Dr. Antoine Hyafil, Director of Programs for Executive Education at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), has been awarded the distinction of Knight of the National Order of Merit (“Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Mérite”), by French President Mr. François Hollande, in recognition of the contribution made by Dr. Hyafil to the quality of French-Qatari relations.
At a ceremony held on November 2nd at the HBKU Student Center, His Excellency Mr. Eric Chevallier, France’s Ambassador to Qatar, presented Dr. Hyafil with the medal in the presence of Dr. Ahmad Hasnah, President of Hamad Bin Khalifa University, as well as family, friends and colleagues.
Dr. Hyafil is responsible for devising and overseeing the innovative Executive Master in Energy and Resources program currently offered by HBKU and previously was the founding Academic Dean of HEC Paris in Qatar. Prior to coming to Qatar, he was Dean of the Faculty at HEC Paris in his native France.
As the initial holder of the Deloitte-Société Générale Chair in Energy & Finance, he was instrumental in the creation of the HEC Paris “Energy in a Carbon Concerned Economy” certificate and the HEC Paris EMBA “Energy Major”. Dr. Hyafil holds a Doctorate in Financial Economics from HEC Paris and the University of Orléans.
In presenting the award, H.E. The French Ambassador highlighted the significant contribution made by Dr. Hyafil in promoting academic collaboration between Qatar and France, saying, “This award acknowledges his longstanding commitment to education and research. Professor Hyafil is an outstanding figure of the French-Qatari friendship since he was Founding Dean of HEC in Qatar in 2012“.
Commenting on the award, Dr. Hyafil said: “I am humbled and deeply honored to be recognized in this way and I feel very fortunate to have been able to play a part in using education to help with Qatar’s development. Participating in the early growth of Hamad Bin Khalifa University and developing a new concept for a multidisciplinary master’s degree that focuses on energy, after having established HEC Paris in Qatar, has been an extraordinary adventure, which probably could only have take place here.”
The National Order of Merit was established in 1963, under French President Charles de Gaulle. It recognizes distinguished individuals regardless of gender, nationality or background.
Prospective students interested in enrolling on the Executive Master in Energy and Resources program that Dr. Hyafil devised should go to hbku.edu.qa for more details or visit the HBKU Open House event at the HBKU Student Center on November 14th.