Oct. 17, 2019

University of Calgary in Qatar Sees 52 Percent Increase in New Student Enrollment for Fall 2019

DOHA: The University of Calgary in Qatar is pleased to report a increase in overall enrollment as 523 new and returning nursing students have begun classes. New student enrollment at the University has risen significantly by 52 percent this term as 213 new students were recently welcomed to campus.

UCQ 2019 Fall New Student Orientation

His Excellency, Sheik Dr. Khalid bin Jabr Al-Thani, Chairman of the University of Calgary in Qatar Board of Trustees and Founder and Chairman of the Qatar Cancer Society, expressed his pleasure at the increase in those who have joined the university resulting from increased community awareness about the nursing profession and its importance in the health sector.

“The interest in the health sector and investment in nursing education is a wise investment in the future of Qatar and the goals set in the Qatar National Vision 2030 and the National Health Strategy which paid great attention to the human element as a key pillar to achieve comprehensive development in various sectors,” says H.E. Sheik Dr. Al Thani. He further added that nurses play a critical role in our country's healthcare system which is reflected in the well-being of our families and the community.

H.E. Sheik Dr. Al Thani stresses the University of Calgary in Qatar has set an ambitious goal for further development in the future, in light of the continued strong support of Qatar’s senior leadership and healthcare leaders in Qatar. These leaders have attached great importance to investment in the health sector as the main pillar of the country's development.

“By next year, we are planning for an enrollment of over 620 students and it will continue to grow over the next several years,” explains Dr. Deborah White, Dean, University of Calgary in Qatar. “Qatar needs more nurses to meet the growing demands of our rapidly expanding healthcare sector. Nurses are healthcare leaders who work to promote health, prevent disease, and help patients cope with illness and the work they do has a direct impact on the health of Qatar’s population.”

“Earlier this year in May, at the 72nd World Health Assembly in Geneva, it was announced that 2020 has been designated the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife. As such, the University of Calgary in Qatar and our over 700 alumni, are proud to lead nursing education and the advancement of nursing as a career here in Qatar. Qatar has one of the finest healthcare systems in the world and nurses contribute an important part to this success,” says Dr. White.

The University of Calgary in Qatar offers two paths to a Bachelor of Nursing 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 a Master of Nursing, with one stream particularly focused on Leadership. This is a program designed in collaboration with Qatar’s nursing community to further develop leaders in the profession.

Established in 2007, the Unviersity of Calgary in Qatar is the country’s only Canadian university and exclusive provider of Bachelor and Master degrees in Nursing. Accredited in Canada and adapted to the local culture, the University’s curriculum provides its nursing students with the knowledge and expertise to become fully-integrated leaders in Qatar’s healthcare sector.