UCalgary Qatar celebrates 57 nursing graduates at seventh convocation

Fifty-seven graduates from the University of Calgary in Qatar (UCQ) earned gold-standard nursing degrees during the 2016 Convocation ceremony at the Qatar National Convention Centre on May 22.

Professors, family, friends, and dignitaries from Qatar's health and education spheres celebrated 52 Bachelor of Nursing (BN) and five Master of Nursing (MN) graduates at UCQ's seventh convocation. The new batch of UCQ graduates will join the university's growing alumni base in contributing to the health goals of Qatar National Vision 2030.

UCQ has endeavoured to establish a local talent pool for Qatar’s nursing sector since 2007. The university offers BN and MN degrees, which enable graduates to master the skills necessary to be successful in their personal and professional lives. UCQ’s curriculum provides nurses with health-care knowledge and expertise that allow them to contribute to the well-being of their family and community in addition to being relied upon in hospitals and doctor’s offices throughout Qatar.

Qatar's sole provider of nursing education

Dr. Robert Thirsk, chancellor of the University of Calgary, noted, “Our university, with the generous support of the State of Qatar, strives to provide our students with the knowledge and resources necessary to become leaders in this honorable profession. This is the beginning of a journey for our graduates. As some initiate, and others continue, their nursing careers in Qatar, we have no doubt that they will be exemplars of the university’s values of honesty, integrity and responsibility while advancing this country’s goals.”

To date, 277 graduates have earned BN degrees from UCQ, while 14 have graduated from UCQ’s MN program. Qatari nationals make up 21 per cent of the university’s 291 graduates. The Master of Nursing program, the first of its kind in Qatar, celebrated its second class of graduates this year.

“As Qatar’s sole provider of nursing education, UCQ has long aimed to foster a true culture of service that unites our students, faculty, and staff in the spirit of Qatar’s goals. I am proud to see 57 more graduates become active contributors to the development of Qatar’s health-care sector,” said Kim Critchley, dean and CEO of UCQ. “Our graduates deserve this recognition for their exceptional performance and hard work.”

Leaders, diplomats, academics and dignitaries attend ceremony

Dr. Mohammed bin Abdul Wahed Al-Hammadi, Qatar’s minister of education and higher education, attended the convocation ceremonies. He was joined by University of Calgary leaders, diplomats, academics, dignitaries and representatives from Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), Qatar University, Qatar Red Crescent, and Sidra.

Dr. Fouzia Al Naimi, manager of health workforce development at the Ministry of Public Health, praised the graduates’ academic success during the guest speakers' address. As an international role model for excellence in nursing leadership, Al Naimi effectively encouraged the development of superior nursing training standards in Qatar.

Read the full story in the June 28 issue of UToday.