Dr. Sheikha Aisha bint Faleh Al Thani, Chairperson of Al Faleh Educational Holding, with the graduates.
Doha: More than 22 years have passed since the establishment of Al Faleh Educational Holding in Qatar, during which it has succeeded in providing a unique and highly advanced education model that covers kindergarten all the way through higher education.
The model achieved a great deal of success mainly by providing a wide range of unique educational opportunities, as well as a flexible and stimulating learning environment. During those years, Al Faleh Holding played a pioneering role in providing various segments of society with the invaluable opportunity to seek higher education and achieve their academic and professional goals and aspirations.
Dr. Sheikha Aisha bint Faleh Al Thani, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Al Faleh Educational Holding, confirmed in an interview with The Peninsula that Al Faleh Holding has succeeded in implementing an integrated and active strategy aimed at developing the capabilities of its students and elevating them on all levels, local, regional and international, and to contribute to the betterment of the educational sector and to help raise and empower the country’s future leaders in line with its National Vision for 2030.
She stressed that both Doha Academy and AFG College witnessed vast developments and carried out many achievements. She contributed that great success to God’s grace and the continuous support that the company is bestowed upon by Qatar’s wise leadership, and its ambitious strategies to further invest in and elevate the human cadre.
Our enriching conversation with Dr. Sheikha Aisha Bint Faleh Al Thani continued as such:
We would like to inquire more about Al Faleh Educational Holding and to get to know more about the scope of services it provides.
Dr. Sheikha Aisha bint Faleh Al Thani, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Al Faleh Educational Holding
Al Faleh Educational Holding is a pioneer in providing high-quality education and higher education services in Qatar. It’s an umbrella under which falls three schools: Doha Academy Al Waab Branch, Doha Academy Salwa Branch, and Doha International Kindergarten. In addition, it includes one of the most established and distinctive universities in the country, AFG College in cooperation with the University of Aberdeen, one of the world’s most distinguished and oldest British universities. Al Faleh Educational Holding was also established with the aim of elevating the educational sector, as well as helping raise and empower the future leaders of Qatar in line with its National Vision for 2030. The holding was recently listed in the secondary market (the startup market) of the Qatari Stock Exchange, as the first female-led Qatari company to go public, and it is also the first Qatari education-based institution to be listed on the Qatar Stock Exchange. Al Faleh Educational Holding offers career-focused educational programs, through a wide range of disciplines that are in tune with the knowledge-based economy and that contribute to meeting the requirements of the Qatari labor market.
Outstanding financial performance:
How do you assess the financial performance of Al-Faleh Educational Holding Company in 2022?
The company has been successful in achieving remarkable business growth, which in turn contributed to achieving outstanding results. Our Revenue amounted to QR 126,787,324 for the period ending on August 31, 2022, compared to QR 121,944,511 for the same period in the previous year, with a growth rate of 3.97%. Our net profit amounted to QR12.3 million. Earnings per share amounted to QR0.051 for the period ending on August 31, 2022, compared to QR 0.052 for the same period in the previous year. The general assembly will be held on November 13, 2022, and the profit will be distributed amongst shareholders at 3.125% of the company’s capital.
In terms of cash flow generation, the company performed well, with our net cash flow reaching QR11.9 million by the end of the year, which signals an increase of 75.3% compared to 2021. This is mainly due to the stability of the performance within our schools and college and can also be attributed to the improvement of our working capital management. The company’s loans decreased to QR 22 million as of August 31, 2022, compared to QR 33.8 million in 2021.
Dr. Sheikha Aisha added: “The reason behind Al-Faleh Educational Holding’s success in making this revenue can be attributed to several factors, most importantly, the increase in the number of our school admissions.
"We anticipate further growth for Al Faleh Educational Holding in the upcoming year, especially as we are currently in the process of obtaining the New England Association accreditation (NEASC) for our schools and colleges, which solidifies the premium quality education provided to our students and our keenness to provide the best education-focused services possible.
We are also currently working on offering a new range of specialized university, academic programs at AFG College in cooperation with the University of Aberdeen, after obtaining the approval of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education.
Specializations and new programs offered:
Can you expand more upon Doha Academy, and what are some of the specialized academic programs that are currently offered by AFG College with the University of Aberdeen?
Following more than 20 years since its establishment, Doha Academy was able to assert a grand position among the country’s most reputable schools, where the British curriculum is adopted, with an uncompromising emphasis on the Islamic culture that we honor in Qatar. We are proud of our students who continue to achieve the highest scores in all international exams where 86% of our students achieved top marks on AS Level exams. The total number of students that enrolled in Doha Academy during the year 2021/22 has reached 2,150 students.
AFG College with the University of Aberdeen:
Regarding the majors and academic programs that are currently being offered at AFG College, Dr. Sheikha Aisha bint Faleh Al Thani stated: “We are working on offering a new range of specialized academic programs following receiving approval from the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, and then they will be announced. She pointed out that there are various specialized academic programs at AFG College, such as a Master’s program in Business Administration and a Master’s program in International Commercial Law.
She also noted that there are also complementary academic programs that are being offered at AFG college, which can facilitate the process for graduates from other colleges, in order for them to complete their studies at AFG college and obtain a bachelor’s degree. In keeping with global developments, AFG College, in cooperation with the University of Aberdeen, offers programs that allow for courses under professional supervision, and by faculty members from Aberdeen University to take place. We have also signed several collaboration agreements with renowned institutions such as Al Jazeera, beIN, and Talabat, which supports our aspirations in increasing the number of our admissions and as well as provide our graduates and undergraduates with ample job opportunities.
The number of admissions at AFG College with the University of Aberdeen reached 680 students in 2021-22, and the graduation ceremony will be held on January 17 and 18, 2023, and will feature approximately 290 graduates, including the first batch of graduates from LLM International Commercial Law program.
These programs are fully aligned with Qatar’s National Vision 2030 and are designed according to internationally recognized standards set by various internationally accredited academic agencies.
Quality of Education:
Both Doha Academy and AFG College have been able to achieve advanced growth in the level of their respective quality of education. Their educational standards feature an indicator that reflects the extent of the university’s interest in maintaining and elevating the quality of its educational process and its output by providing students with an appropriate selection of highly advanced faculty members who can meet the students’ requirements in terms of honoring and protecting their educational environment and providing exceptional services. This leads to increasing student satisfaction and amplifying the university’s positive reputation in the sector.
Brian Buckley, Principal of AFG College with the University of Aberdeen said: “Our university is now firmly established as a leading provider of high-quality British education. We continue to attract highly motivated students across our undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. We are working closely with employers across a wide selection of organisations, providing career-focused opportunities for both our students and graduates. The planned introduction of additional degree programmes for our forthcoming academic year will provide our community with an even greater opportunity to access our world-class education.
In January we will celebrate our 4th graduation ceremony, with around 290 graduands receiving their Aberdeen degrees. These are exciting times for our students and graduates. This year’s hosting of the FIFA World Cup has demonstrated that Qatar is an advanced economy with great ambitions for the future. Higher education will play a significant part in achieving our country’s goals and I’m confident that our students and graduates will be at the forefront of Qatar’s continuing success both now and in the future.”
Edward Cooper, Principal of Doha Academy Schools, said, “As per the Doha Academy Vision, we are an outward-looking group, always striving to be a global leader in education both in Qatar and internationally. This is why we are building on the success of our national accreditations and attaining wider international benchmarks of quality practice in our partnership with the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) and other organisations.
Our continual focus, via internal and external evaluation, is the development of a deeper understanding of high-quality learning in our context. This will inform all practice going forward.”
AFG College’s guide to 'Engage your Employees during the World Cup':
AFG College with the University of Aberdeen this week held a masterclass, as part of their ongoing CPD programme, entitled “Engage your Employees during the World Cup.” The masterclass was held on campus and explored the issues affecting senior leadership, with relevance to keeping their employees engaged effectively during the period of the tournament. The event was led by AFG College Head of Discipline for Business and Management, Dr Fiona Robson.
Given the proximity of the World Cup tournament and the potential challenges that all organisations will face, Dr Robson emphasised the importance of embracing the diversity of their workforce and of building team relationships.
A range of sectors and employers were represented at the interactive event, where Dr Robson gave participants the opportunity of discussing issues that they are encountering and of how effective employee engagement could help their organisations during the World Cup and beyond.
Dr Fiona Robson said: “It is always a pleasure to run these masterclasses and to have the opportunity of showing valued members of our business community how we can use theory and research to advance management practice. It is also gratifying to hear real examples of what is happening in Qatar-based organisations, in order that we can share real life case studies with our students, here at the College.”
