As Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) prepares to welcome a new incoming class for 2019-2020 to the university’s diverse and growing community, the new academic year is also an exciting time for returning undergraduate, postgraduate, and PhD students as they further advance in their studies towards graduation.
While the summer break gave the majority of students a well-deserved time away from the classroom, many took the time to focus on their professional development by taking part in academic and professional training, international academic conferences or gaining work experience through exciting internship and fellowship opportunities. Others continued to pursue research in their subjects of interest.
As part of its commitment to the overall development of its students, HBKU encourages students to connect with local and international organizations and benefit from experiences that hone their academic, professional and interpersonal skills. These experiences often complement classroom learning, and inspire a holistic and informed approach to their learning experience.

Gülce Kılınç, a Master of Arts in Islam and Global Affairs student at the College of Islamic Studies (CIS), spent her summer interning at a strategic research center at the Turkish Republic’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Commenting on the experience, she said: “This internship was a great learning opportunity for me as I participated in lectures delivered by ambassadors who shared their real-life experiences and lessons learned during their assignments. I feel very fortunate to have spent a part of my summer in such a supportive environment as it expanded my knowledge. The internship was also an opportunity to learn more about the regional dynamics of the Middle East and especially Qatar, from active professionals of the ministry. I have always been interested in bilateral and multilateral relations between nations and the important role diplomats play to solve issues of global importance. 

“The experience I gained during this summer has been exceptionally satisfactory and complementary to what will be my last year as an MA student at HBKU. I believe there is a lot to discover and explore about our potential to achieve, and how limitlessly capable we are to address our shared challenges and contributing meaningfully to people in need.”

Along with exciting internships and work placements, HBKU students shared some of their research outcomes with the global scientific community at renowned academic conferences. Bushra Naushad Memon, who is pursuing a PhD in Biological and Biomedical Sciences at the College of Health and Life Sciences (CHLS) explained: “This summer I had the opportunity to present my research findings on the use of stem cells for diabetes therapy, which is part of my PhD thesis project, at the 2019 annual meeting of International Society for Stem Cell Research held in Los Angeles, the biggest conference in the field of stem cells. I had the opportunity to engage in constructive discussions with researchers working in the same field from across the world. 

“This experience not only helped me increase my knowledge and broaden my perspective on studying pancreatic development and diabetes progression using pluripotent stem cells, but also equipped me with inventive research ideas that I plan to apply to my PhD projects in the coming academic year.”

Last May, HBKU celebrated the success of 170 graduating students representing 42 countries. The students were able to benefit from a highly specialized, world-class educational experience in the heart of Education City. 

All of HBKU’s programs were designed to cater to current and future demands and shifts in the job market. Students graduate with the skills they need to be adept as they pursue their chosen career paths.