DOHA, QATAR - College of the North Atlantic (CNA) and the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, State of Qatar have entered into a new three-year service agreement, marking the continuance of a proud partnership that has existed for nearly two decades as well as the further evolution of the move to more autonomy for the Qatari campus.
The formal event to finalize the new agreement, the most significant international post-secondary agreement for a North American institution, occurred Sunday, February 10, 2019 at College of the North Atlantic – Qatar (CNA-Q), and was attended by officials from both countries.
Among those at the ratification were: CNA President & CEO Bruce Hollett and Trudy Barnes, Vice President of Partnerships, Innovation and Entrepreneurship; Advanced Education, Skills and Labour Minister Bernard Davis, along with CNA-Q President Dr. Khalifa Nasser Al-Khalifa; Qatar’s Education and Higher Education Minister His Excellency Dr. Mohammed Abdul Wahid Al-Hammadi; and, Chair of the CNA-Q Board of Trustees His Excellency Dr. Mohammed Al-Sada.
The contract renewal reflects a seamless commitment to the long-standing partnership between CNA and the State of Qatar. Since 2001, CNA-Q has showcased its role as that country’s second largest post-secondary institution and premier technical college that delivers world-class technological programming and training. CNA-Q is a prime example of collaboration on an international scale, meeting the economic development requirements of Qatar society and industry and educational needs for post-secondary students from more than 20 countries.
“Our government is proud to support College of the North Atlantic’s strong partnership with the State of Qatar,” said Min. Davis. “This agreement shows the college continues to be a strong academic partner of Qatar, which benefits students in both countries. I cherish the friendship between Newfoundland and Labrador and Qatar. The cultural exchange experienced by staff and students will benefit them for the rest of their lives.”
“College of the North Atlantic recognizes the significance of this close relationship with our Qatari partners, and we take great pride in having played a significant role in developing and delivering the leading-edge curriculum and programming for the future leaders of Qatar,” noted President Hollett. “As Newfoundland and Labrador’s public post-secondary skilled training provider, this agreement speaks volumes about the value of our combined expertise, and we are proud to have shared this knowledge and vision. I offer my congratulations to CNA-Q, as they prepare to move forward in their educational vision of independence and autonomy. We are proud to have shared in this evolution.”
About CNA-Q
College of the North Atlantic - Qatar (CNA-Q) was established after a world-wide search to bring the best technical training to the State of Qatar in the form of a multi-disciplinary institution responsive to the country's growing economy. Since its inception in 2002, CNA-Q has graduated more than 5,400 students to enter the workforce and contribute to Qatar's National Vision 2030.
Now in its 17th academic year, the college has grown remarkably from 50 employees and 300 students in 11 programs. Today, there more than 3,000 full-time students enrolled in over 30 internationally-accredited diploma and certificate programs in the disciplines of: Business Studies, Engineering Technology and Industrial Trades, Health Sciences and Information Technology.
CNA-Q is regarded as a Centre for Excellence in Technical and Vocational Education and Training in Qatar, delivering CNA's Canadian curriculum specifically aligned to Qatar's labour market needs. Currently, there are currently 650+ staff at working at CNA-Q, of which 441 are Canadian-hire positions.
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Media contacts:
Michelle Barry
Communications Specialist
College of the North Atlantic
1-709-643-7721
Michelle.barry@cna.nl.ca
Meaghan Philpott
Public Information Officer
College of the North Atlantic-Qatar
+974 4495 2035
meaghan.philpott@cna-qatar.edu.qa
Ryan Crocker
Media Relation Manager
Advanced Education, Skills and Labour
1-709-729-1795
Ryan.crocker@gov.nl.ca