QF on the right path for the future

60 Seconds - 6
Arwa Sulieman Ibnouf wishes
she could bottle sunshine
What’s On - 8
30 things for you to do
around the community
Thursday 11 MARCH 2010
Education City QF leadership acknowledge their achievements and areas for improvement at review meeting
QF on the right path for the future
Qatar Foundation has made some
impressive strides over the past two
quarters.
Increased performance, accountability, transparency and improved
working practices were the key
achievements outlined in the Qatar
Foundation Shared Services meeting
for Q1 and Q2 2009/10, which was
held on 2 March in the Texas A&M
University in Qatar (TAMUQ) Lecture Hall.
Organized by the Shared Services
support team, the various directorates presented their achievements
and areas for improvement to over
100 representatives from Qatar
Foundation centers and community.
Other conclusions drawn from the
five-hour long meeting were Qatar
Foundation’s move toward standardization, with a focus on serviceorientation in the Qatar Foundation
HQ operations and finding solutions
to customer needs.
Developing a customer service attitude was mentioned as an area in
need of improvement as was the level
and extent of technological advancement and an end-to-end process view
of key areas.
“The service review forum is primarily a mode of communication.
It allows us to involve the customers
to explore wider opportunities for
ongoing efficiencies and service improvement,” said Farakh Mir, Shared
Services manager.
Rashid Al Naimi, VP of Administration at QF, speaking at a previous Shared Services workshop.
“The important thing for me and
my team is that we focus on our customers, and provide them with the
right service at an affordable cost and
right quality standard each time.”
Shared Services has introduced a
formal service management frame-
work within the directorates and
centers, which will be fully implemented in the next two years. It also
plans to transform business management by implementing the Shared
Services Organization over the next
two to three years.
“QF Leadership is committed to
managing change in a way that is fair
and open to all our people. As we do
this we will recognize and treat all our
staff with equal respect and integrity,
in line with our fundamental values,”
said Mir.
Q1 and Q2 report
n Increased performance
n Accountability
n Transparency
n Improved working practices
Culture
News
Education
Spotlight
n Dr Shetha Faraj Abbo Al Numan
argues a gallery could be a cultural
ambassador that introduces Qatari
and Arabic art and culture to the
world through the vision and mission
of Qatar Foundation.
Turn to page 4 for more details
n US Secretary of Energy Steven Chu,
PhD, recently visited Carnegie Mellon
University in Qatar. He delivered
a lecture and dialogue session to
students, staff, members of the EC
community and guests from the oil
and gas industry on 25 February.
n Will you take a pledge to take
up reading as a regular pastime?
If so, you can choose a free copy
from a stack of books that have
been donated to Bloomsbury Qatar
Foundation Publishing.
Turn to page 2 to find out more
n With an average 350 purchase
orders and a dozen service contracts
to handle on monthly basis, the
Procurement Directorate is in charge
of keeping Qatar Foundation
stocked up.
Turn to page 5 for more details
Does QF need
a gallery?
Who’s been to
Qatar Foundation
Reward yourself
with a free book
From horses
to robots
2
Qatar Foundation Telegraph.
Thursday 11 March 2010
News
Tamuq
students
abroad
n Texas A&M at Qatar (TAMUQ)
is hosting students from College
Station for a week of leadership
development and cultural
exploration starting on 13 March.
This follows a two-week stint by
16 TAMUQ students who went to
College Station during the Qatar
campus’ spring break. Students
from both campuses were selected
based on leadership potential and
campus involvement.
coming up
n Northwestern University in
Qatar is now accepting applications
from high school students for two
certificate-bearing workshops in
Communication and Journalism.
Northwestern Connect: Discovery
is open to students in grades 9, 10
and 11. There are only 15 openings
for each of the two programs.
Application forms are available
at high schools in Qatar or can
be found online at www.qatar.
northwestern.edu.
n A panel of judges will choose a
winner for the Qatar Model United
Nations (QMUN) documentary
competition, to be shown on 25
March. The prize is QAR 10,000.
Students edited material from
QMUN sessions into two to six
minutes of footage on human
rights, sustainable development,
or environment. For tickets, call
4826606.
Write to us: [email protected]
Sport 15-month winning streak for the Aggie men’s basketball team
We are the champions
Delivering the winning shot with
just two seconds to spare, Texas A&M
University at Qatar beat the varsity
Dragons of the American School of
Doha (ASD) in the finals of the
official basketball league with a
score of 57 to 55.
This victory means the men’s
team remains undefeated since
November 2008, winning a staggering 31 games and no losses.
The basketball league is made up
of seven teams, four from EC and
three from local Doha schools.
“The victory did not come
easy. The team won on a tough
two-point shot with only two seconds remaining on the clock,” coach
Michael Collins said. “This is the first
close game we had all season and they
adjusted very well.” With 11 seconds
left in the game, ASD managed to
hit the second of two free throws to
tie the game at 55. Benefiting from a
great screen set by freshman Kareem
Saade, graduate student Nathan Miller managed to take the ball the length
of the floor to place the triumphant
shot with just seconds left in the game.
After a time-out, the Aggies stole the
inbounds pass to seal the victory.
“I must admit, the ASD team were
prepared for us,” team captain Dani
Wannous said. “They knew our offensive strength and had a great defensive game plan.”“I am very proud
of what our guys have accomplished
this season,” said Collins, who is also
director of student affairs. “This was
a fun team to coach with mostly seniors and freshmen.”
Five players will be graduating this
year, which means a new batch of
freshmen will battle with the best to
keep the title.
But despite the many wins, captain
Wannous credits the success of the
team to its dynamics and commitment to the sport, and also to the key
message instilled by coach Collins
that: “You play together, you win together, you lose together.”
Helped by assistant coach, Dave
Seapy, Collins created the league to
promote student development by appealing to the students’ competitive
and social sides.
contact us
communication Directorate
Qatar Foundation Publications Manager
[email protected]
Qatar Foundation Translation Unit
[email protected]
Editorial
Publisher
Philip Fenton
Editor
Brigitte Scheffer, [email protected]
+974 343 9744
Deputy Editor
Melissa Sleiman
+974 618 5540
Design
Creative Director
Fred Dittlau
Arabic Designer
Mohammad Marei
Photography
Adrian Haddad
Maher Attar / HHOPL
©Qatar Foundation. All rights reserved. No part of this
publication may be reproduced without the written
permission of Qatar Foundation and the Publisher.
Reading
awareness drive
Anyone who takes a signed pledge
to take up reading as a regular pastime can choose a free copy from a
stack of English and Arabic
books that have been donated to
Bloomsbury
Qatar
Foundation
Publishing (BQFP).
This is the promise made by BQFP,
which will be giving out secondhand books at its Reading Awareness
booth at Qatar Career Fair from 14 to
18 March. The second edition of the
annual book drive is a continuation of
World Book Day, which was held on
4 March.
QF signs deals with German companies
n A signing ceremony recently took place between Qatar Foundation
and German solar giant SolarWorld AG to form a new company in Qatar
Solar Technologies (QST). QST will produce Polysilicon, the essential
ingredient in solar cells, for the world solar market. Another German
company, Centrotherm Photovoltaics, which will supply technology and
equipment, has been awarded its first contract.
From the “incredible” forces he felt on
his body as the space shuttle Atlantis
took off, to what it was like to be
weightless for 11 days, NASA astronaut
Mike Foreman revealed all about his
recent visit to the International Space
Station (ISS) during lectures at Qatar
Academy and Texas A&M University at
Qatar. He performed two spacewalks
during a mission in November last year
to deliver supplies to ISS. “You say
‘spacewalk’, but it’s actually six and a
half hours of using your arms to climb
over the outside of the space station,”
he said. After the lecture, Foreman
presented a Texas A&M t-shirt he had
worn during his visit to ISS to Dr Mark
H. Weichold, Dean and CEO of Texas
A&M at Qatar.
VCUQatar invites renowned graphic designer QF Board Members meeting
n Martin Venezky recently gave a Spring Lecture speech entitled
‘Inventing Visual Language through Process and Discovery.’ This gave
insight into the design process that drives most of Venezky’s work,
including experimenting with materials and their properties. He is
associate professor of Design at the California College of the Arts,
San Francisco.
n HH Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al-Missned, Chairperson of Qatar
Foundation, chaired the tenth meeting of QF’s Board on 17 February.
Following the meeting at Qatar Science & Technology Park, board
members visited the Qatar University Wireless Innovation Center and
the Qatar Robotic Surgery Centre. A letter of intent has been signed
with Paris-based HEC to offer Executive Master’s and BA programs.
Qatar Foundation Telegraph.
Thursday 11 March 2010
News
Write to us: [email protected]
Employment Qatar Foundation provides more than just jobs
Qatar Career Fair kicks off
Young Qataris beginning their professional lives will be able to benefit
from career development and counseling at this year’s Qatar Career Fair
(QCF).
The QF stand at QCF will counsel young Qataris about the different
opportunities they can find at Qatar
Foundation, and what is best for them.
The Human Resources Directorate has already received over 3,000
CVs and is expecting more at the fair,
which is being held at Doha Exhibition Center from 14 to 18 March.
“All a candidate needs is potential, basic skills and the desire to excel,” said Hassan Al Hammadi, HR
Director. “Even though experience
and high university scores are ideal,
we have the best career development
plan in the country and a top-notch
training center that can qualify candidates with only a high school degree.”
The training center is a state-ofthe-art facility that prepares young
Qataris for a fulfilling career at QF,
providing computer, English language, communication and problemsolving classes. The training aims to
develop candidates’ technical, behavioral and leadership skills.
Traineeship candidates are trained
for a target position for a period of
time, during which they are treated as
staff and can be accepted with a high
school degree. Internship candidates
are university students at any level
who are given the opportunity to
work for a two to three months while
studying. QF also sponsors students
applying to study abroad or at any of
the branch campuses at EC. Experienced job-seekers are also welcome.
QF’s plan for this year’s QCF falls
within the framework of Qatar’s National Vision 2030.
“We aim to either put Qataris in
the jobs that suit them or to give them
VCUQatar organizes
international competition
sity in Qatar’s (VCUQatar’s)Graphic
Design Department is inviting all students under the age of 21 at schools
and universities in Qatar to participate in the International Heritage
Photographic Experience (IHPE)
2010 contest, under the theme: “Heritage in Qatar.”
Participating schools and universities need to choose a faculty member
to serve on the jury for the final selection. The deadline for submissions is
25 March, 2010.
QF Achievement
Robots arrive
at unique
surgery center
Education Heritage in Qatar
Virginia Commonwealth Univer-
3
After the winning photographs
have been selected and submitted
to IHPE in Spain, they will be published in a catalogue. Students whose
photographs have been selected will
receive a certificate at a ceremony in
the Palace of Europe in Strasbourg.
An exhibition of all the prize-winning
photographs will be hosted by each
of the participating countries in September 2010.
“The IHPE experience in Qatar
was launched for the first time in
2009 to project “Heritage in Qatar”
Al Shaqab holds its first public open house
n Three hundred guests from around the Gulf attended a show of
champion Arabian horses, a charitable horse auction and a dinner last
month. The high point of the auction was the sale of Maitha Al Shaqab,
a three-year-old daughter of three-time World Champion Marwan Al
Shaqab. The impressive grey filly sold for QAR 160,000.
the skills needed for those jobs,” said
Ghanim Al Naimi, Leadership and
Development Manager at HR. “This
way we reduce dependence on expatriates, and we create continuity and
the transfer of knowledge amongst
Qataris.
“This plan is also in line with QF’s
vision to unlock human potential and
create people who can lead Qatar into
the future,” he added.
as seen through the creative eyes of
youth, who study at the various local and international educational
institutions in the country,” said Diane Mikhael, Assistant Professor of
Graphic Design at VCUQatar and
IHPE Coordinator.
Fifty-eight countries with 197
photos were represented in the 2009
IHPE catalogue. Qatar received 147
creative shots; two were selected by
the jury for submission in the 2009
IHPE catalogue. Qatar’s winning entries were from VCUQatar students
Asma Al Thani, who focused on a
worn-out mud house in the old town
of Abu Thloof and Esra Abduljawad,
who captured the iconic Al-Zubarah
Fort. VCUQatar will host an exhibition of this year’s winning entries in
September 2010.
Two new robots should soon be
making life easier for surgeons
in Qatar. The machines, which
recently arrived at the Qatar
Robotic Surgery Centre (QRSC),
will give surgeons the option to
be in full control of their surgeries
by allowing them an advanced 3D
view of proceedings and enhanced
precision.
A third robot will be acquired
next year.
QRSC is a first of its kind
center for the Middle East. It
recently moved into new offices in
the Qatar Science & Technology
Park and promises to bring clinical
practice and medical technology
development to a higher level
with the delivery of the daVinci
machines, which include a robotic
cart with four arms that can be
manipulated, and which will
scale and filter a surgeon’s hand
movements to eliminate tremors.
In April, the center will
give its first training course in
collaboration with the Gulf Heart
Association. It plans to start
technology development activities
in July.
One and a half years after
coming up with the concept of
QRSC on paper, its team finally
saw the finished facility and its
high-tech equipment. The staff felt
it was “very nice and rewarding”
to see how their ideas have evolved
into an actual concrete building.
“It is a very exciting time, since
we are launching our activities and
will start to contribute to Qatar
and the region,” said Jan Nuyens,
manager of QRSC.
The equipment is considered to
be some of the most innovative in
the world and can assist surgeons
in minimally invasive surgeries.
Using this technology, a patient
can be operated through a bodily
opening, such as the nose or an
ear, rather than having to be cut
open where the defective body
part is located.
“We started a training program
with Hamad Medical Corporation
over a year ago,” continued
Nuyens. The enthusiasm of the
surgeons was striking, despite
having to turn around their
entire way of working by using a
robot. Surgeons are usually quite
conservative, but we have seen that
they are keen to learn new skills
and open to improvements.”
Nominate your friends and colleagues to have their acheivements recognized
in QFTelegraph. Send us an email at [email protected]
Canada crowned winner of 2010 WSDC
n The 22nd World Schools Debating Championships was won by
Canada, with England taking second place, and Singapore finishing
third. Qatar Foundation’s Vice President of Education, Dr Abdulla
bin Ali Al-Thani, congratulated the participants and winners of 2010
WSDC, and commended the organizers who worked hard to ensure the
success of the event.
4
Qatar Foundation Telegraph.
Thursday 11 March 2010
Perspective
Write to us: [email protected]
column
dr shetha faraj abbo al numan
A gallery to
showcase QF artists
The memory of my first year
in Doha is still vivid in my
mind, the spring of 2000. The
first impression I caught was
the inclusive and sophisticated
interest of the Qatari educated
community in plastic art. Coming
from an artistic, academic family
I was very impressed with the
contemporary art movement,
which was led by a group of
pioneer Qatari artists such as
Jassim Zaini, Hassan Al Mulla and
Yousif Ahmed. I was also proud to
know that they graduated from the
same university as I did, Baghdad
University.
It was very interesting to learn
more about the artistic movement
in Doha and how much plastic
art is appreciated. This was very
obvious through the number of
exhibitions I’ve witnessed during
the past 10 years in Doha. The
spirit of interpreting the facts
of life and human experience
by using the two and three
dimensional techniques carried me
to the world of global experience
where art is considered the school
of trials in expressing human
emotions in daily life. It is also
considered a mirror of cultures,
which reflects the importance of
education and cultural awareness
in each community.
»[Art] is also
considered
a mirror of cultures,
which reflects the
importance of
education and
cultural awareness.«
We left the hall that evening,
each one of us carrying the
essence of the cultural diversity,
which we were enjoying under
this valuable academic cultural
establishment of QF.
This brings me to the point of
this article which is “Is it possible
to have a plastic arts gallery
in EC?” For instance, in the
shopping or recreation center of
the accommodation area where
Qatar Foundation’s employees
and their families are settled, a
gallery that introduces Qatari
and Arabic art and culture to
the world through the vision and
mission of Qatar Foundation.
This gallery could be a cultural
ambassador that reflects the level
of educational awareness, to be
publicized to the world from this
first class foundation.
I wonder, could this project
come true?
Today after 10 years, I find
myself impressed once more with
another feature of fine arts in
Doha, and that is music. When
my friend and I were enjoying the
performance of the first annual
ceremony of Qatar’s Philharmonic
Orchestra which is under the
umbrella of Qatar Foundation, we
were both taken back to childhood
memories. Hers was triggered
by the Nutcracker Symphony of
Tchaikovsky, mine by [Aram]
Khachaturian’s Masquerade.
columnist
Dr Shetha Faraj Abbo Al Numan
is the Assistant Director of
Student Services at the
Academic Bridge Program
If you’d like to see your column published in QFTelegraph, send us an
email at [email protected]
Environment A Flower Each Spring
Chosen shrub dedicated to
Doha as Arab culture capital
Families are being urged to visit the
Al Khor area where the rare plant
khoriza has been chosen as plant
of the year for the environmental
awareness-inspired Friends of Environment Center (FEC) program, “A
Flower Each Spring.”
FEC secretary general Yousef alKazim said weekly field trips on Saturdays would continue until the end
of June and there will be activities
at malls, gardens and open areas on
Fridays.
A number of competitions and
workshops initiated by FEC will help
students and parents appreciate the
khoriza, its botanical features and its
place in relation to Qatar’s flora and
fauna.
The khoriza, whose Latin name is
Halopeplis Perfoliata and whose Arabic name is derived from kharaz or
beads, is categorized as endangered
and can be found in the sabkhas, salt
flats, and seashores of the Gulf.
Dr Saif Ali Al Hajari, FEC Chairman and Vice Chairman of QF Board
of Directors, said 2010’s chosen
flower is dedicated to Doha, “as the
»It is very important
to bring our message
to the children from
three years old and
above to mold and
change their behavior
about caring for the
things that surround
them if only for the
good of their future.«
plants, flowers and trees in Qatar because most of them are more interested in modern technological advances.
“It is very important to bring our
message to children from three years
old and above to mold and change
their behavior about caring for the
things that surround them, if only
for the good of their future,” Dr Al
Hajari said.
capital of Arab culture for this year”
and to show the development that the
country has achieved at the political,
cultural and scientific level.
Launched this month along the
deserts of Al Khor, the “Flower Each
Spring,” a year-long event now in its
twelfth year, will once again promote
heightened awareness of the importance of the need to protect the natural wealth of Qatar.
In the previous years, the campaign
promoted 11 different plants found
in Qatar.
n Shafallah (1999)
n Ain Al Qot (2000)
n Awsaj (2001)
n Sidra (2002)
n Qurm (2003)
n Samr (2004)
n Ghaf (2005)
n Qataf (2006)
n Aaqool (2007)
n Al Salem (2008)
n Al Harm (2009)
Dr Al Hajari lamented the fact that
many young people have no knowledge about the diminishing species of
Previous Campaigns
Qatar Foundation Telegraph.
Thursday 11 March 2010
QF Spotlight
Write to us: [email protected]
5
How do I...?
QFTelegraph helps
make your life at
Education City easier
n How do I order a cold lunch?
Every week, the focal point of
your department or center will
receive a menu specifying what
boxed lunches are available
every day. You can order a cold
lunch (sandwich, salad, fruit,
juice) through that focal point
– usually the administrative
assistant – before 9am. The
box will be delivered to you by
11.30am.
n Can I order lunch by directly
contacting Food Services?
No. If a request comes from
an individual, Food Services
will ask you to place your order
through your department or
center focal point. If you do not
know who that is, Food Services
will help you find that out.
n How do I get catering for my event?
Procurement Directorate Responsible for supplying
goods and services to departments and individuals in QF
From robots to horses
With an average of 350 purchase orders and a dozen service contracts to
handle every month the Procurement
Directorate is in charge of securing
material and services to keep an organization as large as Qatar Foundation running.
From arranging pencils for schools
to awarding long-term contracts to
companies, it is up to Procurement to
ensure that the process of acquisition,
up until payment, goes smoothly.
“We are responsible for supplying
goods and services from local and
overseas sources to our end users: departments or individuals within QF,”
explained Ahmed Al Muftah, Director of the Procurement Directorate.
“Our vision is to become the regional
procurement center of excellence,
providing services that match world
class,” he said.
The purchasing process starts with
the end user submitting an approved
request to Procurement. After receiving a request, a buyer from Procurement will find out which suppliers offer the requested materials or services
and ask them for price quotations. A
comprehensive database of suppliers
maintained by the Directorate is used
buyers do a lot of market research
and engage pro-actively with the customers to ensure that the right material is delivered on time.”
At
»Our buyers do
a lot of market
research and engage
pro-actively with
the customers to
ensure that the right
material is delivered
on time.«
along with the vast market knowledge
of the purchase team.
“We deal with requests from a
multitude of different organizations
within QF,” Al Muftah said. “Our
the Procurement Directorate,
purchasing is a collaborative effort
involving customers and suppliers.
As it is dealing with all kinds of items,
from school supplies to horses to robots, it is impossible to have complete
technical expertise within the Directorate, which means it often has to
rely on the expertise of the end users.
The end user is also involved in the
supplier selection process and evaluates the supplier based on their technical capabilities. The commercial
aspect is evaluated by the buyers and
the supplier is selected.
“A challenge faced by the Procurement Directorate is that it is hard for
us to anticipate the demand as we’re
dealing with a variety of centers for
whom, due to the nature of their
business, it might be difficult to know
in advance what their exact requirements are,” said Al Muftah. “There
are months when we have a very high
workload and months when it is less
busy.”
The Directorate is therefore in the
process of initiating the concept of
planning for procurement and integrating it with the budgeting process.
Other services provided by the Directorate include warehousing and
logistics. The material ordered is received, inspected, tagged and distributed by the warehouse; the Finance
Directorate pays the suppliers based
on the receipt confirmation, which
is made by the warehouse. The Logistics Department takes care of
the freight forwarding and customs
clearance functions.
“Continuous improvement is a
way of life at the Procurement Directorate,” Al Muftah said. Currently we
are working on several improvement
initiatives which when completed will
improve the process and operational
efficiency resulting in better service
to our customers.
Directorates in brief
n Business and Logistics
n Warehouse
n Supply Services
All catering requests should go
to Raja Naseem, catering food
coordinator of Clubs & Food
Services. You will need to fill
out an event function form, on
which you need to specify all
the details of the event, such as
the number of attendees, the
date, type of food required, and
special requests such as what
catering company should handle
the order. Requests should be
submitted at least three days
prior to the event.
n How can I file a complaint
regarding food services?
The best thing is to approach
the cafeteria directly to address
a problem. If they fail to resolve
the issue, you can
contact Food
Services.
n How do
I find out
what’s in my food?
Send an email to
[email protected] and they
will get back to you.
n Can children with allergies or on
diets get special meals?
Yes. Please inform the school
authorities about the allergy or
diet and the kitchen will prepare
special meals. They will be ready
when the child comes for lunch.
Email us your work related
questions at [email protected],
and we will do our best to help you
Focus
f
ta
What s
My QF
I love Paris, just walking around.
There’s a different feel about Paris,
even compared to places like London, which I think seems a little bit
more industrial.
Describe your role at Qatar
Foundation: I make tea and coffee
Who’s your favorite author?
Paulo Coelho. He’s pretty good.
Arwa Sulieman Ibnouf
What would you do if you were left in
charge of Qatar Foundation for the day?
I’d probably give people the day off.
You’d be popular.
No, actually I’d open it for the day
and invite people to come and see
what we have to offer in Education
City. I think a lot of people still don’t
know what we do and who we are
...I’d open it for the day for people
to enjoy the facilities, have a cup
of coffee, walk around and see for
themselves.
»I love Paris, just walking around. There’s a
different feel about Paris, even compared
to places like London, which I think seems a
little bit more industrial.«
What’s your main ambition?
I’d like to go back to school again. I
can’t do it here in EC, because we
don’t have any doctorate programs,
but I’d like to study more about how
to develop higher education and be
Environment: Qur’anic Gardens
An Illustrated
Checklist of the
Flora of Qatar
links biodiversity
conservation and
cultural heritage
UNESCO’s Doha office has published
a book linking biodiversity conservation and cultural heritage as part of
Qatar Foundation’s Qur’anic Garden
initiative.
An Illustrated Checklist of the Flora of
Qatar, which features a comprehensive listing of plant species that occur
in the country and provides important
eco-geographical information, was
adrian haddad
The Head of Student Services on running Qatar Foundation for
the day, the music of Kathem Al Saher, and bottling sunshine
What I like about my job is…
Want to be featured in MY QF?
Send us an email at [email protected]
no
t at
And what’s your favorite holiday
destination?
Management
Years at QF: 3
The job is not too difficult and
I like to spend my time indoors,
because in Qatar, the weather
can become very hot. The
school is a good environment
to meet people and I’ve made
many friends among the staff.
What was the last CD
that you bought?
Kathem Al Saher.
He’s from Iraq
and he came to
play at graduafd
’r tion once along with
ow
hen they Andrea Bocelli. Last year
we had Enrique Iglesias. In
fact this year is the first time that students are being asked to vote on who
they’d like. We’re doing the surveys
soon but last year it was top secret
until the end.
Name: Tak Tamang
Title: Tea boy
Department: QF Facilities
for the staff working at Qatar
Academy. They usually ask
me to make cappuccino and
various kinds of tea. My duty
starts at 6.30am: I clean the
pantry, boil water and prepare
around 15 cups of tea and
coffee according to the staff
members’ preferences. I’m from
Nepal and learned how to make
tea there. There is a different
tea culture where I’m from – in
the village, we use fresh leaves
cultivated on the hills instead of
tea bags. But in the city, we also
drink Lipton and green tea.
QF
Write to us: [email protected]
e
6
Qatar Foundation Telegraph.
Thursday 11 March 2010
written and compiled by Dr Benno
Boer, UNESCO Arab region’s ecological sciences adviser, Qatari ecologists/botanists Sara Abdulmajid and
Mohamed Alsafran al-Marri as well as
professional ecologists John Norton,
Debbie Allan and Renee Richer.
The Qu’ranic Garden initiative,
a joint venture between QF and
UNESCO, brings together all the
plant species mentioned in the Holy
Qur’an as well as those in the Sunnah
and presents them in both a traditional and modern context. A first of
its kind, the project will recreate the
three environments mentioned in the
Qur’an, namely the desert, the Mediterranean and the tropics.
Beyond the integration of Arabic,
Islamic and modern scientific perspectives, the Garden will play an
able to come back and do more work
than we’ve done already. I think
there’s a lot of potential in Doha
and particularly Education City, but
I think I need another degree to be
able to do more.
culture, both in Qatar and beyond.
The project is being led by a multidisciplinary scientific team tasked
within the framework of a range of
green projects that help to promote
environmental awareness and sustainable development for Qatar’s future generations.
The guidelines for the Qu’ranic
important role in highlighting the environmental issues facing us today. It
will generate enhanced opportunities
and encourage coordination among
many different stakeholders across
the fields of education, science and
Garden have been developed under
the framework of Qatar Foundation,
and with the support and advice of a
team of experts. These include Prof
Dr Kamal Batanouny (Qatar Foundation), Prof Dr Abdulrahman alMuftah (Qatar), Abdulaziz al-Midfa
(UAE), Dr Gary Brown (Kuwait),
Dr Uwe Herpin (Brazil), Prof Dr
Fareed Krupp (Germany), Dr Guido
Licciardi (Unesco), Narjes Yedder
(Tunisia) and Dr Boer.
The team developed the overarching vision to “provide the people
of Qatar and the Gulf region with a
If you could direct the Qatar National
Research Fund research budget, what
project would you give funding to?
There’s a lot of things that we
need to figure out. I’m personally
interested in understanding what
motivates people to do stuff. That
wouldn’t really need a large investment either, because you just need to
talk to people.
So you wouldn’t spend the money on
inventing a chocolate fountain for your
sitting room?
Actually my brother and I always
said that one day we would figure
out how to bottle sunshine and sell
it to the British. My dad had work
in London so we used to spend the
summers there for three months.
After two weeks we’d start crying, so
we always thought we’d make a lot of
money that way.
»Beyond the
integration of
Arabic, Islamic and
modern scientific
perspectives, the
Garden will play
an important role
in highlighting the
environmental issues
facing us today.«
center of excellence for research and
education, promoting the conservation of natural and cultural heritage,
emphasizing the teachings of the
Holy Qur’an and the Hadith.”
The Garden will also function
as a prime recreational destination.
Initially inaugurated in September
2008, the project is now looking for a
new site within EC.
Qatar Foundation Telegraph.
Thursday 11 March 2010
Time Off
Write to us: [email protected]
Dear Editor,
I think that the first issue was
clearly focused on HR services
and it is a good idea to have each
issue mainly focused on a specific
topic, for example, building
programs, transportation, education
for children, medical facilities,
accommodation and so on. In
other words, the kinds of issues that
concern QF employees so that they
can ensure more feasible adaptation
and communication.
Dr. Rodney Wilson, Visiting Professor
from Durham University
Dear Editor,
I would suggest that QFTelegraph
dedicates a page related to events in
radio
Readers’
letters
Write to QFTelegraph at
[email protected] to have your say.
Doha, where QFT readers receive
recommendations about places
and occasions of interest in Doha.
This can include information and
recommendations about: QF and
faculty special events, cultural events
taking place in the city, especially
given that Doha has been selected
as the Arab Cultural Capital for
2010 and so many events have been
scheduled throughout the year,
7.50am – 8am Qatar Philharmonic
Orchestra
10am – 10.30am Future Leaders:
Mohammed Al Nassr interviews the
leaders of tomorrow
5pm – 5.30pm Campus Buzz: Live
student radio show
Tuesday
7
including gastronomy and shopping:
QF has special deals with some local
suppliers that allow QF staff to enjoy
special discounts. Also, exhibitions,
cinema, theatre, music and art festivals...
Ezzedin Ben Abdennebi, Executive
Program Coordinator, Qatar Faculty of
Islamic Studies
Reply: This is a community newspaper
and all our news relates back to QF.
However, I am interested in hearing
more about the QF staff discounts, so
do send me a mail if you have further
information on that.
both languages are well expressed in
a style that can be followed without
losing interest. Also, both languages
appear to be consistent.
Dear Editor,
Suhair Al-Salah, PR Media Officer, Qatar
Faculty of Islamic Studies
I think the language [of your
newspaper] is accessible to all
employees regardless of their
acquisition level. Haya Al Nassr’s
column was excellent in terms of
information, thoughts and language.
It also tried to raise awareness about
QFTelegraph and The Foundation.
Having a bilingual newspaper is a
welcome development. In general,
Correction
Peter Chomowicz is the Associate
Dean for Research and Academic
Affairs at VCUQatar and not the
Assistant Dean as stated in the
Column: Crossing Boundaries.
Conditions of submission
Requests for inclusion and submissions of material must be made no later than two weeks in
advance of publication. Requests and submission of information may be made by email only directly
to the relevant QFTelegraph journalist or to [email protected]. Any articles written will be treated as
correct and approved by the Sender and his or her Department/Center, as will recorded interviews.
Interviews given may not be recalled or changed unless containing substantial errors of fact.
Interviews and information received will be treated as confidential until published. The publisher’s
decision on all matters of content and style is final.
Fun & Games
QFTelegraph is searching for submission ofArabic-language cartoons to fill this space! Please send artwork to [email protected]
6am – 9am Doha Briefing Breakfast
Show
10am – 10.30 Food Talk: recipes and
healthy eating
Sunday
Wednesday
6am – 9am Doha Briefing
6am – 9am Doha Briefing Breakfast
Breakfast Show
Show
8am – 8.30am Dr Kerr’s Sidra
Casebook: Health and medical
innovation issues
Thursday
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solution
7
Puzzle by websudoku.com
9
1
4
2
8
6
7
5
3
6
8
5
Fill in the grid so that every row, every
column and every 3x3 box contains the
digits 1 through to 9.
8
2
6
7
3
5
4
1
9
As a Qatari, I see the West Bay
development with those huge towers
and love to see the change. When you
walk between the towers you see a
very advanced and developed area.
It’s interesting to see how it has all
changed. Outside the city, we have the
Sealine Beach Resort, we have Dukhan,
where the oil is produced, that’s a really
nice and interesting area.
7
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The Rules are Simple
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Executive Director,
Facilities Management
Directorate
1
su do ku
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8
2
3
1
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Mohammed
Al Malki
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My Favorite...
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2
Breakfast Show
10am – 10.45am Design Edition:
VCUQatar professors discuss local
and global design
5
6
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9
2
1
3
7
4
6am – 9am Doha Briefing
Show
2
7
3
4
6
8
5
9
1
Monday
6am – 9am Doha Briefing Breakfast
4
9
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Introducing new programming for
the month of February/March 2010
8
Listings
we recommend...
Green
Market
Sat, 20 March, 9am – 1pm
The Arab Qatari Company will
sell plants and vegetables
at reasonable prices. They
offer a selection of indoor and
outdoor plants, plus vegetables
produced on their own farm.
Community & Recreation
Center, AaQool Atrium
Email communitysupport@
qf.org.qa for more information
facilities
timings
Qatar Foundation Telegraph.
Thursday 11 March 2010
Write to us: [email protected]
Outdoor Fitness
Circuit
Mon – Thu: 4pm – 5pm
HEALTH & FITNESS
SOCIAL
Fitness Center
Cricket
Sun – Sat: 5.30am – 10pm
Sun: 7pm – 9pm
Ladies Fitness Room
Faculty & Staff Football
Sun – Sat: 5.30am – 10pm
Sun: 6pm – 8pm
Swimming Pools
Tennis
Sun – Thurs: Olympic
pool (EC Members): 7am
– 3.30pm; All pools (EC
Members): 3.30pm – 7.30pm
(Men:Wed: 5.30pm, Sun: 5pm;
Fri, Sat: Public: 9am – 6pm,
Ladies (EC Members): Sun:
5pm – 8pm, Wed: 5.30pm –
7.30pm
Mon: 6pm – 9pm
Thurs: 5pm – 7pm
CLASSES
Hirokazu Koreeda’s film
After Life is showing on
Wednesday 24 March
Sat: 8am – 9am
Water polo
Tues,Thurs: 5.30pm – 6.30pm
Basketball
Tues: 7pm – 9pm
Badminton
events
Wed: 6pm – 9pm
Fri: 10am – 1pm
Ladies Fitness
Mon,Wed: 4pm – 5pm
Sat: 10.30am – 11.30am
Squash
Thurs: 5pm – 7pm
Ladies: Sat: 4pm – 5pm
Karate
Sun,Wed: 5.15pm – 6.15pm
Soccer (ladies)
Education City Quiz Challenge
Mon: 7pm – 9pm
Thurs, 11 March, 5.30pm
The Education City Quiz
Challenge, a trivia challenge
among the various educational
institutions of Education City,
brings students and faculty
members from each branch
campus together so that they
can participate in a knowledge
battle.
East Walkway of Carnegie
Mellon University in Qatar
(CMU-Q)
Spinning
Sun: 6pm – 7pm
Mon,Wed: 6.15pm – 7.15pm
Tues: 5pm – 6pm
Fri: 9.30am – 10.30am
Floor ball
Tues: 7pm – 9pm
Indoor football
Wed: 5.30pm – 7pm
Yoga
Mon,Wed: 5pm – 6pm
Ladies: Wed: 4pm – 5pm
March 2010
Location for all activities:
Recreation Center, call 454 0805
or email [email protected]
we recommend...
Small Cinemas: Transferable
Models That Work
qatar
philharmonic
Orchestra
piano concert
Sat, 13 March
7.30pm – 9.30pm
Qatar Philharmonic
Orchestra’s Walid Howrani
will be playing three
masterpieces on the
piano: Sukkarieh’s Petra,
Tchaikovsky’s Concerto
No.1 in B-flat minor for
piano and orchestra, op.23,
and Berlioz’s Symphony
Fantastic, op.14. Marc
Minkowski will conduct the
concert.
Aspire Zone, Ladies Club
C.S.Kumaran
sport
Fri, 2 April
Texas A&M University at
Qatar (TAMUQ) vs. QF
Sat, 3 April
Mon, 15 March, 4pm
Professor Mette Hjort of the
Lingnan University in Hong
Kong will talk about the
considerable challenges that
cinemas in small countries
face. Hjort will discuss the
concept of ‘small cinemas’
and the range of initiatives,
ranging from artistic
approaches to cultural policy,
which they have developed.
She will explain how these
successful initiatives are
transferable to other countries.
Carnegie Mellon University in
Qatar (CMU-Q), third floor,
room 3035
QF vs. TAMUQ
India: East/West
CRICKET
Sat, 10 April
CMU-Q vs. QF
Fri, 26 March
16 April
CMU-Q vs. QF
Finals
Sat, 27 March
Location for all matches:
Car parking opposite Weill
Cornell Medical College in
Qatar (WCMC-Q)
Georgetown University of
Foreign Service in Qatar
(SFS-Qatar) vs. QF
Mon, 15 March – Sat, 17 April
India: East/West looks at a
critical period in the history
of colonial India at the end
of the 18th and beginning of
the 19th centuries when ideas
of the enlightenment brought
about a quest to discover
the geography, natural
habitat, history, cultures and
architecture of the Indian
subcontinent. The themes are
explored through a discourse
between the scholarly elites of
British colonialists and their
Indian subjects.
VUCQatar Gallery
The Gallery at VCUQatar is
open Sundays to Thursdays,
9am – 5pm or by prior
appointment. For more
information, visit www.qatar.
vcu.edu
swim and a 5-kilometer
run around Education City.
Participants can register
for the competitions at the
Recreation Office until
Monday, 15 March, for a fee
of QAR 50 per team.
Recreation Center, Olympic
swimming pool
For more information, email
[email protected]
Oil on Canvas
Sun, 21 March, 6pm – 8pm
The Center for International
and Regional Studies of
the Georgetown University
School of Foreign Service
in Qatar is sponsoring an
evening of presentations on
the consequences of piracy
in the Gulf of Aden and its
implications for the entire
region. The panel will be
made up of three experts on
the topic.
The Diplomatic Club
To register, visit https://
www4.georgetown.edu/uis/
keybridge/keyform/form.
cfm?FormID=2743
For further information, email
[email protected]
Tues, 16, 23 and 30 March,
4pm – 6pm
Community Support is
offering this course for the
first time. Taught by Fatima
Al Naimi, it covers the basic
techniques of oil painting,
and costs QAR 200 for five
classes.
Community & Recreation
Center, Qurm Hall
To register, call Fatma Al Naimi:
5805056
Stairway to Heaven
Wed, 17 March, 6.30pm
Northwestern University in
Qatar Film Society (NUQFS) presents the second
film in its Afterlife series,
depicting views of death and
the hereafter without religious
undertones and foundations.
Stairway to Heaven is a
British fantasy film that
became a surprise hit in
1946. It focuses on a Second
World War RAF Pilot who
is unharmed after he jumps
from his plane without
a parachute. During an
operation where the pilot
hovers between life and death,
he dreams he is on trial with
God as judge.
Open-Sea Piracy in the Modern
World: Perils and Prospects
After Life
Wed, 24 March, 6.30pm
NU-QFS will be showing
the third film in the Afterlife
series, also entitled After Life,
a film by Japanese director
Hirokazu Koreeda. The movie
is set in a decrepit way station
where the newly-dead spend
their first week in the afterlife
and decide what the single
happiest or most significant
memory of their life is.
CMU-Q, third floor, room
3035
Education City Biathlon
Fri, 19 March, 9am
Qatar Foundation employees
will participate in a 500-meter
Have your event listed. Send us
an email at [email protected]