CPP Students Showcase Policy Lab Projects

The conclusion of the College of Public Policy’s (CPP) latest Policy Lab saw student teams showcase experimental policy solutions for contemporary social challenges developed over a three-month period.

Held at Heenat Salma Farm, the event highlighted CPP students’ innovative proposals for addressing a range of important issues in Qatar, including social care for the elderly, marriage support for young couples, mental health awareness, and children’s welfare.

An expert panel composed of esteemed government officials and business leaders evaluated the students’ projects, grading the quality of their research, effectiveness of their proposed policy designs, and their communication skills. The highest-performing team received the Policy Lab Excellence Award, which honored their creativity, analytic rigor, and commitment to inclusive policy-making. Attendees also had the chance to recognize their favorite projects and vote for the People’s Choice Award.

The Policy Lab Excellence Award was given to Moza Mohammed Alemadi, Sharoq Hussain Hassan, and Doaa Mohammed Al-Shahary for their project covering the development of Mawada, an application supporting the reduction of divorce rates in Qatar. The recipients of the People’s Choice Award were Mubarrat Wassey, Sumaya Tariq Zaffer, and Scott Walsh, whose Oufuq project considered the integration of debating skills development in public schools.

Noting the continued success of the Policy Lab program, Dr. Evren Tok, Associate Dean for Community Engagement, said: “This initiative encapsulates how CPP contributes to effective policy development, evaluation, and dialogue in support of Qatar’s future development. Offering a distinct blend of interdisciplinarity, ethics, entrepreneurship, and innovation Policy Labs exemplifies how we design learning experiences for the next generation of leaders. It also underscores how our student body aspires to make a positive impact on society by acting as a bridge for policy innovations that positively contribute to the public good.”

The Policy Lab represents a transformative approach to public policy education that integrates design thinking methodologies into the policy-making process. Its tailored three- month curriculum introduces students to the multifaceted nature of contemporary policy challenges and empowers them to develop innovative, user-centered solutions to real-world issues.