61 Education City university students participate in a six-day residential leadership development program

Qatar home to the first LeaderShape® Institute international session in 2007

Equipped with knowledge from the LeaderShape® Institute, students help shape a better future

12 January 2012 (Doha, Qatar): 61 university students from across all 6 undergraduate branch campuses at Education City, part of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF) participated this week in the Qatar LeaderShape® Institute 2012, an intensive, energizing six-day residential program devoted to active discussion of how to strengthen leadership skills, furthering QF's mission towards a knowledge-based economy.

"Education City students are privileged to have the opportunity to attend a strong leadership development program such as LeaderShape. Two features are unique to LeaderShape, the depth of the curriculum and the fact that it is residential," said Ameena Hussain, Assistant Direct of Campus Life at QF.   

"I also believe there is an additional quality which is specific to LeaderShape Qatar, and that is the diversity in the participants and the staff members, which adds richness and flavor to the session.  Being involved in the program makes me wish I were a student again and have access to such life changing experiences," she continued.

A non-profit organization that aims to inspire, develop, and support young adults to lead with integrity, the LeaderShape® Institute partners with other institutions across the United States and around the world, including QF. More than 30,000 young people have graduated from its programs over the organization's 25-year history.

The Institute prefers utilizing highly interactive program methods instead of classroom lectures, and most of its efforts are concentrated in so-called "Family Clusters," where partners work together and quickly form friendships.  The "Family Cluster" provides a supportive, safe environment that promotes learning and the development of new skills and attitudes.

Another unique feature of the LeaderShape® Institute is the "Guest Leader Panel," in which community leaders in Qatar participate as part of a panel discussion. This year the panel is moderated by Dr. Denny Roberts (Assistant Vice President for Faculty and Student Services at QF).  The program starts with opening remarks on topical areas associated with leadership, such as personal philosophies of leadership, risk taking, ethics and integrity and the meaning of success. Then it ends with questions from the students who are in the audience. This year's panelists are Ms. Buthaina Al-Ansari from Qatari Business Women Association, Ms. Susie Kelt from Vodafone and Mohammad Al-Kaabi from Maersk Oil.

Dr. Roberts explained that bringing the LeaderShape® Institute to Education City will help equip students with the tools necessary for a bright and successful future, stating, "Those students who have participated in LeaderShape are fundamentally different from their peers in terms of conviction, integrity and effective leadership."

This year students discussed concepts including building community relationships and the role of the family.  Each student also worked on defining a personal vision for contributing to the world in a positive way, and developed a detailed plan for achieving that vision.

Providing workshops for critical thinking serves as a means to achieve strong leadership skills and successfully build human capacity, promoting Qatar's National Vision 2030.  Students in Education City, with the help of the LeaderShape® Institute, are being educated to become young leaders of the 21st century, playing a significant role in building Qatar, the Middle East, and the world.

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Qatar Foundation - Unlocking Human Potential
Qatar Foundation for Education, Science, and Community Development is a private, non-profit organization that is supporting Qatar on its journey from carbon economy to knowledge economy by unlocking human potential for the benefit of not only Qatar, but the world.  Founded in 1995 by His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Amir of Qatar, QF is chaired by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser.

QF carries out its mission through three strategic pillars: education, science and research, and community development.  QF's education pillar brings world-class universities to Qatar to help create an education sector in which young people can develop the attitudes and skills required for a knowledge economy.  Meanwhile, its science and research pillar builds Qatar's innovation and technology capacity by developing and commercialising solutions through key sciences.  Finally, its community development pillar helps foster a progressive society while also enhancing cultural life, protecting Qatar's heritage and addressing immediate social needs in the community.

For a complete list of QF's initiatives and projects, visit http://www.qf.org.qa

For further information about this release please contact:
Murad Al-Haiki
Tel: +974 3308 9989
Email: malhaiki@qf.org.qa

Grace Wittenberg
Tel: +974 6601 2961
Email: gwittenberg@qf.org.qa

For more information about Qatar Foundation please contact:
Tariq Al Sada
Press Office Unit Head
Qatar Foundation
Tel: +974 4454 0991
Email:  talsada@qf.org.qa

Anwar El-Shamy
Press Office Coordinator
Qatar Foundation
Tel: +974 55904407
Email: aelshamy@qf.org.qa

© Press Release 2012