Doha: University College London (UCL Qatar), a partner of Qatar Foundation and Qatar Museums, honoured its first batch of 59 graduates at an event held at its campus in Education City, the university said yesterday.
The Doha branch of the British university presented master’s degrees to students hailing from 21 countries before an audience of 300 comprising family, faculty and guests from Qatar and the United Kingdom.
Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani and the British Ambassador to Qatar, Nicholas Hopton, attended the ceremony held at the Georgetown University Building, where UCL Qatar is based.
There were 17 Qatari students in the graduating class across master’s degree programmes in library and information studies, museum studies, archaeology, and conservation, diploma in academic research and methods.
UCL Qatar honoured Qatari student Noora Hilal Al Meadadi for her outstanding academic achievement. She received the award for the highest attainment in her class, while Stathis Doganis received the Contribution to Student Life award for his efforts to develop the UCL student experience in Qatar.
Ambassador Hopton highlighted UK’s ties with Qatar in education and culture, where UCL works with its partners Qatar Foundation and Qatar Museums.
UCL Vice Provost for Education and Student Affairs Professor Anthony Smith presented the students their degrees.
Students in this year’s graduating class come from 21 countries, including Qatar, Iraq, Syria, Egypt, Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon, United Kingdom, USA, Canada, Greece, Germany, Italy, Poland, Serbia, Sweden, Finland, China, India, Armenia and Panama.
Speaking at the ceremony, Professor Smith said, “We are proud to see our students going on to pursue doctoral studies, and to begin senior roles in organisations such as Unesco, Qatar National Museum, Qatar National Library and the Museum of Islamic Art.”
UCL Qatar Director Professor Thilo Rehren said, “As London’s Global University, our first graduation ceremony is just a small step in our efforts to continue to bring cultural heritage to the forefront within Qatar and elsewhere in the Arab and Islamic worlds.”
Congratulating the graduates, Qatar MICE Development Institute Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Hamad Khalifa Hassan Al Naser said, “QMDI is proud to support UCL Qatar in the nations transition towards the creation of a pool of knowledgeable graduates.”
QNA
