DOHA, QATAR - College of the North Atlantic-Qatar (CNA-Q) graduated one of the largest classes in its 16-year history, with 445 students crossing the stage Sunday night at the Sheraton Grand Doha Hotel.
The ceremony was held Under the Patronage of His Excellency (H.E.) Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser Bin Khalifa Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior for the State of Qatar, who was in attendance.
Also present at the graduation were: H.E. Dr. Mohammed bin Saleh Al-Sada, Minister of Energy and Industry and Chair of the CNA-Q's Board of Trustees; H.E. Dr. Issa bin Saad Al-Jafali Al-Nuami, Minister of Minister for Administrative Development and Labour and Social Affairs; Dr. Ibrahim Al-Naimi, Undersecretary, Ministry of Education and Higher Education; Hon. Allan Hawkins, Minister of the Department of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada; H.E. Idris Ibrahim Gamil?, Minister of Justice, Sudan; Dr. Mohammed Yousef Al Mulla, CEO of Qatar Petrochemical Company and member of CNA-Q’s Board of Trustees; and, members of CNA-Q’s Board of Trustees.
Students graduated from over 30 programs, which are each tailored to the needs of Qatar’s economy. The number of graduates in each discipline include: 160 from Business Studies, 222 from Engineering Technology, 74 from Health Sciences and 68 from Information Technology programs.
“We are so pleased to see strong, capable graduates enter the Qatari workforce year after year,” said CNA-Q President Dr. Ken MacLeod. “These graduates are the reason we are here. As the future leaders of Qatar, you are the motivation to continue offering high-quality technical, hands-on education. With the credentials they received tonight, these students will become the leaders that Qatar has envisioned in the National Vision 2030.
The ceremony was also a time to hear from CNA-Q’s Class of 2018 co-valedictorians, Mr. Mohammed Atif Mohamed Khan, a Mechanical Engineering Technology (Industrial Maintenance) graduate, and Ruqaia Mohammed Zarea, Business Management - Human Resource Management graduate sponsored by Qatar Power Company.
Graduates were extended congratulations on their academic accomplishments by H.E. Dr. Mohammed bin Saleh Al-Sada, Chair of CNA-Q’s Board of Trustees:
“Your graduation is a great achievement, and I am pleased to join you this evening to celebrate a significant and very important milestone in your lives. To CNA-Q’s 2018 Graduating Class, I am proud to say that your hard work, determination, and commitment to your studies have paid off. Congratulations to you! Your success serves as an inspiration to your classmates, your colleagues, your family, and to your community. You can be proud, deservedly so, of your achievement. This evening represents one stop in the remarkable journey of your life. You are our business and professional leaders of tomorrow. And as HH the Emir rightfully stated: ‘Human resources are the true asset of this nation.” Your time at CNA-Q has prepared you to move confidently from the classroom to your chosen industry.’”
Facts about CNA-Q:
- CNA-Q is a partnership between CNA in Canada and the State of Qatar.
- CNA-Q was established as a branch campus in 2002, after a world-wide search to bring the best technical education to Qatar in support of the energy and industry sector.
- CNA was selected for several reasons: 1) Canadian curriculum is world-renowned and internationally accredited; 2) Programs are delivered in the international standard language of English, as per the search criteria set from the State of Qatar; and, 3) The home institution (CNA) has a long history of delivering excellent technical education.
- CNA-Q offers over 30 certificates, along with two and three-year diploma programs in four areas: Business Studies, Engineering Technology, Health Sciences and Information Technology. Each of these programs are tailored to the economy of Qatar, and aligned with the
Qatar National Vision 2030, which is to transform the State into a knowledge-based economy and support the State’s strategic direction to educate and retain young Qataris.
- Under the School of Engineering Technology and Industrial Trades, CNA-Q offers a customized industrial trades certificate; the Technical Certificate Program (TCP) was designed in partnership with Qatar Petroleum, and prepares students to work at the technician level in Qatar’s energy and industry sector.
- With the addition of the Class of 2018, the total number of highly-skilled, technically-educated graduates CNA-Q has produced reaches more than 6,200.
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