Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) celebrated the graduation of its Class of 2018 at the Qatar National Convention Centre this May. This year witnessed the graduation of its very first cohorts of Science and Engineering PhD students and Juris Doctor (JD) Law Programme graduates. HBKU also reinforced its year-on-year growth by graduating its largest class to date.
The formal convocation was held in the presence of HE Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, Vice chairperson and CEO of Qatar Foundation, and chairperson of the board of trustees of HBKU. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani was keynote speaker. Other distinguished guests included government officials, members of the diplomatic community, representatives of QF leadership, and members of the HBKU board of trustees, as well as faculty, family and friends of graduating students.
Founded in Education City as a homegrown, graduate-focused university, HBKU serves as a cornerstone to the state’s mission of positively impacting the country’s ecosystem, outlining the prominent role of HBKU in promoting and facilitating innovation, scientific research and academic excellence.
Two-hundred and six students – including 78 Qatari students and 128 international students, from 42 different countries – graduated from 25 master’s and PhD programmes as part of HBKU Class of 2018. The College of Islamic Studies graduated 126 students this year, while the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, 19 students. The College of Science and Engineering also witnessed the graduation of 49 students, and the College of Law and Public Policy’s inaugural class constituted 12 students.
This year’s graduating class is significantly larger than last year – a testament to both the university’s rapid growth and an increasing demand for its pioneering programmes. Additionally, the annual growth in class sizes also underscore Qatar’s continued attractiveness as a destination for education in spite of the evolving regional geopolitical climate.
The Class of 2018 also includes the first collection of students to graduate from the JD legal education programme at the College of Law and Public Policy. The HBKU JD programme is the first-of-its-kind in the Middle East and North Africa region.
Driving an innovative and forward-thinking culture, and propelling a knowledge-based economy, HBKU produces highly-qualified graduates each year that are steeped in multi-disciplinary education. To find out more about HBKU colleges, programmes and research institutes, visit hbku.edu.qa.