​In keeping with its key role in disseminating knowledge, and promoting the social and intellectual development of its students and the wider community, the Community College of Qatar (CCQ) recently organized the 5th Humanities Conference, under the theme “Cultivating a Culture of Sustainable Peace: Approaches to Peacebuilding in a Changing World”. The event witnessed the participation of the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education H.E. Dr. Ibrahim bin Saleh Al-Naimi, and Wijdan Cultural Centre Deputy Director Mr. Khalid bin Ghanim Al-Ali, alongside over 30 scholars, specialists and researchers in the field, including CCQ students.
In this year’s edition, the conference served as a platform to examine the challenges and opportunities for sustainable peace from several different perspectives including family, gender roles, people with disabilities, minority groups, traditions, religion, education, government, economics, the media, the environment, and globalization.

In his keynote address, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education H.E. Dr. Ibrahim bin Saleh Al-Naimi said:
“It is my honor to participate in this timely and relevant conference, especially in light of today’s accelerating developments and challenges, which calls for the careful examination of the Conference’s theme and topics. Today, the role of education is no longer limited to nurturing educated and productive minds for the benefit of society and the world at large, as it further extends to developing independent and morally conscious minds, through the promotion of peace and the development of behavioral skills that are no less important than the individual's intellectual development. Therefore, all parties concerned must work together to strengthen the role of educational institutions in combating hate speech, drying up the intellectual roots of extremism, and contributing to the promotion of a peace culture.”

H.E. made seven proposals to enhance the role of educational institutions around the world in spreading the culture of peace, namely, the openness of educational institutions to establish relations with civil society institutions, the development and training of teachers and administrators of educational institutions, review and development of the function of religious education institutions, development of curricula and educational plans, review of religious textbooks provided to primary school students to ensure they are free from any incorrect texts, protection of learners from the impact of educational programs directed towards hate speech, and finally, the development of educational curricula aimed at personal development – based on the values of coexistence, peace and dialogue.

Elaborating on the conference theme, CCQ President, Dr. Mohamed Al-Naemi, said:
“It was Ralph Waldo Emerson who emphasized that peace cannot be achieved through violence, but only through understanding. Therefore, if we are to attain peace, especially on a global scale, we must first come to a universal understanding of this often-vague concept. This year’s Humanities Conference aimed to explore and to help redefine peace as an active process that goes beyond its passive misconception as simply ‘the absence of war’. In this light, we view the conference as an important starting point for finding innovative new ways to resolve conflicts, end war and achieve peace worldwide.”

Wijdan Cultural Centre Deputy Director Mr. Khalid bin Ghanim Al-Ali focused in his speech on the concept of positive coexistence. He noted:
“Today's obvious turbulence in relations between States and even at the level of local communities prompts us to look at peace-building through a different lens. Laws, legislation and other measures are, of course, necessary and indispensable in contributing to peace-building, but the most important aspect to consider is positive coexistence within and between societies. This view, however, cannot be achieved until we examine the requirements of achieving human dignity – a set of values that work together and comprise justice, equality and compassion. Values work together to achieve their objectives, and when separated from one another, imbalance takes place. Ultimately, positive coexistence can be considered as the guarantor of our survival and stability, and is what paves the way for development in society.”

The Conference featured two plenary panel discussions that examined the interconnection between psycho-social development and religion, as well as peace-making processes among marginalized communities.

Subsequently, breakout sessions focused on the Conference’s subthemes, in an attempt to identify workable strategies for cultivating sustainable peace, and promoting a better understanding of the roles and responsibilities of various stakeholders in building a more peaceful future for all. The topics ranged from democracy and governance, and justice and the rule of law, to the role of education and economic reintegration in peacebuilding, as well as the impact of globalization on humanitarian intervention.

Experts and speakers contributing to this year’s conference included a rich representation of eminent national and international institutions including Texas A&M University at Qatar, Hamad bin Khalifa University, Qatar University, Canterbury Christ Church University-UK, Islamic University College of Perlis-Malaysia, Emir Abd ElKader University for Islamic Sciences-Algeria, University of Batna-Algeria, Qatar Red Crescent, Wijdan Cultural Centre, the Family Counseling Center, the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs, and the Ministry of Interior.

Since 2013, CCQ has welcomed hundreds of scholars to participate on its academic stage, present their research, and encourage scholarly exchange between professionals across many fields. The College’s Humanities Conference, through collaborative discussion, aims to underline the importance of humanities as a key driver in the development of societies and nations, and to nurture a body of socially responsible global citizens equipped with the knowledge and skills to tackle the world’s critical issues and bring about creative solutions that help define a brighter future for mankind.