College of the North Atlantic-Qatar celebrates Grand Opening
12/2/2005 12:24:01 PM
Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al-Misned, Consort of His Highness, the Emir of Qatar inaugurated the new campus of College of the North Atlantic-Qatar (CNA-Q) on Thursday, December 1. The new campus is furthering the vision shared by the State of Qatar and CNA-Q to bring world-class education to Qatar. This vision was to create a world-class institution offering technical education and training and to graduate students who are prepared to contribute to the State’s tremendous economic growth. CNA-Q prepares individuals to be successful participants in sustainable social and economic development in their local communities, the State of Qatar and throughout the world.
June 2001 saw the beginning of CNA-Q, when a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the State of Qatar and College of the North Atlantic, Canada. September of that year saw the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement to create CNA’s first international campus. On September 14, 2002, the first students began their studies at the campus and in three years, CNA-Q has grown to approximately 1,200 students and over 300 staff, and has moved from a temporary campus to a world-class, purpose-built, 22-building facility.
His Excellency Sheikh Abdullah said, “CNA-Q is a showcase of true inter-country cooperation in further education to provide the region with a unique facility to encourage professional development in the Middle East. This is an important step for Qatar, as one of the fastest growing economies in the world, to offer a world-class comprehensive technical college in a bid to elevate the level of education offered in the region.”
With state-of-the-art equipment and buildings, CNA-Q is offering the best technical education available and allows students to take advantage of the best facilities and technology available anywhere in the world.
CNA-Q offers Canadian and international diploma and certificate programs in a range of disciplines including Health Sciences, Information Technology, Engineering Technology and Business Studies. Students are provided with the knowledge and skills necessary to be the thinkers and doers that every business needs to gain a competitive edge in today’s global economy.
“It will make Qatar a force of modernization in the Gulf and a regional leader in education, specialized training and applied research, equipping graduates with credentials valued the world over and providing a dedicated pool of professionals for generations to come,” HE Sheikh Abdullah said.
“CNA-Q, which is the first international branch of a leading Canadian college, brings a Canadian curriculum to a predominantly Qatari student body,” Dr. Latifa Al-Houty, Director of the College of Technology Project said. “It is unique in that approximately 80 percent of students are sponsored by government agencies or private companies. This sponsorship includes tuition and guaranteed job placement after graduation. The relationship between CNA-Q and the sponsors ensures that students are learning material relevant to the job market. This close relationship also ensures that instructors are teaching the most up-to-date information available, with courses being re-engineered with the changes in the job market.”
Dr. Harald Jorch, President of CNA-Q, said, “Our programs are models for employability success. With a majority of our students sponsored by government agencies and private companies, students learn knowledge and how to apply it in professions and trades that are needed in today’s workforce. The support of business and Government has been phenomenal, with their help in developing current, leading edge curriculum and our model of sponsored education. This provides early and secure job placement for many training through the college in industry-specific programs that ready them for their direct move from successful student to highly effective employee.”
There are over 25 organizations and Government departments that sponsor students including Qatar Petroleum, Hamad Medical Corporation and QTel.
Inside the 42 hectares of land sits 20 buildings with a total area of 80,000 sq meters. These buildings include recreation facilities, industrial workshops and high-tech labs. CNA-Q is today home to 1200 students from 31 countries and over 300 staff. The facilities are able to accommodate up to 3000 students. Constantly evolving to best serve the needs of the students and the State, CNA-Q recently introduced new areas of study including pre-nursing, pharmacy technology, dental technician, banking and finance and technical preparatory programs. Great planning has gone in to the campus’ design to showcase its technological prowess whilst also providing an environment conducive to study and learning. Its visionary design concept blends the traditional design of old Doha’s alleys and courtyards – the baraha – with ultra-modern materials like glass and steel. The wrap-around walls recall the graphics of ancient tapestries. Cultural references and symbols are blended with cutting edge technology.
College of the North Atlantic-Qatar is a branch campus of College of the North Atlantic, Newfoundland (CNA), one of Canada’s premier post-secondary educational training centres, offering over 90 full-time programs and more than 300 part-time courses. CNA is Newfoundland and Labrador’s public college and is one of the largest post-secondary educational and skills training centers in Atlantic Canada, with 17 campuses throughout the province. CNA has been operating for 40 years, preparing individuals for employment through education and training for provincial, national and international students and clients.
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For more information contact:
Stephen Lee
Communications Manager
College of the North Atlantic
(709) 643-7929