Officials from QFFD, HBKU and GI during the agreement signing ceremony.
Doha: Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) has signed a Trilateral Contribution Agreement with Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) and the Geneva Institute for Graduate Studies (GI) as part of the Qatar Scholarship Program, an initiative from QFFD.
The agreement, signed via video conference, is part of Qatar’s program for scholarships that is overseen by Qatar Fund for Development. It is also part of an initiative from the fund to enhance national and regional competence in the field of international development to attract international students from developing countries, and to increase academic outcomes related to development in the Middle East and North Africa region.
Owing to financial support of QFFD and the fruitful academic cooperation between GI and HBKU, the Executive Masters in Development Policies and Practices (DPP) has been launched in the MENA region which is flagship GI development programme.
This project is part of the Qatar Scholarships Program which was developed as an initiative from QFFD and overseeing and coordinating the Sustainable Development Goals specifically in the field of scholarships in developed countries. The mission of the program is to enhance the position of the State of Qatar as a major contributor to the development of higher education by providing scholarship opportunities for students from developing countries and thus enabling them to acquire knowledge and contribute to the development of their countries.
Commenting on the occasion, Deputy Director General for projects at QFFD Misfer Al Shahwani said: “The Qatar Scholarships program inspires change and leaves a lasting imprint on the lives of many. It aims to train future leaders who are able to contribute to the development of their country and humanity.
“Therefore, we are proud of this program financed by QFFD, and we are pleased with these new partnerships that enhance the capabilities and outputs of the program,” said Deputy Director General for projects at QFFD Misfer Al Shahwani.
“Education is the key to peace, stability and security. This investment in education is key that will provide children and youth with the tools they need to be positive members of their community. Therefore, QFFD will continue its efforts and contributions in developing education. “ Al Shahwani added.
Director of Development Polices and Practice (DPP) at GI Alexandre Dormeier Freire said, “This day marks the beginning of a partnership between three institutions, the GI, HBKU, and QFFD. These three institutions are working together on a mission that is essential for all of us, that of contributing to the capacity building of actors working in the field of development in the MENA region. Thanks to the financial support of QFFD and the fruitful academic cooperation between GI and HBKU, we have been able to launch our flagship GI development programme, the Executive Master on Development Policies and Practices (DPP), in the MENA region. We would like to thank our Qatari partners for all their efforts at a time when humanity is in the grip of a terrible pandemic.”
For his part, Dean of the College of Islamic Studies at HBKU Dr. Emad El Din Shahin said: “The contribution agreement enables HBKU to keep strengthening our working relationship with IHEID, which will bring executive education opportunities within the reach of all professionals in the MENA region. With the support from the Qatar Fund for Development, they stand to gain exposure to diverse global practices through the Graduate Institutes DPP that can help them lead on the regions policy and development issues. At CIS, we regard education as a powerful force in making change and we are delighted to play this role in equipping professionals with the competencies and practical knowledge to achieve their full potential.”
