The Jassim and Hamad Bin Jassim Charitable Foundation signed a memorandum of understanding with Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar to establish the Hamad Bin Jassim Center for Computing Sciences Education for pre-university education. Commitment to provide funding worth 4 million Qatari riyals to this center. Which will enhance computer science education in schools spread throughout the State of Qatar.
The Hamad Bin Jassim Center for Pre-University Education in Computing Sciences aims to teach students the basics of computer science. This will help them develop basic computational thinking skills. The second goal behind establishing this center is to raise students’ awareness of the importance of computer science for the future of a knowledge-based society.
The memorandum of understanding was signed by Mr. Ishaq Hashem, Member of the Board of Directors of the Jassim and Hamad bin Jassim Charitable Foundation, And Professor Michael Trick, Dean of Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar, In the presence of representatives of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, And some business leaders.
According to the memorandum of understanding, the Hamad Bin Jassim Center will implement a curriculum based on the Alice Middle East programme, It is an interactive educational program developed by Carnegie Mellon University; With the aim of using it in the schools of the Ministry of Education, In addition to private schools spread throughout Qatar.
These efforts will include training teachers who will teach the Alice Middle East curriculum in their schools. During the 2017-2018 academic year, All Qatari public schools that teach the ICT course have included the Alice Middle East program in the course work of this subject for eleventh grade students.
The memorandum of understanding also stipulates support for the “Mindcraft” program, It is a workshop offered by Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar for high school students that introduces them to computer science disciplines such as robotics software, coding, And computational thinking.
Mrs. Fawzia Al Khater said: Assistant Undersecretary for Educational Affairs at the Ministry of Education and Higher Education: “Computer science education is an essential component of enhancing human development efforts in Qatar. In line with Qatar National Vision 2030 and the Second National Development Strategy 2018-2022. We are pleased that Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar and the Jassim and Hamad bin Jassim Charitable Foundation are entering into a partnership to promote this important field of study in Qatar’s schools.”
In turn, Mr. Saeed Al-Hajri said, The CEO of the Jassim and Hamad bin Jassim Charitable Foundation, in a statement: “Programs such as “Mindcraft” and “Alice Middle East” interest computer science from a young age, which encourages students to study it alongside other important disciplines such as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). These programs are very important because they work to qualify future generations, especially after the opening up, the State of Qatar has become self-sufficient and more economically diversified.”
Professor Michael Tree said, Dean of Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar, In his speech: “today, Technology guides almost all disciplines, Including business administration, finance, medicine, education This collaboration between the Jassim and Hamad Bin Jassim Charitable Foundation and Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar will contribute to enhancing students’ access across Qatar to high-quality education in the field of computer science. The Hamad Bin Jassim Center for Teaching Computer Science to Basic Education Students will have a profound positive impact on Qatar. It will provide the next generation with the tools needed to succeed in our technology-based society.”
from his side, Mr. Fawaz Eid Al-Shammari, Director of the Support Services Department at the Jassim Charitable Foundation, said in his speech at the ceremony that “based on the great interest and care given by His Excellency Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabr Al Thani, founder of the Jassim Foundation and Hamad bin Jassim Charitable Foundation, To develop and promote education at its various levels and to provide unlimited support to the efforts made by the state in this regard, The Foundation, in cooperation with Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar, is honored to establish the Hamad Bin Jassim Center for Computing Science Education to be the first step on the path to integration and actual involvement of charitable institutions in building societies based on knowledge economies and keeping pace with modern developments. Which contributes to the establishment of a modern society that interacts with its surroundings.
He stressed that this project, which costs four million Qatari riyals, will play a great role in the future in preparing a generation armed with knowledge based on modern technology.
He added that we at the Jassim Foundation rely a lot on this center to discover the talents of our students and develop their abilities, especially after we noticed the passion of today’s youth for all innovations related to technology, which gives them an incentive to refine and develop their abilities in various academic subjects. Pointing out that just as the Jassim Foundation is concerned with education, it is also concerned with health, adding, “We are fully aware that technology has made great strides in this field, which reinforces our conviction of the necessity of paying attention to it to advance the health sector.” The Foundation provides valuable contributions and initiatives in the health sector internally and externally.”
