Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), a member of Qatar Foundation (QF), recently welcomed a new batch of incoming students to the University’s academic programs. With steady growth over the years, the rapidly emerging research University’s colleges opened their doors to the largest class to date, which is comprised of more than 250 incoming students. The University officially marked the start of the new academic year on August 20 at its orientation event, which was held under the theme of Hayakom at HBKU.

Dr. Ahmad M. Hasnah, president of HBKU, congratulated the students and wished them the best in their academic journey at the University. He commented by saying: “HBKU is looking forward to being home to emerging global citizens that embody life-long learning skills such as innovative and critical thinking, an entrepreneurial spirit, and teamwork. These students chose HBKU because of the unique multidisciplinary programs and the research-intensive academic environment they will experience here. We are confident that their time at HBKU will shape them to become leaders and change-makers capable of pioneering innovative solutions that tackle grand challenges facing Qatar and the region.” 

Students coming in to HBKU this year hail from 45 different countries, with 87 Qataris making up the largest percentage within the incoming cohort, which has 163 master’s and 62 PhD students, who will be starting their graduate studies this Fall. 

“These new entrants represent the goals and aspirations of the country, and are a depiction of how HBKU, as a homegrown university, is playing a role in shaping and inspiring the leaders of Qatar’s future. They are now dedicated to contributing to the nation’s knowledge base, and to tackling the country’s grand challenges,” Dr. Hasnah added. 

This year, HBKU has also introduced new innovative graduate programs that align with the interdisciplinary nature of studies at the University. The College of Science and Engineering (CSE) welcomed PhD and Master of Science students in the new Genomics and Precision Medicine programs, with the aim of supporting genome-based science and research. Additionally, the College of Humanities and Social Science’s (CHSS) opened its doors to Master of Arts students within the Women, Society and Development, and the Digital Humanities and Societies programs. 

Abdulrahman Al Thani, a Qatari student pursuing a Master of Arts degree through the Women, Society and Development program at CHSS, shared his expectations of his new academic journey. He said: “What excites me the most about this experience is the fact that, by joining the first batch of this program, I will be part of something new in Qatar that will make a great impact on the academic scene, and will bring about a lot of benefit to the community.“

“Coming from a Liberal Arts background, I believe that an interdisciplinary approach to understanding issues related to women in the Middle East, analyzed through a socio-economic and socio-political lens, will have a great societal impact on our community in Qatar and the region,” said Al Thani, who aspires to be an educator in the future. He added that he feels that his experience at HBKU will lay the foundation for his personal vision of serving the country as an academic and scholar. 

Incoming Juris Doctor candidate, Haya Al Kuwari commented on being accepted to HBKU’s College of Law and Public Policy (CLPP) by saying: “My goal is to be a factor of change in my country. Thus, graduating with a first-of-its-kind degree in the MENA region will qualify me to apply to many prestigious organizations and allow me to give the best I can back to my country -- Qatar.” The comparative study of legal systems around the world, and the focus on learning the theoretical and practical applications of the theory of law in Qatar, the region and across the globe, drew Al Kuwari to the program at the HBKU Law School. 

“The field of law is ubiquitous in our modern society, and HBKU’s interdisciplinary approach to the program makes me confident that the skills I will develop here at the University will prepare me for a promising career, be it in the public sector, a large MNC or in academia and beyond,” Al Kuwari added.

In a short span of time, HBKU has shown that it remains steadfast in its commitment to helping the people of the country by enabling them to achieve Qatar’s National Vision 2030, and by playing an active role in knowledge-based capacity building for innovative, entrepreneurial and creativity-driven future leaders.

Dr. Khaled B. Letaief, HBKU provost, said: “The caliber of the new incoming class is testament to HBKU’s commitment to being a center of academic excellence and innovation. Through our strong partnerships across the industry and the public sector, we have created a robust ecosystem for learning and research, making our interdisciplinary programs and diverse community of knowledge seekers the optimal environment for bringing about lasting positive change in Qatar and the world at-large.”