Day: June 4, 2024

In her opening speech of the 24th meeting of Their Excellencies the Ministers of Higher Education and Scientific Research in the GCC countries, HE Minister of Education and Higher Education Buthaina bint Ali Al Jabr Al Nuaimi said that the meeting will discuss major priority topics on the agenda, including projects of the strategic plan of the committee of Ministers of Higher Education and Scientific Research, recommendations of the standing committee of scientific research and innovation officials, issues of digital transformation and cybersecurity, and recommendations of the Gulf network; to ensure the quality of education, international cooperation proposals, and on-the-job training.

She stressed that these topics reflect the GCC countries’ keenness to develop the higher education and scientific research system, invest in innovation to advance the wheel of progress and development, achieve excellence for their universities at the global level, and enhance international cooperation to enrich scientific and
humanitarian research and student scholarships.

She added that the rapid scientific developments in the modern era have led to radical changes in the structure of human societies with all their components, necessitating new roles for institutions of higher education and scientific research in an era characterized by cognitive and information momentum that is based on a participatory approach built on the exchange of knowledge and ideas in a scientific environment that does not recognize the limits of time or place.

HE the Minister of Education and Higher Education pointed out that the GCC countries have witnessed great development in higher education institutions, which offers various educational options that meet the requirements of the labor market, while scientific research institutions have seen great growth, especially in the fields of environment, energy, medicine, and entrepreneurship, technological innovations, sustainable development, social and human studies.

In the field of information technolog
y, protecting vital data is extremely important to ensure the continuity and development of higher education institutions and research institutions, she noted, adding that they were keen to adopt and implement initiatives approved by the 23rd meeting of the committee such as the initiative to build alliances in the field of cybersecurity in education. She revealed that a forum will be held in Doha next October to enhance capabilities and competencies in this field, in addition to the initiative to establish the “My Gulf University” electronic platform, which allows students in Gulf countries to review the mechanism of applying to universities.

In this context, the Minister of Education and Higher Education inaugurated this platform today during the meeting and announced its launch as a result of the joint efforts of the work teams.

HE Secretary General of the GCC Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi highlighted during his speech that the leaders of the GCC countries are resolute in their conviction that the higher educa
tion sector is a vital catalyst for achieving comprehensive development in societies, emphasizing that education is a strategic investment for the GCC countries, as evident in the World Bank’s reports on the progress of the Cooperation Council countries in enhancing human capital, of which education is considered one of its most important pillars.

His Excellency also expressed gratitude and appreciation to the Ministry of Education and Higher Education for developing, hosting and launching the unified digital platform for universities, “My Gulf University”, which connects over 40 universities and institutions of higher education and scientific research in the GCC countries, catering to more than two million GCC students of both genders, in implementation of the decisions taken by the Supreme Council aimed at promoting digital transformation.

HE the Secretary General also touched on the topics on the agenda of the meeting, most notably the follow-up of what has been accomplished in the strategic plan of the
Committee of Ministers of Higher Education and Scientific Research, which aims to advance joint Gulf action in the field of higher education and scientific research in accordance with policies, frameworks and programs to achieve sustainable development and global competitiveness.

Source: Qatar News Agency

Doha: The State of Qatar hosted, on Tuesday, the 8th meeting of Their Excellencies GCC Minister of Education and the 24th meeting of Their Excellencies GCC Ministers of Higher Education and Scientific Research.

HE Minister of Education and Higher Education Buthaina bint Ali Al Jabr Al Nuaimi chaired the two meetings in the presence of HE Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi.

Upon opening the two meetings, HE the Minister of Education and Higher Education extended the highest expressions of thanks and appreciation to HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani and Their Majesties and Highnesses leaders of the GCC countries for their support and care for education in the GCC countries.

Her Excellency thanked the Sultanate of Oman for its fruitful presidency of the committee of Their Excellencies the GCC Ministers of Education, and the GCC General Secretariat for their tireless efforts in supporting and facilitating the committee’s work.

Her Excellency noted that th
e 8th meeting of Their Excellencies GCC Minister of Education would discuss a host of significant topics and issues, especially those related to the directives of Their Majesties and Highnesses leaders of the GCC countries, including the Riyadh Declaration of the 42nd session of the Supreme Council of the GCC countries regarding enhancing international cooperation, and the Al-Ula Declaration for the 41st session on education during crises. She stressed that all these announcements reflect the shared future vision of the leaders and their great interest in developing education in the GCC countries.

In this context, Her Excellency indicated that the meeting’s agenda includes vital topics, including cooperation in achieving the fourth goal of the sustainable development goals of quality education, enhancing cooperation with countries and international and regional organizations, and discussing the protection of moral, religious and family values in Gulf societies, in addition to topics and proposals related inf
ormation security to students, artificial intelligence, and on-the-job training. She emphasized that these topics reflect ongoing efforts to enhance the quality of education and support innovation, digital integration, and cybersecurity in education.

Her Excellency added that the future of education is linked to the ability to exchange experiences, develop capabilities, and benefit from the successful experiences of other countries. GCC countries must constantly think about the suitability of their educational systems to the needs of today and tomorrow, focus on strengthening their educational systems to meet future challenges, develop the educational and moral values of young people, determine the skills required for the future work market, and develop effective and innovative educational policies to support achieving the goals of the 2030 sustainable development plan.

In turn, HE the GCC Secretary-General extended the highest thanks and appreciation to HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani for the S
tate of Qatar’s hosting of this meeting, for the constant and ongoing support for the joint Gulf action, and for the tireless efforts to enhance the educational process and raise the efficiency of the education system in the GCC countries.

He also noted the interest and keenness of Their Majesties and Highnesses leaders of the GCC countries to advance the process of joint Gulf action to broader areas and horizons. He said that this meeting comes to achieve this trend by seeking to contribute to creating organizations that serve Gulf action. He indicated that today’s approval of Their Excellencies of the vision for international cooperation in the field of education, in addition to approving the mechanism for implementing on-the-job training programs is a testament to their keenness towards facilitating and governing Gulf educational work. (MORE)

Source: Qatar News Agency

Doha: To enhance students’ awareness of the importance of sustainable development and support the Qatar National Vision 2030, the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, in cooperation with the National Planning Council, launched an interactive initiative aimed at introducing students to the Third National Development Strategy for the period 2024-2030.

This initiative includes organizing interactive experiences for students in several public secondary schools under the theme “Exploring the Third National Development Strategy.” The initiative attracts high school and preparatory students from different schools. It is designed to enable students to explore Qatar’s achievements and future goals within the Qatar National Vision 2030 framework.

The experience aims to motivate students to actively participate in achieving the Qatar National Vision 2030. It also aims to enhance students’ sense of national belonging by highlighting the role of each individual in achieving strategic goals. It also aims to introd
uce them to how each segment of society, including women, youth, residents, businesses, and investors, contributes to sustainable development.

Maryam Al Nesef Al Boainain, Director of Schools and Students Affairs Department, said: “This initiative is not only an interactive experience but also a strategic step to enhance national awareness and belonging among students. We aspire to inspire a new generation of leaders who will contribute to the Qatar National Vision 2030 goals.” For his part, Abdullah Al Khanji, Director of the Public Relations and Communication Department from the National Planning Council, added: “The strategy tour in schools aims to improve students’ work and achievements. The initiative also aims to enable them to create, innovate, produce, and participate in all aspects of development needed by the State of Qatar. The state has allocated all available means to make it one of the developed countries characterized by an attractive work environment adapted to the skills of the twenty-first
century.

It is worth noting that the initiative has started in several secondary schools so far and will be completed in other public secondary schools at the beginning of the new academic year.

Source: Qatar News Agency

Vienna, The State of Qatar stressed the importance of implementing the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) technical cooperation program for 2023, in supporting developing countries through the use of nuclear technologies, in the fields of health and agricultural care, as well as water resources management, environmental protection and harnessing nuclear energy to generate electricity.

This came in the State of Qatar’s statement delivered by HE Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Ahmed bin Hassan Al Hammadi, who is also the Governor of Qatar to the IAEA, in regard to strengthening the agency’s technical cooperation activities for 2023.

His Excellency expressed the State of Qatar’s gratitude for the existing cooperation between its national institutions and IAEA’s Department of Technical Cooperation, to sustain the momentum of implementing cooperation projects between Qatar and the agency.

In January 2024, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change organized a national sympo
sium on the peaceful usage of atomic energy, attended by the State of Qatar’s administrative officer of IAEA’s Technical Cooperation Program, along with several Qatari officials from the higher education sector, Al Hammadi pointed out. Within the symposium, there was an extensive discussion of the cooperation program and the framework program for projects in the State of Qatar, providing financing for projects and the best ways to confront implementation obstacles, he added.

HE Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed his satisfaction with the high program implementation rates, which reached 97.5 percent of the target number, explaining that nutrition, agriculture and health programs accounted for the largest share within a year.

The implemented projects included 150 countries and territories through 1,100 cooperation projects, he added.

In order for the Technical Cooperation Program to maintain its effectiveness in providing technical support to countries, the General Secretariat sha
ll continue to enhance and develop methods of its joint work with the member states that benefit from the program, through consultation on aspects of the programs to be implemented and discovering new horizons for this cooperation, in a way that advances the technical expertise of countries and achieve maximum benefit, Al Hammadi added.

His Excellency expressed the State of Qatar’s support for increasing the resources of IAEA’s Technical Cooperation Fund (TCF), at a rate similar to the rate if increase in resources allocated to non-promotional activities in the general budget, affirming the importance of maintaining a balance between promotional activities and other agency activities, stipulated in its statute.

Source: Qatar News Agency

Doha: The National Service Academy of the Qatar Armed Forces wrapped up the tactical exercise “Miqdam” for the 20th batch, in the presence of HE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense Affairs Dr. Khalid bin Mohammed Al Attiyah.

The National Service Academys recruits from the high school class participated in the exercise to upgrade their combat capabilities.

The exercise was punctuated by multiple scenarios, such as reconnaissance, fighting in built-up areas, ambush, and attack.

The exercise was attended by a host of high-ranking commanding officers in the Qatar Armed Forces.

Source: Qatar News Agency

Doha: Commander of the Qatari security forces for securing the Paris Olympics 2024 Staff Brigadier Nawaf Majed Al Ali met with Head of the Information and Public Relations Service of the French National Gendarmerie Jean-Valery Letterman, who is visiting the country.

During the meeting, they discussed preparations for the participation of forces from the Qatari security committee in securing the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Source: Qatar News Agency