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Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU)’s Class of 2022 are a distinguished group of graduates representing the university’s diversity of disciplines - public policy, Islamic studies, genomics, international law, digital media, science and engineering, and others. They embody HBKU’s vision of being a catalyst for positive transformation by preparing graduates to pursue novel solutions to interrelated environmental, social, and economic challenges on the national and global levels.
As students, they have had unique opportunities to frame challenging questions in their research projects and learn from HBKU’s world-class faculty. They leave prepared to connect their interdisciplinary research and knowledge to innovative, holistic outcomes that advance Qatar’s aspiration to contribute to global sustainable development goals.
Susan Al-Abbas graduated with a Master of Arts (MA) in Audiovisual Translation from the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS), successfully merging filmmaking with her final research project to make an animated accessible film, targeting adults and children with sensory disabilities.
“The program introduced me to the notion of accessibility and its role in social justice, inclusion, and equity. Having a better understanding has helped me contribute valuably to society in various ways, such as delivering live audio description for the blind community at the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2021 opening ceremony.
“The concept of inclusion forces us to establish new strategies for people with disabilities which can be applied in the hiring process, educational system, and social activities. It is crucial to engage this community with everyday interactions to eliminate the barriers and pave the path towards an inclusive world.”
As for her role in building such an inclusive future, she says: “Fulfilling an MA in Audiovisual Translation at HBKU expanded my horizon in a very effective way. It introduced me to new research in accessibility and translation, such as dubbing, voice over, subtitling, audio description, and subtitling for the deaf and hard of hearing. Additionally, it exposed me to new technology and software packages and it played an important role in building my current abilities. This helped me feel more confident to make decisions about my future plans.”
Emphasizing HBKU’s institutional values, she says: “Cultural diversity plays an integral part in making HBKU a unique institution for innovation, growth, and success. I was lucky to get to know people from different backgrounds and cultures. Experiencing diversity influences students’ worldview and prepares them for a globalized workplace.”
Sara Cherqaoui, a Master of Science in Islamic Finance graduate from the College of Islamic Studies (CIS), focused her research on the growth of Islamic finance as a catalyst for financial development in the GCC with emphasis on Qatar’s role as a hub in the region.
“I choose HBKU because it is one of the country’s prominent academic institutions offering a degree in Islamic finance. The university is also continuously revising and improving its curricula, learning tools, and teaching methods to increase the employability factor of Islamic finance graduates.
“HBKU puts its students’ life purpose, positivity, well-being, and happiness at the epicenter of education and teaching. My experiences here shaped my career aspirations and decisions. I developed a strong interest in emerging issues and topics in the Islamic finance industry, such as crypto assets and blockchain. My future aim is to write research papers and work on projects where I can put all the knowledge I acquired into practice to push the Islamic finance sector forward in Qatar and reinforce the national 2030 agenda for sustainable development.”
Sarah Assami graduated with a Master of Public Policy from the College of Public Policy (CPP). Her research dealt with pressing issues around climate change and sustainable development. She has also worked with her supervisor, Dr. Logan Cochrane, on a project in partnership with the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy and Seven Clean Seas, supporting their goal to reach plastic neutrality. Another initiative with Education Above All and Reach Out To Asia aimed to develop awareness around plastic. Both projects demonstrate her aim of using her knowledge to affect positive change in society.
“CPP has a supportive community that helps its students and members grow both academically and professionally. My professors provided me with multiple opportunities to engage and contribute to the discipline through research. The courses challenged me as a student to grow and learn the most about the field. CPP has a unique family-like community, where we all support each other to perform in the best possible way. I appreciate the support provided by the college and our professors in all areas, from academia to participating in the field of public policy in Qatar.
“Throughout the two years, we were able to meet with multiple scholars from both the local and international community and have conversations about their work to learn from their expertise. This exposure shaped our thinking about public policy in general and how to best recommend policies.”
As HBKU’s newest graduates prepare to fulfill their roles as change-makers, they are well-equipped to translate their knowledge and insights into innovations that advance sustainable, inclusive social progress. For more information onits programs and research, please visit hbku.edu.qa