Stories and memories flow as Qatar Foundation’s first school reaches a milestone
Tribune News Network
Doha
Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation, has attended the 25th anniversary celebration of Qatar Academy Doha – Qatar Foundation’s first school, and the seed from which its ecosystem of education, research and innovation, and community development grew.
The event at Qatar Academy Doha’s (QAD) Senior School was also attended by Her Excellency Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, Vice Chairperson and CEO of Qatar Foundation, alongside VIPs and over 150 QAD alumni who, during their time at the school, were equipped to be become future leaders and drivers of change.
Since its establishment in 1996 – the year after Qatar Foundation (QF) was founded – with just 24 students, QAD has nurtured over 1,200 graduates. Almost 1,900 students are currently studying at the Education City school, which offers an innovative and personalized academic program that has a strong focus on Arabic and Islamic studies, and opportunities for experiential, real-world learning.
Speaking at the 25th anniversary celebration, Abeer Al-Khalifa, President of QF’s Pre-University Education – of which QAD is part – said: “Qatar Academy Doha’s mission was, and remains, to achieve a balance between two pathways – reflecting scientific progress, technological development, modernity, and globalization, while preserving our Qatari and Arabic traditions and the value of the Arabic language, which we are committed to teaching.
“On the occasion of Qatar Academy Doha’s 25th anniversary, we would like to extend our gratitude to teachers and to families, who are our partners in the field of education, and express our pride in the generation of Qatar Academy Doha alumni who have become leaders and positive change-makers while maintaining their roots and their pride in their identity, facing challenges with confidence and independence. They have the ability to find solutions and be part of positive discussions that impact the local and international community.
“At Qatar Foundation, we believe in the power of education to change the world. Over the past 25 years, we have seen what can be achieved by educating, nurturing, and empowering future leaders to create impact, and inspiring them to embrace lifelong learning.
“As the world rapidly transforms, over the next 25 years we will continue to focus on providing our youth with the skills that will make them more resilient and ready to take on future challenges, continue our strategy development and our focus on the mental wellbeing of students, and accelerate our engagement programs with the community and with cultural institutions – because we believe in the ability of everyone to contribute to building a brighter future for themselves and for others.”
During the ceremony, Her Excellency Sheikha Hind presented Her Excellency Buthaina bint Ali Al Jabr Al Nuaimi, Minister of Education and Higher Education, with a special gift in appreciation of her 15 years as President of QF’s Pre-University Education prior to her ministerial appointment this year.
Following a film chronicling the 25-year story of QAD, some of its alumni shared their memories of their time at the school and explained how it prepared them for the future, while also sending personal messages to the QAD students of today. The audience at the event – moderated by Sultan Al-Sulaiti, who graduated from QAD in 2017 and is now a Qatar Petroleum engineer – were also shown a film illustrating the success stories of the school’s alumni, with a group of current QAD students treating the celebration to a musical performance.
The history of the school was displayed through an exhibition of QAD yearbooks stretching back to 1996, newspaper articles of notable visits to the school, old class pictures, and student artworks. The 25th anniversary celebration also saw the launch of the Qatar Academy Doha Alumni Association, which will provide a platform for the school’s former students to renew and maintain connections.
