Qatar Foundation Convocation
An annual ceremony marking the collective celebration of graduates from all nine universities in Education City.
Introduction
01Qatar Foundation Convocation is an annual ceremony that marks the culmination, commemoration, and celebration of the academic and personal journey taken by the students at our universities. The special occasion brings together graduates from all nine universities in Education City under one roof, along with their friends, family, and mentors.
Convocation Traditions
02Since the inaugural QF convocation in 2008, the ceremony has evolved into a major annual event in Education City with its own unique customs and traditions. Here are some key elements that make this ceremony special.
Door to the Future
A metaphor for students entering a new stage in their lives, walking through the Door to the Future is considered to be one of the most rewarding and long-standing traditions of QF Convocation. Over the years, the Door to the Future has officially inducted thousands of graduating students into the QF alumni community, many of whom play crucial roles in their organizations and communities, in Qatar and across the world.
QF Convocation Ring
As a symbol of the shared memories and camaraderie in our community, we gift each graduating student with a specially engraved QF Convocation Ring, carrying the leaves of the Sidra tree in sterling silver. The memento serves all of our alumni as a powerful reminder of the vast potential and support each of them possess for the rest of their lives.
Pre-Event Activities
What started off as the robing area for graduates has now transformed into a fun and activity-packed component of convocation. A couple of hours before the ceremony, all QF graduates gather at what is known as “backstage activities area,” where they take part in various activities like signing the QF yearbook, taking photos, and giving live interviews that are broadcasted to the stage screen.
City of Knowledge Anthem
The City of Knowledge Anthem is an Arabic hymn about the importance of seeking knowledge and the blessings of education. It serves as an alma mater for Qatar Foundation, and is sung by graduates every year at QF Convocation.
Lyrics for the anthem (translated):
Iqrae (read) is the first word of the Qur’an revealed by
The One who taught mankind before they started inscribing on stones
Iqrae (read) is the first word of the Qur’an revealed by
The One who taught mankind before they started inscribing on stones
Praise be on the One who taught the names of everything since its creation
In all these names lies the wisdom of destiny
The City of Knowledge and its benefits respect
The traditions and offer new innovations
This made Qatar enlightened and prosperous
Qatar's knowledge seekers are more precious than gems
Praise be on the One who taught the names of everything since its creation
In all these names lies the wisdom of destiny.
Convocation 2008
Convocation 2009
Convocation 2010
Convocation 2011
Convocation 2012
Convocation 2013
Convocation 2014
Convocation 2015
Convocation 2016
Convocation 2017
Convocation 2018
Convocation 2019
03The 12th Annual Qatar Foundation Convocation took place on Tuesday, 7 May 2019 at the Ceremonial Court, Education City. The ceremony oversaw the induction of 786 students into the QF alumni community.
Livestream
The event was streamed live and you can watch the recording here. To watch recordings from previous convocations, please visit our YouTube channel.
Keynote Speaker
Brandon Stanton, founder of the street portrait blog Humans of New York (HONY), was the keynote speaker for QF Convocation 2019. Stanton has emerged as a worldwide internet phenomenon and one of today’s most influential storytellers. With millions of social media followers, his individual story, like those on HONY, illustrates the power of the internet, the value of storytelling, and our desire to remain connected with real people in a tech-driven world.
Stanton’s gift for storytelling has since spawned two best-selling books, Humans of New York, which spent 45 weeks on the New York Times best-seller list, and Humans of New York: Stories.
Get Involved
04Join the conversation online by sharing your thoughts and messages on social media using the hashtag #QFConvocation. See what others posted below.