Last month, the University’s International Development Office (IDO) was invited to present at the Qatar-UK Business & Innovation Forum at the ICC in Birmingham.

Andrew Patton, Regional Head (Middle East, Africa & Turkey) within the Department of Marketing, Internationalisation and Development at the University said: “As the sole UK higher education institution given this opportunity, it was a privilege to participate at an event that welcomed senior governmental and ministerial figures from Qatar, as well as public and private investors to demonstrate how the University is assisting Qatar in achieving its education objectives outlined in the Qatar National Vision 2030.”

A highlight of the presentation was a personal speech delivered by Swansea University BEng Civil Engineering student Sheikha Maha Al-Thani who spoke on the role of women in Qatar's future and how Swansea University is helping Qatari students, like herself, to make a real impact on their country's future.

Swansea University has also been invited to participate in the 4th International Universities Arabic Debating Championship in Doha, Qatar which will take place for six days from 8 – 12 April 2017.

The purpose of this prestigious event is to bring together young Arabic and non-Arabic speaking debaters from Europe, North America, Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia.

Swansea University is the only university to participate from Wales, and one of only two UK universities to attend (the other is Bradford). This is the third time that Swansea University will attend the Debate.

The championship will have 86 teams representing 77 universities from 45 countries from around the world. The team of students chosen to represent the University are: Abdulrahman Masrai; Shahd Hadia; Bashair Albalushi and Abdulla Al-Thani.  Sheikh Mohsen (Muslim advisor & Imam of Swansea University’s Mosque) has been training the students and will attend the event with the team. 

Pictured above, left to right: Andrew Patton (Regional Head - Middle East, Africa & Turkey), Ruth Bunting (Head of Operations, College of Engineering), Fahd Al-Kuwari (Deputy Qatari Cultural Attaché) Dr. Mohammed Al-Kaabi (Qatari Cultural Attaché) and Dr. Khalid Al-Horr (Director of Higher Education Institute Qatar).