourced and taught by expert staff. Their successful accreditation is a tribute to those who worked so hard in developing them, especially Dr Hamda Al-Naemi, Prof Samir Jaoua, and Prof Malcolm Potts. I am sure that these degrees will continue to go from strength to strength and I have been honored to play a small part in their history. I wish all staff and students associated with the programs well for a highly-successful future". Prof Jaoua said: "CHES accreditation will open up new collaboration in research and students exchange. All accredited universities will work together under the umbrella of CHES to implement significant research addressing important environmental issues". Dr Al-Naemi said: "When I started planning for Environmental Sciences programs at QU, I placed high standards and expectations for new multidisciplinary programs that are one of a kind in Qatar and the region. I am glad we met these expectations, positioning the department, College, and the university as a whole as leaders of programs that are recognized at the international level". (END)