Doha: Qatar University’s College of Arts & Sciences (CAS) will offer a new PhD in Biological and Environmental Sciences, starting in the new academic year, the university announced yesterday.
The first such programme of its kind in Qatar, this interdisciplinary PhD incorporates broad areas of specialism and is designed to address environmental and health concerns in Qatar and Gulf countries.
Taught by world-class scientists and experts in the field, it will capitalise on areas of national research priorities and will prepare students for research in biological and environmental sciences, enabling them to take up positions in universities, industry or governmental agencies.
The programme, which will have its first intake of students in fall 2013, is the second PhD offered at QU. It brings the total number of graduate programmes at the university to 26 — in addition to the two PhDs there are also 19 Masters, four Diplomas and one PharmD.
Announcing the new programme which is the first doctorate of philosophy at CAS, Head of the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences Professor Samir Jaoua said: “We have already had significant interest in the new PhD and it will undoubtedly be a very successful programme which will play a crucial role in the development of Qatar’s economic, academic and social development. We wish our five new students the very best of luck.”
Prof Jaoua outlined further achievements of the department over this academic year, including the signing of seven Memoranda of Understanding with universities and organisations among which are the University of South Korea, University of Texas A&M-USA and University of Georgia USA. He added that these constitute a solid network of partners covering domains such as biotechnology, environmental ecosystems, marine Science and agriculture.
In addition, the first batch of students of the MSc Environmental Science programme are defending their MSc theses and projects and will be graduating this month.
Prof Jaoua also announced that starting from this year, each BSc. Env Sc and MSc Env Sc graduate from the department will receive a certificate from the Committee of Heads of Environmental Sciences (CHES-IES) in the UK. The department’s undergraduate and masters programmes are the first in the Arab world to be accredited by CHES.
The Peninsula
