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Tribune News Network
Doha
A high-ranking French delegation representing six Universities -- E.coli des Mines Paris, Universit` Bretagne Sud (UBS), Paris EST, Paris1-Sorbonne University, Artois University and University of Bordeaux --- led by Nasser Alhenzab, legal counsel responsible of the university cooperation, UNESCO, recently visited Qatar University (QU) to participate in the QU Annual Research Forum and Exhibition (QURF18).
The visit aimed to enhance collaboration in the field of research and graduate studies between Qatar and France and to build a research network with the French universities and initiate joint research projects.
The visit of the delegation started with a tour of the QU campus, where the delegation met Dr Hassan al Derham, president of QU, and visited the Arabic Language Program for Non-Arabic Speakers and the French Minor programme. First day of the tour ended at QU's research centres where the delegation members were introduced to the Social and Economic Survey Research Institute (SESRI).
On the second day of the visit, the delegation participated in the QURF18 programme, which included three sessions, a poster gallery exhibition and a poster awards ceremony.
Following the programme, a meeting was conducted by Prof Mariam al Maadeed, vice-president for Research and Graduate Studies, QU Research & Graduate Studies Office, to discuss collaboration opportunities and exchange information between QU and the French universities.
Prof Maadeed introduced the delegation to the International Research Collaboration Co-Fund Program (IRCC). The attendees expressed a great interest in this new collaboration initiative. Prof Maadeed also highlighted the importance of such cooperation with the European institutions, notably France, and expressed her wishes for QU students, faculty, and staff, to build a sustainable collaboration with these institutions.
Dr Jean Christophe Saint-Pau, dean of the University of Bordeaux and Director of the Institute of Criminal Justice and Justice, said:"Qatar University's forum is an exciting initiative because it brought together specialists from various fields.
"The discussions were interesting because the view that we have about Qatar from France is very different. We see Qatar as a rich country with a lot of oil and sand, but the research problems highlighted by the VP of Research and Graduate Studies at Qatar University are similar to the ones we have. Focusing on how we go from using research to monetizing marketing product, we have the same problems, but we have different experiences."
Nasser al Hinzab said:"Qatar University's Annual Research Forum and the participation of this large delegation from the most prestigious French governmental universities, shall be the first step in creating a strategic cooperation between French universities and Qatar University and between both countries in general in the field of scientific research and higher education."
Dr Annie Soriot, director of International Relations Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne University, said:"The student posters are very interesting. They show the diversity of topics researched at Qatar University. The annual research forum allowed us to discover new universities and new research teams.
"I think that we have different opportunities to start collaborating with Qatar University researchers and teachers. We could create an exchange of students or admins programs between both universities, which would be a great interaction to discover more about Qatar and vice versa."
