Supreme Education Council premiers strategy at Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar

"Qatar's Education and Training Sector Strategy has been developed in consultation with our key partners, both within and external to the sector. Strategic plans and project roadmaps have been formulated to be in alignment with all strategies of K-12 and higher education to be consistent with the plans of other institutions and to serve as a key pathways in realizing Qatar National Vision 2030," H.E. Saad bin Ibrahim Al Mahmoud told an audience of more than 500 educators, students and community members during his speech on campus.

"I extend my thanks to Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar for organizing this event and providing this opportunity to address so many key colleagues and partners in education at this important time as we start the new academic year," added the Secretary General.

In its presentation of Qatar's strategy, the Supreme Education Council addressed several key important issues, including ways in which to address skills and knowledge gaps between K-12 and higher education; attrition rates among secondary school students, especially Qatari males; increasing student motivation; and synchronizing curricula across the education sector.

"As the principal forum for government officials and industry leaders to share their knowledge with Carnegie Mellon and to broaden students' understanding of important issues, we were very pleased to hear His Excellency The Minister and Mr. Scott Hill present Qatar's National Educational Strategy during our first gathering of the Dean's Lecture Series this semester," said Ilker Baybars, dean of Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar.

Following the presentation, Carnegie Mellon Qatar and the Supreme Education Council signed a Memorandum of Understanding, agreeing to work together on education, community development and scientific research.

Scott Hill, Director of the Office of Program Review and Audit at the Supreme Education Council, called for an alignment of the Education sector from K-12 to scientific research in order to develop system-wide solutions for meeting the goals set by both the Qatar National Development Strategy (NDS) 2011-2016 and Qatar National Vision 2030.

"Qatar's strategy is built around the notion that decision makers will be able to identify policy priorities for the educational system for seamless connection amongst all institutions, where feedback mechanisms will be put in place across the system. It's not just about undertaking one project at a time. It is projects supporting each other - allowing for potential symmetry and synergy - creating a sector where institutions support each other," Hill said.

The Dean's Lecture Series will continue with a presentation of Qatar Airways' strategy by Akbar Al Baker, Chief Executive Officer of Qatar Airways, on October 2.