HH Sheikha Moza Attends Carnegie Mellon Qatar's 10-year Anniversary Celebrations

Doha, March 18 (QNA) - HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, attended Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar's 10th anniversary celebrations on Tuesday evening, alongside leadership from Carnegie Mellon, Qatar Foundation, and members of the university and community. As part of the landmark celebrations, Sheikha Moza bint Nasser also toured the exclusive exhibition Travelling Through Arts and Times, showcasing the richness of Qatari and Islamic culture, heritage and civilization through more than 160 rare artifacts from Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani's private collection. Engineer Saad Al Muhannadi, president of Qatar Foundation, said: "Carnegie Mellon Qatars success as a global branch campus at the heart of Education City can be attributed to the institutions ability to balance between maintaining the home campus high standards and ethos while meeting the needs of the local community. In line with Qatar National Vision 2030, Carnegie Mellon Qatar continues to be an integral part of Qatar Foundation and the countrys capacity building and development as a whole." In his remarks, Carnegie Mellon President Dr. Suresh extended his thanks to HH the Father Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. "We continue to be grateful to him for his founding vision for Qatar Foundation to benefit the people of Qatar." He also thanked HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation, "who has been a guiding spirit for us in Education City and for so much more". "This campus is a part of a much longer tradition. When Andrew Carnegie founded Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh in 1900, he believed that the task of higher education was to prepare students for a fulfilling life, to educate them for a technology-driven society, and to make a difference in the lives of their families and their communities. Carnegie's ideals for higher education remain as meaningful and vital for us in 114 years later maybe even more so." Carnegie Mellon University President Dr. Subra Suresh said: "The world is facing dramatic change, and it needs many more diverse, bright, prepared, and creative minds to solve the significant problems facing us in the decades ahead - to discover new sources of energy and engineer more efficient ways to store and use that energy; to adapt to climate change; to create reliable and secure information technologies that will support new ways to work, to create, and to share ideas; to cure diseases or alleviate human suffering. All of these challenges will require many kinds of minds and every bit of talent we can muster." Dr. Suresh added higher education and governments were awakening to need for greater educational opportunity, and many are taking action. "But I can think of no other nation which has responded as vigorously and imaginatively as has Qatar. The story of Education City has been a powerful example for the entire world, and the world has taken notice of this success." He said Carnegie Mellon University was proud to join with Qatar Foundation in establishing this campus ten years ago to build higher educational capacity in Qatar and the region. "By any measure, this campus has exceeded our optimistic expectations. The very best evidence of this is in the 298 graduates who are already making important contributions in companies, organizations, and communities around the region and the world just as Andrew Carnegie had envisioned 114 years ago. I have had the pleasure of meeting a number of these wonderful students and alumni." "But the benefits have gone beyond that: this campus has also created living connections among faculty, students, and graduates across Carnegie Mellon's global network, sharing research projects, classes, student exchanges, and outreach activities. The students and faculty of this campus have embraced Carnegie Mellon's interdisciplinary collaborative approach to problem solving, and they have enriched our entire university with new ideas, new ways of thinking, and an obvious passion for learning. The graduates are working for some of the most innovative companies on the planet, while others are furthering their studies at leading universities, including Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh. They have become an integral part of the worldwide Carnegie Mellon network of about 95,000 people who are united by this educational approach." "This is truly just the beginning. We look forward to new opportunities to build on this success, by expanding student and faculty interactions and creating new opportunities for collaboration among Qatar and Carnegie Mellon's other campuses and programs around the world. It is a joy to be here today to celebrate what Carnegie Mellon in Qatar - and its young graduates - are accomplishing. Dr. Suresh added: "None of this would have been possible without Qatar Foundation. HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation, has been inspirational in the evolution of collaborative efforts. Her deep and abiding belief in opening up new educational opportunities has been realized at Education City, which is a model for the world. Through many other activities, including the "Educate a Child" program, Her Highness is recognized as one of the worlds most prominent and tireless ambassadors for education as the best way to build a strong, responsive, and innovative society for all people. We are grateful for all she continues to do, especially in Education City." During the ceremony, Mark Kamlet, Carnegie Mellon provost and executive vice president, highlighted key accomplishments in Qatar, including the growth of the student body from 41 to 400 students with a Qatari enrollment of almost 40 percent. "Time and time again, we hear how pleased employers are with their Carnegie Mellon hires. They praise them for their hard work, their creativity, and their team-above-self approach. These are the hallmarks of a Carnegie Mellon education and that is what we have achieved on our Qatar campus," Kamlet said. Almost 300 young men and women have graduated from the universitys branch campus and are now playing integral roles in the knowledge-creation community in Qatar and across the world. More than 100 alumni returned to campus for the 10-year celebration. Consistently top ranked, Carnegie Mellon has more than 12,000 students, 95,000 alumni and 5,000 faculty and staff globally. Carnegie Mellon University worldwide believes that through the encouragement of scientific inquiry and the promotion of practical preparedness, the university can provide a generation of thinkers, business leaders, researchers and scientists that will change the world. The ceremony at the Carnegie Mellon Qatar campus began with a performance from a lone bagpiper, reflecting the Scottish heritage of the universitys founder, philanthropist and steel magnate Andrew Carnegie. Throughout the evening, videos and speeches featuring alumni and students transported the audience from Andrew Carnegies humble beginnings in Scotland to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he established Carnegie Mellon University in 1900. The evening also reflected on the growth of Carnegie Mellon's branch campus in Qatar and highlighted milestone achievements throughout the last decade. The evenings 10-year anniversary entertainment also included performances from a traditional Arabic oud player and Carnegie Mellon's Matisse Quartet. As a global leader in education, Carnegie Mellon is known for its creativity, collaboration across disciplines and top programs in business, technology and the arts. The university has been home to some of the world's most important thinkers, among them 19 Nobel Laureates and 11 Turing Award winners. (QNA)