U of C - Qatar
Nursing school officially launches in Doha
A University of Calgary delegation joined senior members of the Qatari government recently to officially launch University of Calgary-Qatar in Doha.
UC-Q, which welcomes its first students beginning August 2007, aims to provide world-class nurse education and research in Doha. The project is the largest overseas program involving a Canadian university to date.
Dr. Alan Harrison, University of Calgary Provost and Vice-President (Academic) was in Doha, along with a senior-level delegation, to officially launch the school.
“Today marks the formalization of an exciting Canadian first. The University of Calgary-Qatar, with this official launch, offers a Canadian university the opportunity to play a lead role in delivering world-class health care in Qatar,” said Harrison at the news conference to launch the program. “We look forward to collaborating with researchers and students from the Gulf States to positively affect the future of global health care.”
Harrison also expressed the University of Calgary’s commitment to broaden its international exposure and assist the Qatari government in its efforts to redefine health care in Qatar and the Gulf region.
In a press release, Her Highness Sheikha Mozah welcomed the inauguration of the University of Calgary–Qatar Nursing Program as another significant breakthrough in developing excellence in health care and higher education in Qatar. “This significant investment made by Qatar in bringing University of Calgary undergraduate and graduate nursing programs to Doha builds on the achievements, leadership and foresight of many Qatari nurses; and marks a new phase in preparing a world-class sustainable workforce for Qatar.”
University of Calgary-Qatar will work with the Hamad Medical Corporation to offer world-class clinical nursing education to educate nurses for clinical specialties and to develop a sustainable nursing workforce. The University of Calgary joins a group of internationally respected universities offering accredited degrees in Qatar, including Texas A & M, Carnegie Melon and Weill Cornell Medical College.
Dr. Latifa Al-Houty, chair of the Board of Directors of Hamad Medical Corporation and director of the College of Nursing Program, said the launch of UC-Q marks a milestone in her nation. “There is a growing need in Qatar for professional nurses who can function in important roles and at various levels in the promotion of health, community practice, education, leadership and research. Qatar is striving for excellence in both education and health. In this context, excellence in nursing education becomes a necessity.”
Dr. Michael Clinton, dean and CEO of UC-Q said: “UC-Q will play a lead role in delivering health care in Qatar. We look forward to collaborating with researchers and students from the Gulf States to positively affect the future of global health care.”
Graduates from the Qatar program will meet the same Canadian and international standards for nursing as students from the Calgary campus.
Clarification:
The University of Calgary would like to clarify the relationship between the Hamad Medical Corporation and the University of Calgary-Qatar Nursing Program. The Hamad Medical Corporation will sponsor students to attend the University of Calgary-Qatar, and will accept students for clinical placements in the Hamad hospitals. The Hamad Medical Corporation is not a party to the legal agreement signed by the University of Calgary and the State of Qatar.
In addition, it was incorrectly stated that University of Calgary-Qatar is part of Education City. In fact, the University of Calgary-Qatar is not part of Education City, which is organized by the Qatar Foundation. The University of Calgary-Qatar has been established by the State of Qatar.