ASIF IQBAL

DOHA HEC PARIS, the top-ranked Business School in Europe since 2006, held a convocation event for the first class of its international Executive MBA (EMBA) programme in Qatar on Monday.

The event, held under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Moza, who also graced the occasion, honoured the 31 participants of HEC Paris in Qatar’s EMBA ‘Class of 2012’.

The students will graduate later this year.

HEC Paris in Qatar is the region’s leading hub for executive e-education, offering a complete portfolio of management programmes including the first ever international Executive MBA (EMBA) in the country. Speaking at the function, HEC Paris Dean Professor Bernard Ramanantsoa said, “I think we should recognise companies that finance and encourage their managers to enroll in executive development programmes, including our EMBA. Identifying and investing in talent is what will ensure your capacity to innovate, and ultimately fuel the new economy.” Companies like Qtel that have shown foresight and commitment to developing its managers are an obvious model for others to follow, he added. Reminding that executive training plays a role in the national development strategy, he expressed confidence that companies in Qatar will take even more advantage of HEC’s presence in the country to engage in learning programmes.

In his advice to EMBA students, Ramanantsoa said, “Your commitment to knowledge does not stop with you, and does not stop with this programme. You have responsibility; to yourselves, to your organisations and to society. Use your knowledge, use your skills and use your vision to develop the future for us all to benefit, to live better.” Qtel Group CEO Nasser Marafih in an inspirational speech outlining the achievements of Qtel in the last six years, said the company has grown from a single operation in Qatar to 17 operations in the Middle East and the Asian subcontinent.

Marfih said the company achieved this feat with a bold vision and strategy. “Many thought that it was delusional and presumptuous for such a small Middle Eastern company to aim so high. So, it took some courage to push this strategy,” he added.

Hamad bin Khalifa University President Sheikh Abdulla bin Ali al Thani said returning to study after a break can be challenging, but it can also be very rewarding.

He said continuous learning is very necessary, as we live in a fastchanging world where knowledge and skills go out of date very fast.

“The executive management education programmes of HEC are, therefore, making very important contribution to the development of our society and our economy,” he added.

Among others who spoke were Total E&P Middle East President Arnaud Breuillac. Qatargas Assets Maintenance Manager Jassim al Mohannadi represented the graduating class.