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Students from all over Qatar, the region, and the world kick-start their academic journey at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) this week as the institution welcomes the learners to the University’s 17 research-intensive programs. With a diverse student body of over 45 nationalities, HBKU opened its doors to the incoming students this fall, and, under the Hayakom at HBKU theme, the University marked the start of a new academic year.
In light of recent regional events, HBKU remains steadfast in its commitment to serve as a center for knowledge, and aims to stay true to its values and principles of upholding academic excellence. Scholars, scientists, and researchers from all over the world are welcome at the University based on their merit and passion for knowledge.
Every year, many students from nations and cultures everywhere choose to make the renowned universities at Education City, such as HBKU, their home away from home.
Doaa Mohaisen, an incoming Master of Arts in Translation Studies student from Gaza in Palestine, expressed her thoughts on commencing her graduate studies at HBKU: “I chose HBKU’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS) because it provides quite an amazing study environment, bringing together students and highly qualified teachers from different cultures and backgrounds to meet in a single place to learn, interact, exchange knowledge and grow.”
In this diverse environment, Mohaisen feels that HBKU is very close to home. “Studying in an Arab country makes me feel secure and in harmony with the existing culture,” she said.
Like Mohaisen, students from across the region and the world come to HBKU each year to pursue high-quality innovative and multidisciplinary programs. In a diverse, welcoming, and intellectually rich environment, these students are equipped with the tools and techniques to take their ideas and aspirations forward, with the aim of fuelling Qatar’s knowledge-based economy and beyond.
While HBKU’s cultural diversity emulates a microcosm of the world, the programs at the University echo the institution’s commitment to the plurality of thought, quest for knowledge, and the thirst for innovation. HBKU does so by offering truly interdisciplinary programs that are the first-of-their-kind in the region. With research at the heart of the University’s strategic vision, HBKU’s students and faculty are leading ground-breaking discoveries in energy and environment;, health and life sciences and; information and computing technologies, along with thought-provoking analyses in the social sciences, arts and the humanities.
Zara Manzoor, a Pakistani national residing in the United Arab Emirates, is pursuing a Master of Science in Biological and Biomedical Sciences degree at HBKU’s College of Science & Engineering (CSE). Manzoor is looking forward to the University’s diverse environment, and to immersing herself in Qatari culture. Sharing her expectations of her upcoming academic journey, she said: “After completing my bachelor’s degree in biotechnology with honors, I wanted to explore the field of research, and connect the theoretical with the practical aspects of the biomedical sciences. In addition to HBKU’s welcoming culture, I am excited to work with the experts and scholars at the College of Science and Engineering (CSE) and the Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), to not only learn the theory, but to understand the practical implications of biomedical research.”
As a homegrown university, HBKU embodies the nation’s aspirations and exhibits a welcoming culture that is reflective of Arab traditions. The University serves as a regional hub for scholarship, thought leadership, and innovation.
Ghanaian student Abdul Rahman Alhassan begins his Master of Arts in Islamic Studies program at HBKU’s College of Islamic Studies (CIS) this fall, and is eagerly looking forward to having his experience at the University yield a positive impact across the Muslim world. He said: “With the education I will receive at HBKU, I wish to explore the contemporary challenges that Muslims face around the globe. I also want to play a role in raising awareness, and to contribute to the scholarly body of knowledge in Islam to help address the challenges the followers of the faith come across.” Alhassan comes to HBKU with a Master of Philosophy degree in the Study of Religions, and aspires to have his academic experience at the University help society see Islam through a modern lens.
With over 93% of incoming students from the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, the University serves as a regional hub for research-intensive endeavors. Students at HBKU are given the opportunity to work closely with the three national research centers – Qatar Computing Research Institute (QCRI), Qatar Environment & Energy Research Institute (QEERI), and Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI). They also get the chance to collaborate with partner universities at Qatar Foundation, and institutions across Qatar, for their research and professional pursuits.
Maryam Al Mannai, vice president for student affairs, wished the incoming students well and shared her thoughts on student diversity at the University, saying: “HBKU in Qatar is home to students, faculty, and researchers from all over the world. We are excited to have the new batch of students starting their journey with us, bringing their professional and personal experiences to our classrooms and labs. Their diverse worldview strengthens our community, and prepares our students to become the well-rounded leaders for the future for our nation and the world.”