Dr. Lolwa A AlNaemi, the director of strategy and partnership at the Higher Education Division of Qatar Foundation (QF) talks to QH on how QF’s higher education initiatives align with the national growth objective, in addition to highlighting the important ongoing projects at the Foundation.
QH: What is the primary role of the QF Higher Education division?
AlNaemi: The Qatar Foundation Higher Education Strategy, approved in 2021, has created opportunities for coordinated efforts and amplified impact across QF Higher Education institutes (HEIs). This strategy fosters collaboration between QF and partner universities (PUs), in addition to homegrown Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), establishing a unique ecosystem that promotes innovation and experiential learning. Through these partnerships, H. Ed’s strategy focuses on creating opportunities for knowledge transfer and elevating the quality of education in Qatar.
Over the years, QF H. Ed division has cultivated strong partnerships, leading to a growing number of joint courses and minor programmes, cross-registration, and multidisciplinary, experiential learning opportunities under the “multiversity” framework within the QF ecosystem. The division is committed to systematically facilitating the delivery of QF’s unique educational ecosystem by offering strategic guidance and support. It will continue to steer collective efforts to ensure QF’s educational ecosystem maintains its uniqueness, fosters innovation, and explores practices that promote holistic student achievement in ways that facilitate enduring impact.
As a division, we are committed to supporting the Qatari government’s investments in education by providing quality education that aligns with national priorities and meets labour market needs.
QH: How does QF Higher Education ensure that its initiatives align with the nation’s strategic goals?
AlNaemi: Qatar Foundation Higher Education Division (QF H.Ed) is committed to contributing to Qatar’s national vision, guided by the Qatar Third National Development Strategy (NDS3). QF H.Ed has conducted a thorough review of the NDS3 and identified initiatives currently being undertaken within the division as well as QF affiliated universities, that directly contribute to the national agenda. Additionally, through this analysis, QF H.Ed has identified areas of opportunities that non-academic entities may undertake to support efforts in higher education that will continue to inform our strategic priorities.
QH: What are the key impact areas targeted by QF Higher Education?
AlNaemi: QF Higher Education seeks to build a future for Qatar by combining academic excellence with research innovation, social engagement, and economic contribution. QF HEIs aim to drive substantial impact across several key areas:
- Talent Development: Beyond traditional academics, QF HEIs focus on holistic student growth and skill development. Strategic priorities include attracting a diverse student body, creating personalised learning experiences, and nurturing students’ social engagement. Impact is measured by student diversity, joint programme participation, and social work involvement
- Research: QF HEIs emphasise groundbreaking research to advance knowledge and address global and local challenges. Key priorities are fostering a research culture, generating influential publications, and integrating research experiences into student education. Impact is assessed by research contributions to society and student involvement in internships or research.
- Social Impact: QF HEIs strive for sustainable and meaningful societal change through community engagement and outreach. They aim to positively influence lives, cultures, and well-being, with priorities including innovative learning approaches and partnerships for continuous education and skills development. Impact is measured by community engagement, ongoing education participation, and partnerships for upskilling.
- Economic Impact: QF HEIs contribute economically through direct, indirect, and induced effects.
QH: Can you highlight some of the significant projects of QF Higher Education?
AlNaemi: QF H.Ed Division is at the forefront of several significant initiatives, with a prominent focus on digital transformation and analytics. These projects aim to enhance operational efficiency and leverage data-driven insights, ultimately supporting strategic priorities and decision-making processes. Here are some key highlights:
Digital Transformation Project
QF H.Ed Division has embarked on a comprehensive digital transformation journey. This strategic shift is designed to optimise various aspects of data management and analytics:
- Automating data ingestion: Implementing advanced systems to streamline the collection and integration of data from various sources, including partner universities.
- Curating data sources: Ensuring the quality and relevance of data by curating and maintaining comprehensive datasets.
- Creating analytics dashboards: Developing user-friendly dashboards to visualise data, enabling stakeholders to gain actionable insights at a glance.
- Leveraging data for strategic insights: Utilising analytical tools to transform raw data into strategic insights that inform decision-making processes across the organisation and its partner universities.
Optimising Data Management
Recognising the critical importance of efficient data management, QF aims to enhance the collection and processing of information from its partner universities. Key objectives include:
- Streamlined data processing: Enhancing the efficiency of data collection and processing to ensure timely and accurate reporting.
- Analytical insights for reporting: Utilising advanced analytics to generate insights that support various reporting purposes, helping to inform strategic decisions and priorities.
Championing Data-Based Decision Making
The Higher Education Division is committed to leading and facilitating data-based decision making within the broader higher education community. This involves:
- Providing Evidence for Strategic Priorities: Supplying data-driven evidence to support the strategic goals and initiatives of QF higher education and its partners.
- Enhancing Analysis Capabilities: Offering robust analysis capabilities to the higher education community, enabling more informed and effective decision making.
These initiatives underscore the Higher Education Division’s role in advancing digital transformation and data-based decision making, ultimately contributing to the overall strategic objectives of Qatar Foundation and its partner universities.
Short Shots
Favourite travel destination: Greece
Most favourite book: Educated by Tara Westover
Project of pride: Qatar National Library
Best advice received: To be a compassionate leader
Unwinding after a long day: Spending time with my family
Favourite quote or motto: “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”
