First Board of Trustees announced for University of Calgary in Qatar

The State of Qatar has officially announced the first Board of Trustees for the University of Calgary in Qatar (UCQ) under a new governance structure established earlier this year upon the signing of a five-year collaboration agreement between the State and the University of Calgary. Now in its 11th year of operation, UCQ is the only Canadian university in Qatar and the sole provider of bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing in the country.

Board members from Qatar and Canada met together in Doha this week for the first time to discuss current operations and the future strategic plans for the university, including next steps in helping to meet the Qatar National Health Strategy 2018-2022.

• Above, from left: University of Calgary in Qatar board members Karen Jackson, Sandra Davidson, Dru Marshall, Sheikh Khalid bin Jabor al-Thani, Nabila Al Meer, and Khalid al-Ali.

“A healthy future for Qatar depends on a workforce that includes well-educated nurses,” says UCQ Board of Trustees Chair, Sheikh Dr. Khalid bin Jabor al-Thani. “The University of Calgary in Qatar offers higher education nursing degrees right here in our own country.

"Nurses make vital contributions to the health of their patients and their families in our community. They are catalysts who are leading health-care system transformation. Meeting the health-care goals of Qatar requires educating more nurses and supporting the development of current nurses. I believe UCQ is educating the nursing leaders that will help us get there.”

• Above: The University of Calgary in Qatar is the only Canadian university in Qatar and the sole provider of bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing in the country.

Dr. Dru Marshall, provost and vice-president (academic) of the University of Calgary, was one of three senior university representatives who travelled from Canada for this meeting. “The formation of a board of trustees is an important and necessary step forward for UCQ,” explained Marshall. “The University of Calgary has a proud tradition of academic excellence in Canada and around the world. We are excited to contribute to the advancement of nursing in Qatar by delivering the academic programs that will help make it possible.”

Board members appointed by the State of Qatar include: Board Chair, Sheikh Dr. Khalid bin Jabor al-Thani, chairman, Qatar Cancer Society; Dr. Asmaa Ali J F Al Thani, dean of College of Health Sciences and professor of virology, Qatar University; Dr. Khalid Al-Ali, director of Higher Education Institutions Affairs Department, Office of the Assistant Undersecretary for Higher Education Affairs; and Dr. Nabila Al Meer, deputy chief for Continuing Care Group and Ministry of Public Health Nursing Affairs.

Board members appointed by the University of Calgary include: Dru Marshall; Dr. Sandra Davidson, dean, Faculty of Nursing, University of Calgary; and Karen Jackson, general counsel, University of Calgary.