In the course of activating its mission of encouraging civic engagement among community members, the Community College of Qatar (CCQ) recently held its 4th annual International Learning and Civic Engagement (ILCE) Symposium, in the presence of the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education His Excellency Dr. Ibrahim Bin Saleh Al-Naimi and CCQ President Dr. Mohamed Al-Naemi, alongside a select group of high-profile guests and experts in the field.

In its 4th edition, held under the theme “Connect, Collaborate, Innovate!”, the Symposium focused on a diverse range of supporting topics such as community-engaged teaching and learning, knowledge-driven volunteerism, eliminating barriers through learning communities, best practices in civic engagement, and active citizenship.

Commenting on the occasion, CCQ President Dr. Mohamed Al-Naemi said:

“In the sphere of establishing 21st Century communities and knowledge-based societies, colleges and universities should not only provide quality educational programs, but also teach students to be engaged citizens by instilling in them the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to become leaders for positive change.”

He added: “In this spirit, CCQ’s 4th ILCE Symposium brings together educators, experts, and stakeholders to push forward this important aspect of students’ learning experiences and present the community, through active discussions and productive dialogue, with practical and effective recommendations that can be implemented on the institutional level.”

Elaborating on the relationship between civic engagement and education, CCQ’s Chair of the Symposium Planning Committee Mastoor Al Kaboody said:

“The ILCE Symposium aims to showcase how campus-community partnerships, community engagement projects, service-learning courses, and other relevant initiatives provide resources to help meet community needs and furnish applied learning experiences for students, thereby developing future community leaders. To achieve that, we joined forces with a number of experts and prominent figures in this domain to foster a rich dialogue on key areas in this year’s edition. We’ve also introduced a dynamic new format for our presenters that adds focus, engagement and value to our discussions and further enriches the experience of all participants at the event.”

The event’s main session was a panel discussion titled ‘Soft Power’. Chairperson of Qatar Center for Voluntary Activities Ms. Aisha al Kuwari and CCQ Instructor Dr. Ahmed Abdul Malik were the discussion’s panelists, while award-winning Al Jazeera Journalist Mr. Jamal Elshayyal moderated the session.

Together, the speakers highlighted Qatar’s powerful demonstration of how to exercise ‘soft power’ within the global arena to create and maintain mutual understandings, long-lasting relationships and active international cooperation, while enhancing the State’s stature as an ambitious, pioneering and vital actor in international affairs.

The Symposium also featured a number of ‘Ignite’ presentations tackling key subthemes, such as civic engagement via professional development volunteering by CCQ’s English Language Center Chair Dr. Michael King, the connection between reading and mind-activation based on scientific research by CCQ Instructor Dr. Nisreen Anati, and individual and institutional responsibility toward realizing national vision by Analysis and Research Planning Manager at Sidra Medical and Research Center Dr. Rami Youef.

The presentations’ dynamic format, introduced for the first time in this annual event, provided a unique and stirring experience where together, presenters and viewers can productively advance the research, teaching, and practice of learning engagement, volunteerism, community partnerships, and a host of other sub-domains.

Concluding the event, the Symposium introduced, for the first time in its four-year lifespan, the ‘Best Project of the Year’ Award, which highlights students’ creative problem-solving skills and innovative project ideas in the context of international learning and civic engagement. In the award’s first edition, Students Razna Saeed Al-Yarabah and Asma Abdullah Al-Mohannadi claimed the first place, while Students Wadha Al-Hajri and Abdullah Al-Tamimi won the second place. 

The ILCE is an annual event organized by CCQ’s Center for Learning and Civic Engagement (CLCE). The Center creates and sustains opportunities for meaningful engagement to promote learning, broaden knowledge, cultivate skills, and develop mutual relationships locally, nationally, and globally.