UCL Qatar

Professor Malcolm Grant CBE, UCL President and Provost, has hosted a reception for UCL staff, students, friends and alumni in Doha.

The Provost, making his first visit to UCL Qatar since the arrival of staff and commencement of teaching, toured the newly opened facilities at UCL Qatar before welcoming 130 guests from the UCL community. The Provost was in the region as part of a visit which also included a stop in the United Arab Emirates.

Guests gathered to be welcomed by the Provost, who spoke warmly about UCL and the establishment of the Qatar campus. Additional presentations were given by Professor Thilo Rehren, Director of UCL Qatar, and Professor Michael Worton, Vice Provost (International) who talked in further detail about UCL’s activities in Qatar and around the globe.

The speeches were followed by a reception where UCL Qatar staff and students were able to network with the ever-growing number of UCL alumni based in Qatar. Key stakeholders, including senior members of staff from Qatar Foundation, Qatar Museums Authority, the British Embassy and the British Council were also among those in attendance.

UCL Qatar was established in partnership with Qatar Foundation and Qatar Museums Authority, to offer world-leading postgraduate degree programmes and conduct high-level research with a focus on the cultural heritage of the Arab and Islamic worlds. The programmes are the first of their kind in Qatar, as UCL hopes to nurture a new generation of cultural heritage professionals, whilst also serving the goals of Qatar’s Vision 2030 for the creation of a knowledge-based society.

Ahmad Bakri (MSc Global Health and Development 2010) who recently relocated to Doha from his native Syria, commented “There’s a surprisingly large number of UCL graduates here in Qatar and across the Middle East, reflecting the truly global nature of the UCL community. Events like this provide a great opportunity to connect with our fellow graduates and with the staff and students of the UCL Qatar campus. It’s a very exciting time for UCL in such an up-and-coming part of the region.”

Sheikh Asif Mahmood (BSc Project Management for Construction 2006) added “I have very fond memories of my time at UCL, as I’m sure do many of my fellow graduates. It’s a privilege to have the opportunity to meet the Provost out here in Doha and learn more about UCL’s international activities, as well as reflect on the many impressive recent achievements”.

UCL Qatar expects to host its official soft-launch in 2013.