Latest news with #RanaSobh
Qatar Tribune
25-06-2025
- Business
- Qatar Tribune
QFZ and Qatar University join hands to empower future business leaders
Tribune News Network Doha Qatar Free Zones Authority (QFZ) hosted a delegation of Executive Master's Program in Leadership from College of Business and Economics at Qatar University in collaboration with Qatar Leadership Centre. The visit came as part of an awareness program designed to familiarize students with the strategic focus and investments in Qatar's free zones. Hosted in the Business Innovation Park in Ras Bufontas Free Zone, the program delivered insights into QFZ's strategy and plans to address national priorities and spotlighted its ongoing efforts to drive sustained growth in high-potential sectors, in alignment with Qatar National Development Strategy. The program was especially tailored to offer an enriching and comprehensive experience to students, deepening their understanding of the authority's strategic objectives and its pivotal role in reinforcing Qatar's position as a world-class investment destination. Following rich discussions, the delegation was provided guided tours through the Ras Bufontas Free Zone including; the Investor Relations Center, the Business Innovation Park, and a number of companies set up in the free zone. Welcoming the delegation to QFZ, Dr. Fahad Zainal, Chief Corporate Development and Business Excellence Officer at QFZ, commented: 'We are delighted to host another delegation of the Executive Master's in Leadership program from the College of Business and Economics at Qatar University to Qatar Free Zones. The visit underscores our persistent commitment to nurturing the next generation of leaders who will drive Qatar's economic diversification and global competitiveness. We believe that providing firsthand exposure to the role of the authority in catalyzing investments, nurturing innovation, and establishing strategic partnerships, is critical to empowering tomorrow's leaders. Together with institutions such as Qatar University and Qatar Leadership Centre, we are actively shaping opportunities for emerging leaders to understand and contribute to Qatar's diversified, knowledge-based economy.' Professor Rana Sobh, the Dean of the College of Business and Economics (CBE) at Qatar University, said: 'The hosting of our Executive Master's in Leadership students at Qatar Free Zones was a valuable opportunity that advanced our mission to develop Qatar's future leaders. This visit, as part of their internship week of the program, enriched students' learning by connecting them with industry leaders and government officials, exposing them to real-world economic trends and challenges. Such engagements deepen their understanding of Qatar's evolving landscape and empower them to contribute meaningfully to society. By blending practical insights with academic rigor, we ensure our graduates are equipped with the skills and vision to drive progress.' Nasser Al Hajri, Chief People Officer at GWC, one of the leading logistics providers in the MENA region, commented: 'We're honored to welcome the students delegation from Qatar University's College of Business and Economics to our state-of-the-art regional logistics hub in Ras Bufontas Free Zone. GWC's hub represents more than a just facility – it is a beacon of innovation, trade excellence and leadership development. As the first logistics operator to establish in QFZ, we are proud to demonstrate the impact made when Qatar's world-class infrastructure, strategic location and reliability intersect with global expertise and transformative vision.' He added: 'At GWC, empowering human capital and nurturing talent remain at the core of our strategic priorities. We are committed to supporting Qatari nationals through a diverse range of initiatives and partnerships that aim to strengthen their capabilities and unlock their full potential. These efforts contribute to driving the ongoing development and growth across the nation while also encouraging and supporting national talents and equipping the next generation of young Qataris with the tools and opportunities they need to shape a brighter future for the country. This comes as part of a broader strategy that aims to achieve the key objectives of Qatar National Vision, particularly human development, by empowering the people of Qatar to build a prosperous society.' QFZ maintains an active stake in developing Qatar's innovation and business ecosystem through initiatives focused on driving academic excellence across all fields. Through strategic partnerships with leading international companies and the development of specialized training and research centers, QFZ continues to empower ambitious leaders, entrepreneurs, and investors helping build a diversified, future-ready economy.
Qatar Tribune
17-06-2025
- Business
- Qatar Tribune
QU's CBE achieves advanced level worldwide in Impact Rating 2025 edition
Tribune News Network Doha The College of Business and Economics (CBE) at Qatar University (QU) has been recognised for its societal impact and commitment to sustainability as part of the sixth edition of the Positive Impact Rating (PIR), launched on 10 June 2025, at the PIR Global Summit 2025 and acknowledged during the UN PRME Global Forum. The CBE at QU is one of the 86 business schools from 30 countries participating in this year's edition, which saw a record engagement of 17,167 student responses, a 13% increase from the previous year. The school achieved Level 4 out of 5, making it a transforming institution within the PIR framework. The PIR is a global, student- and faculty-cantered initiative that assesses business schools' dedication to sustainability and ethical practices. This year's survey evaluated 86 leading business schools across 30 countries, reflecting students' recognition of their schools' contributions to social and environmental impact. With a score of 4 out of 5, the CBE has been classified as a 'Transforming School,' highlighting its commitment to energizing, educating, and engaging students with purpose—and to developing competent, socially responsible graduates who strive to make a positive impact in society. Participants evaluated how the college addresses societal and sustainability challenges and how well it prepares its students to become responsible leaders. The data collection was organized and led by student representatives who distributed the survey to the college students. By participating in PIR 2025, business schools demonstrate their commitment to transparency and to listening to the voice of their key stakeholders. Prof. Rana Sobh, dean of the CBE, commented, 'This recognition reflects our commitment to developing responsible leaders and creating sustainable impact through business education. 'At the CBE at QU, we are proud to be shaping the future by embedding ethics, responsibility, and sustainability at the heart of everything we do. This achievement reinforces what we continuously strive for—our motto: 'Education with Impact.' The PIR uses 20 questions grouped into seven dimensions across three overarching areas: Energizing, Educating, and Engaging. These results place schools into one of five levels, three of which are published: Level 3 (Progressing), Level 4 (Transforming), and Level 5 (Pioneering). Prof. Thomas Dyllick, PIR founder and member of the Supervisory Board, stated, 'While future students now have an alternative source to select their business school, schools refer to the PIR primarily to measure and communicate their transformational progress. The voice of the student has become a true source of value.' The PIR was initiated by a coalition of business school experts and international NGOs such as WWF, Oxfam, and UN Global Compact and is supported by student organizations including oikos, AIESEC, and Net Impact. It is also backed by VIVA Idea (Costa Rica), the Institute for Business Sustainability Foundation, and FehrAdvice (Switzerland). New in 2025, PIR now also offers additional reporting modules to support schools in their PRME, AACSB, and EQUIS accreditation processes, enabling them to use PIR data to report on Ethics, Responsibility, and Sustainability (ERS) requirements with stakeholder-derived evidence.
Qatar Tribune
26-05-2025
- Business
- Qatar Tribune
QU, Qatar Shell celebrate completion of first cohortof ‘Shell Intilaaqah-Qatar'
Tribune News Network Doha Qatar University (QU) and Qatar Shell celebrated the successful completion of the first cohort of Shell Intilaaqah-Qatar, a national initiative aimed at fostering an entrepreneurial mindset among youth and equipping them to embark on their entrepreneurial journeys with strong academic and practical foundations. Shell Intilaaqah-Qatar is part of Shell LiveWIRE, Shell's global flagship programme for enterprise development. It provides participants with access to international networks and professional mentoring opportunities. This initiative marks a strategic move towards bridging the gap between academic education and real-world professional demands through an intensive eight-week journey combining hands-on training, mentorship, and engagement with leading experts and coaches. Dr Rana Sobh, dean of the College of Business and Economics at QU, stated, 'Our partnership with Shell has been a powerful journey of growth and impact. Through the Shell Intilaaqah-Qatar programme, we have empowered our students with the skills, mindset, and real-world experience needed to succeed in careers and life and drive positive change in any context.' During the closing ceremony, Hussain Al-Hijji, general manager of corporate relations at Qatar Shell, the main sponsor and strategic partner of the programme, said, 'At Qatar Shell, our commitment to sustainable development is rooted in people. Therefore, we must start with the next generation to build a thriving future. When we launched Shell Intilaaqah Qatar, we wanted to do more than teach students about entrepreneurship. We wanted to give them a space to grow, dream, test their ideas, and, most importantly, believe in themselves.' The programme attracted strong interest from the student body at QU, with 188 students from diverse academic disciplines applying to join. Following a rigorous selection process, 100 participants were accepted into the programme. The results of the Shell Intilaaqah-Qatar programme demonstrated a clear and positive impact. Participants improved their entrepreneurial competencies in 15 different areas. After completing the programme, students reported a 30 percent increase in their ability to identify high-impact opportunities and a 17 percent increase in their confidence to start their own entrepreneurial ventures. The evaluations also showed significant development in key skills such as opportunity recognition, creative thinking, and collaborative leadership. These outcomes reflect the strength of the program's content and its real influence on youth confidence and their readiness to act. Dr Khalid Al-Hashimi, director of the Center for Entrepreneurship at QU, said, 'We are pleased to conclude the first cohort of Shell Intilaaqah-Qatar, launched in partnership with Qatar Shell with the aim of enhancing the entrepreneurial skills of our students and empowering them to develop their ideas into innovative projects that create real impact in society. This programme provided a unique learning experience that combined academic instruction with exposure to real entrepreneurial challenges in a fruitful collaboration between the university and the private sector.' The closing ceremony, held at QU, featured inspiring student presentations that reflected their personal transformation during the programme. Their reflections testified to the programme's impact on how they view entrepreneurship, their increased confidence, and their ability to take initiative and transform challenges into opportunities. As part of the continued commitment to fostering a sustainable entrepreneurial mindset among Qatari youth, the second cohort of Shell Intilaaqah-Qatar is scheduled to begin in August 2025.
