Stories / Op-ed
Op-ed: For people living alone, Ramadan this year tastes sweeter
3 min readSumaya Attia, a member of QF’s communications team, talks about the joy of communal Ramadan traditions returning – and the silver lining that spending the last two Ramadans in lockdown provided.
Op-ed: Laboratories alone cannot address existential crises – mizan is the answer
3 min readSahar Nasser, a member of Qatar Foundation’s communications teams, explores a panel discussion hosted by QF which saw Dr. Ahmed Paul Keeler shed light on the implications of modernity and the influences of the material world
Op-ed: Why sustainability can lead to greater happiness
3 min readAbdulaziz Mahmoud Elespy, a student at a QF school who has started his own business recycling clothes, explains how contentment leads us to being satisfied with what is necessary
Op-ed: A young patient with gangrene made me consider a specialization in diabetes
5 min readJosephine Bou Akar, a nurse at QF, talks about her journey in trying to raise awareness of diabetes through her work as a nurse at QF schools
Op-ed: Why the Ukraine crisis raises a food security question for the Middle East
5 min readThreats to food supply as a result of the conflict could have implications for the MENA region, according to political researcher and Qatar Foundation communications professional Zeidon Alkinani.
Op-ed: How Qatar is putting public art in the spotlight – from the desert to the streets
5 min readMichael Perrone, Assistant Professor in QF partner university Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar, speaks about how the arts scene in Qatar continues to emerge and thrive.
Op-ed: Making science fun – what game-playing tells us about designing a learning experience
4 min readDr. Spencer Striker and Dr. Anto Mohsin of QF partner university Northwestern University in Qatar – the creators of a mobile game app on detecting the outbreak of disease – on why, when it comes to engaging students, video games and teaching are intrinsically linked
Op-ed: Morality and children - the “good child” model in the Islamic tradition
4 min readDr. Mohammed Ghaly, Professor of Islam and Biomedical Ethics at the Research Center for Islamic Legislation & Ethics at QF member Hamad Bin Khalifa University’s College of Islamic Studies, speaks about Muslim scholarship on nurturing children’s moral character.
COVID-19, schools, and children’s mental health – how we can help to build our youth’s resilience
4 min readDr. Ahsan Nazeer Division Chief of Child and Adolescent Mental Health at QF’s Sidra Medicine, shed light on ways to support children amid the ongoing pandemic
Op-ed: “Finding passion in precision medicine made my academic path straightforward”
3 min readSama Ayoub, a QAD graduate, explains how developing a piece of technology for children with autism helped her decide to pursue a degree in medicine
Op-ed: Applying engineering’s principles to learning
6 min readBabar Ali, Founder and Headmaster of Ananda Siksha Niketan, a school in India that has vastly increased accessibility to education, writes about the tools and techniques required to help students truly learn effectively.
Op-ed: A robust gender agenda is essential for leaders to prepare for the new normal
6 min readDr. Shaheena Janjuha-Jivraj, Associate Professor at HEC Paris in Qatar, a Qatar Foundation partner university, writes about the contribution of women in the workforce, and how losing this talent is detrimental to the economy, today, more than ever
Op-ed: Where to find motivation to learn? Not (only) in school
Opportunities to learn and grow don't need to be tied to school grounds, according to Aurelio Amaral, Head of the Learning Ecosystems Track at QF’s World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) - our passions can create more active and engaged learners in the long run.
Op-ed: How to preserve a safe educational environment for our children during the pandemic
5 min readIn her upcoming book, published by Hamad Bin Khalifa University Press, a member of Qatar Foundation, Qatari researcher Haya Al Dosari investigates the challenges that educators face amid COVID-19, and how to overcome them.
Op-ed: Promoting the Islamic cultural heritage to the world through translation
Doha is the Capital of Culture in the Islamic World 2021, and Dr. Aisha Yousef Al Mannai, Director of the Muhammed Bin Hamad Al Thani Center for Muslim Contribution to Civilization at QF member Hamad Bin Khalifa University’s College of Islamic Studies talks about Qatar’s efforts to spread the Islamic culture to the world.
Op-ed: Work in the time of COVID-19 - A legal perspective
Dr. Susan L. Karamanian, Dean, College of Law, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, on how the law has responded to a pandemic-induced transformation of employment practices.
Op-ed: What QSTP’s ecosystem means for Stars of Science
Wadha Al Adgham, Program Manager of Education at Qatar Foundation’s Qatar Science & Technology Park, outlines how the edutainment show will augment the Qatar Foundation Research, Development and Innovation ecosystem in its new environment
Op-ed: How Ramadan can be an opportunity for both spiritual renewal and sustainability
Sulaiman Bah, Community Engagement and Outreach Coordinator, Minaretein (Education City Mosque) on how the lessons of the Holy Month can raise our environmental consciousness
Op-ed: Ramadan, modernity, and our cultural traditions
Dr. Dheen Mohamed, Professor of Comparative Religion at HBKU’s College of Islamic Studies, says that the spirit of Ramadan can bring man back to his original state
Op-ed: Gender, migration, and border regimes – what Aida’s story tells us
Dr. Sophie Richter-Devroe, Associate Professor in the Master of Arts in Women, Society and Development at QF member Hamad Bin Khalifa University’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences, on how the tightening of EU migration and asylum law has a particular impact on young women.
In his own words: QF’s Ability Friendly Sports Program makes young people who face challenges realize they are heroes
Ahmed Hamdy Maklad, a Sports Programming Coordinator at Qatar Foundation, speaks about how Qatar Foundation’s accessible sport program is changing the lives of its participants.
In her own words: How studying abroad during a pandemic challenged me – and taught me vital lessons
Yara Barakat, an Interior Design student at QF partner university Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar, was studying far from home in the US when COVID-19 struck. This is her story of how the experience tested her resilience.
Ramadan amid COVID-19 is ‘a wake-up call’ to reflect on our purpose and impact, leading scholar tells QF’s Education City Speaker Series
Dr. Omar Suleiman encourages young people to dedicate themselves to change that comes from the heart during special online edition of QF dialogue platform
In her own words: What I tell my children about why we fast during Ramadan
Shereen Khaled, a member of QF’s Communication Directorate, explains why fasting is so much more than not eating or drinking
QF career experts talk about entering the job market amid a global pandemic
Those in the know at Qatar Career Development Center look at how COVID-19 has reshaped the professional landscape – and how fresh graduates can meet the challenges head on
Agility, adaptability, and digital transformation: how COVID-19 saw QF embrace a new normal
Members of the Education City community explain how shifts in strategies and approaches amid a global pandemic kept people connected, produced positive outcomes, and raised optimism
Turning Back the Clock: 25 Years of Education City
Over the past 25 years, Qatar Foundation’s Education City has been the site of rapid transformation. What was once a small village on the outskirts of Doha is now a global hub for learning, research and innovation, and community life.
Young Qataris pursue rewarding careers in science, research, and innovation
Qatari women who are part of QF’s research, development, and innovation ecosystem talk about the need to build homegrown human capacity and create a more well-established RDI landscape in their country
A QF group that engages in sustainable efforts to protect feral cats
The Education City Community Housing’s TNR group talks about why it is important to sterilize the cat colony in the housing compound
Op-ed: Examining cryptocurrency from a Shariah perspective
Dr. Abdulazeem Abozaid, Associate Professor of Islamic Finance at QF member Hamad Bin Khalifa University’s College of Islamic Studies, on why the likes of Bitcoin may not pass the validity test as a Shariah currency.
Amplifying the voice of the youth
QF students discuss positives – and negatives – of self-expression on social media
QFI launches German version of Q-Wheel app as it demystifies the Arabic alphabet
Fun and engaging tool benefits both students and teachers
QF students step into the spotlight as school musical’s story hits the screen
Young performers from across QF’s schools showcase their creative talents by reviving a performing arts tradition
How fitness impacts learning
QF students and teachers explain why physical activity should be incorporated into the curriculum
Sustainability in focus at QF member’s international schools debating championship
QatarDebate-organized tournament to explore environmental issues through the eyes and voices of youth
“When we understand autism, we will realize how wonderful children with autism are”
QF parents and parent trainer from QF school highlight need for inclusivity of all children
How a QF member is tackling Autism through equine therapy
Al Shaqab’s program offers specialized therapeutic lessons to children with Autism in Qatar
In His Own Words: Qataris simply don’t walk, but this wasn’t always the case
AbdulRahman Al-Mana, a Qatar Academy alumnus and an urban planner, writes about the importance of building cities for people, not cars
QF unveils new vision for higher education to meet Qatar’s future needs
Strategy is built around disrupting education, fostering collaboration, and prepare the nation’s youth for the economies of tomorrow
QF vet solves case of a mystery flu in Arabian horses
Dr. Camilla Jamieson, Senior Clinical Veterinarian at the Equine Veterinary Medical Center, explored why Arabian foals suffer from a puzzling runny nose
In her own words: Give us the chance to show you how beautiful we are
On World Down Syndrome Day, Lolwa Alshafai, a student of QF’s Awsaj Academy, writes that being different does not mean being incapable of love, or to dream and succeed.
Is your data safe on online chat platforms?
QF tech scientist discusses recent WhatsApp controversy, and what it means for user data privacy
Op-ed: A year into the pandemic, this is how a culture of flexibility saw QF respond to COVID-19
Hamad Dalmouk, Workforce and Compensation Director at Qatar Foundation’s Human Capital department, explains how preparation and adaptability has, for the past year, enabled the organization to remain resilient, and learn, amid the pandemic.
In her own words: Is it really the vaccine of hope?
Shereen Khaled, member of QF’s Communications Directorate, shares her point of view on why taking the COVID-19 vaccine is one of the toughest decisions she will ever have to make
QF career advisor urges youth to seek online experience in COVID-19 world
QCDC offers unique learning opportunities designed to help young people prepare for their futures
Top 10 ways QF helped Qatar battle the COVID-19 pandemic
How entities across QF used their strengths to respond to the pandemic
QF and The Al-Attiyah Foundation partner to help Qatar combat climate change
Collaboration will focus on knowledge, education, research, and raising awareness, as well as organizing a Qatar climate change conference
Op-ed: A mother will always be a school of wisdom even if she does not have a university degree
Reem Hamid, a collaborator at QF school Academyati, talks about the impact a mother can have on society and the world by raising a successful child.
Op-ed: Achieving empowerment through agency
Machaille Hassan Al-Naimi, President of Community Development, Qatar Foundation, speaks about the organization’s role in empowering women to be “community leaders” – and why social innovation is vital to equality.
Making golf a women’s sport in Qatar
As The R&A – the organisation that governs the sport worldwide outside of the United States and Mexico – seeks to make the sport more inclusive, QF’s Education City Golf Club is also drawing more women and girls into golf. Jackie Davidson, Assistant Director – Golf Development at The R&A, speaks about why she is encouraged to see the sport growing in Qatar.
In her own words: What it’s like to be a mother in 2021
Shereen Khaled, a member of QF’s Communication Directorate, writes about how becoming a mother changed her, and how that status quo was further challenged in the pandemic
Op-Ed: Sport as a way of life
Dr. Nasser Al Mohannadi, author of HBKU Press’s How to Be an Ironman, discusses how sport is the foundation for success
It’s as painful as horses wearing high heels, QF expert says of equine disease
Dr. Jessica Johnson, Senior Clinical Veterinarian at the Equine Veterinary Medical Center, is working towards early detection of Laminitis in Arabian horses
QF students step into the spotlight in Broadway-style school musical
SHOWTIME! signals the return of a performing arts tradition after 10 years - and brings a new dimension to learning
Op-Ed: The Education City Golf Club’s sustainability drive
Michael Braidwood, General Manager of the Education City Golf Club, speaks about how sustainability is at the core of the Qatar Foundation entity
Why QF’s HQ is setting a sustainable standard
2015 building at Education City receives GSAS certification, and represents an example of how to operate a ‘green’ building
What makes precision medicine the future of healthcare
Time for “one size fits all” to become history in healthcare industry, precision medicine experts say in QF-backed Al Jazeera documentary
QF teachers helping students grow a green thumb
Boys and girls are being introduced to organic gardening at Qatar Academy schools
Vaccination and taking responsibility is the way out of the pandemic, QF’s Education City Speaker Series hears
Online discussion in collaboration with WISH shares global perspectives on vaccines – and Qatar’s vaccination target
Learning how to reverse the effects of diabetes
QDA strives to educate those living with the disease
QF and Roche partner with the aim of taking precision medicine into mainstream healthcare
Collaboration with international pharmaceutical company will also create life-science opportunities for Qatari students
This is why we love science, say QF students
A passion for science and a conducive educational environment is helping these women walk the scientific path.
‘Identity, culture and heritage, and values are integral to education at Qatar Foundation’
Buthaina Ali Al Nuaimi, President of Pre-University Education, Qatar Foundation, talks about the organization’s achievements in the field of pre-university education, and its contribution to building the next generation of leaders and change-makers throughout its 25-year journey.
QF brings sustainability to life as The Anooki come to Education City
Night-time exhibition and light show aims to make people think about how they can contribute to the fight against climate change
In her own words: We must realize that there should be no limits for girls
Joana Khatib, a senior at Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar, who left the U.S. to pursue her education at Qatar Foundation, speaks about society’s impression of women, especially in science.
Op-ed: Looking at how Stars of Science and QSTP support young Arab innovators
Hayfa Al-Abdulla, Innovation Director at Qatar Science & Technology Park, on her experience as a guest judge on the edutainment show, and the show’s impact as a thriving innovation ecosystem
Op-ed: As the world battles a pandemic, let's give science the credit it deserves
Aisha Tanvir, a member of QF’s Communication Directorate, writes about how an increased appreciation for science might be the biggest winner of the year 2020
Op-ed: Cultural diplomacy as the key to strengthening international relations
His Excellency Dr. Hamad Bin Abdulaziz Al-Kawari, Minister of the State of Qatar and President of Qatar National Library, speaks about his belief in the power of cultural diplomacy
Op-ed: Countering Hate Speech on Social Media
Dr. Wajdi Zaghouani, Assistant Professor in Digital Humanities at QF member Hamad Bin Khalifa University’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences, on how technology, enhanced legal frameworks, and education all have a role to play in eradicating online hate speech
Op-ed: How libraries can support the UN SDGs by engaging youth
Qatar National Library encourages young people to become global citizens who contribute to a better world. Muneera Al-Buainain, the Education City-based library’s Senior Information Services Librarian, explains how.
