Msheireb Museums and Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) partner on a QRDI-funded project to promote responsible digital citizenship and online engagement. The collaboration aligns with this year’s International Museums Day theme, “Museums for Education and Research,” fostering a more conscious, sustainable, and inclusive world.
Msheireb Museums joins the “Future of Digital Citizenship in Qatar: A Socio-Technical Approach” project, supported by QRDI’s National Priorities Research Programme-Cluster (NPRP-C), to preserve cultural heritage and address digital age challenges.
Abdulla Al Naama, General Manager of Msheireb Museums, said, “As a vanguard institution committed to documenting and advancing societal progress, Msheireb Museums is honoured to join forces with a consortium of leading researchers and innovators to showcase the wealth of knowledge museums have to offer. It is apt for our collaboration to come on the heels of International Museum Day as we rethink how knowledge and education can be shared – a topic explored by ICOM during this year’s International Museums Day.”
Titled ‘The Future of Digital Citizenship in Qatar: A Socio-Technical Approach,’ the research project, led by HBKU, involves 10 national and international entities from academia and industry. It includes six sub-projects focusing on social media discourse, web-based tools, educational resources, digital literacy, well-being, gender equality, social inclusion, and online security.
Research findings aim to enhance the digital experience in the Arab world and GCC area, prioritizing diversity and inclusion. Sub-projects include MARSAD Social Media Observatory, Digital Critical Literacy & Propaganda Detection, Digital Wellbeing, Security and Safety Behavior, Gender Equality and Social Inclusion on Social Media, and Digital Citizenship Ambassador Program.
Msheireb Museums’s Abdulla Al Naama added, “We are eager to facilitate the robust evolution of digital citizenship in Qatar and beyond by leaning into our expertise in cultural heritage, community outreach, and education. Msheireb Museums is offering the researchers access to our heritage houses, collections and exhibitions as a platform to investigate opportunities for public engagements on issues relating to digital citizenship.”
Dr. Raian Ali, Professor in Information and Computing Technology at HBKU and one of the research leads, commented on Msheireb Museums joining the collaboration, “As we navigate the complexities of the digital age, it’s imperative to elevate our understanding and engagement with the concept of digital citizenship. We are grateful to Msheireb Museums for serving as platform for this important research cluster. As a narrative museum, filled with thoughtful digital exhibits, Msheireb Museums offers a dynamic backdrop for exploring this crucial topic.”
Situated in Msheireb Downtown Doha, developed by Msheireb Properties, Msheireb Museums narrate Qatar’s evolution within its oldest city center. Comprising Bin Jelmood House, Radwani House, Company House, and Mohammed Bin Jassim House, these museums serve as a repository of social history, promoting societal and cultural progress.
Msheireb Museums highlight common human heritage and cultural diversity. Bin Jelmood House, in particular, pays tribute to the social, cultural, and economic contributions of formerly enslaved people to human civilization’s growth.
“This year’s International Museums Day theme, ‘Museums for Education and Research,’ resonates deeply with the core mission of cultural institutions worldwide. It underscores the pivotal role museums play in supporting education through ongoing research and exploration. We whole-heartedly support a future where knowledge knows no bounds with the help of advancements in technology and research practices,” said Dr. Hafiz Al Abdulla, Senior Director of Corporate Communications at Msheireb Properties and ICOM Qatar Board Member.
As Msheireb Museums continues groundbreaking research collaborations and community engagement, it maintains its dedication as a social history museum, observing, documenting, and encouraging societal and cultural development in Qatar.
