Texas A and M University at Qatar welcomes international ethics experts

The event, sponsored by Qatar Petroleum and organized by the University's Liberal Arts program, was presented in collaboration with The Initiative in Professional Ethics (TIPE), an umbrella organization for all ethics-related activities at

The conference's theme, "Ethical Engagement with Globalization, Citizenship and Multiculturalism: Multidisciplinary Perspectives" (EGCM 2013), was geared toward raising awareness about the relationship and complexities that exist between the notions of citizenship within a globalized world and the means by which universalistic and/or particularistic ethical systems and structures fit into a multicultural globe.

Dr. Mark H. Weichold, Texas A&M at Qatar dean and CEO, said, "We are honored to have such an impressive program of speakers for this conference. As Texas A&M University at Qatar endeavors to educate engineering leaders, a well-rounded education with a strong liberal arts component is essential. This conference's focus on Ethical Engagement with Globalization, Citizenship and Multiculturalism is an excellent example of what we are trying to achieve in our programs. We are grateful to everybody who has traveled from near and far to be part of the conference and a special thanks to Qatar Petroleum for its leadership and generosity that made this conference possible."

The two-day event featured lectures and panels for students, faculty and staff of educational institutions and research centers in Qatar.

Dr. Hassan Bashir, assistant professor of Liberal Arts at Texas A&M at Qatar and director and co-founder of TIPE, said, "This conference was, by all accounts, a resounding success. The event not only had more world-class speakers than any previous liberal arts event in Qatar, but it also had more students and younger people in attendance. Presentations and discussions in the conference covered an exceptionally broad range of disciplines and seeded new ideas that will give rise to innovative new projects in various academic fields."

The conference was attended by more than 50 leading scholars representing 35 universities from 17 countries. Keynote speakers at the event were Dr. Francis Robinson and Dr. Patrick Linke. Dr. Robinson is professor of the History of South Asia at the Royal Holloway University of London, Sultan of Oman Fellow, and has served as President of the Royal Asiatic Society.

In his address, he discussed the characteristics of the modern nation state and its implications for citizenship, multiculturalism, and globalization.
Linke is professor of Chemical Engineering at Texas A&M University at Qatar and chief engineer at the Qatar National Food Security Program (QNFSP).

His address delineated the opportunities and challenges faced by QNFSP, as well as the program's ongoing strategies.

Dr. Troy Bickham, Liberal Arts program chair at Texas A&M University at Qatar, said, "The conference was an exciting and successful international event that draws on the research and expertise of scholars from a wide variety of disciplines around the world. We thank QP for the continuous support of this very successful conference that has been launched since last year".