Doha: University of Calgary in Qatar (UCQ) celebrated its largest-ever graduating class at its 2015 Convocation ceremony. UCQ’s 84 graduates were awarded the university’s gold-standard Bachelor of Nursing (BN) and Master of Nursing (MN) degrees.
UCQ's sixth Convocation, which took place at Qatar National Convention Centre, commemorated several important milestones. The Class of 2015 was the largest graduating class of Qatari nationals, with 22 Qatari graduates. Fifty-one Qatari nationals have now earned degrees from UCQ. Nine of the UCQ graduates, all current nursing professionals, became the first in Qatar to earn an MN, marking a significant achievement for the country’s growing health sector.
"The University of Calgary congratulates these graduates, who will champion and embody the noble ideals of the nursing profession here in Qatar," said Dr Robert Thirsk, Chancellor of the University of Calgary.
To date, 225 graduates have earned BN degrees from UCQ, while nine have graduated from UCQ’s MN program, bringing UCQ’s community of alumni to 234 highly trained health care professionals. Over 600 students are currently registered in UCQ’s BN and MN programs. Convocation was attended by Qatar’s Minister of Public Health, H E Abdullah bin Khalid Al Qahtani.
Dr Badriya Al Lenjawi, Assistant Executive Director of Nursing for Professional Development and Qatarization for HMC and a driving force behind the UCQ MN degree program, delivered the convocation address.
"Since opening in the fall of 2007, at the invitation of the State of Qatar, the University of Calgary in Qatar has been the only university in Qatar to educate nurses for the nation’s expanding healthcare system,” UCQ Dean and CEO Dr Kim Critchley noted.
"Tonight, we honour these students for their academic achievements and look forward to the positive contribution they, as members of UCQ’s largest graduating class, will make to the achievement of Qatar’s health goals".
At the event, Bachelor of Nursing Gold Medallion recipient Stephany Tapa Neng and Post Diploma Bachelor of Nursing Silver Medallion Recipient Monaa Mansoora were announced as winners of UCQ’s highest academic distinctions. Mashael Jassim, the first Qatari to graduate from UCQ’s MN program who also delivered the Graduate’s Pledge was also recognized.
UCQ offers two paths to a BN degree - a four-year program for qualified high school graduates, and a two-year program for nurses holding diplomas in nursing from recognized institutions. The University also offers two MN programs: a MN in Oncology, created with HMC in order to support the National Cancer Strategy, and the MN in Leadership program, designed in collaboration with Qatar’s nursing community to further develop leaders in the profession. The university’s programs are open to Qatari nationals and residents.
QNA
