The core curriculum program in the Deanship of General Studies at Qatar University (QU), in partnership with the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U), hosted the “Reimagining General Education: Preparing University Graduates for Future Challenges” international forum. Esteemed professors and educators from QU, alongside their counterparts from educational institutions in Qatar and the United States, as well as renowned representatives from regional universities and across the globe, gathered to envision the future of general education.
This forward-thinking forum aimed to reshape the landscape of education, bringing together academics, professionals, and researchers. It featured innovative approaches and high-impact practices in general education. The program boasted an impressive lineup of international speakers and roundtable discussions, including a keynote address by Prof. Lynn Pasquerella, President of the AAC&U, who underscored the significance of general education in preparing graduates for the challenges of the 21st century.
Dr. Saba Qadhi, Director of the Core Curriculum Program at QU, opened the event with a warm welcome and a brief overview of the program's objectives. She expressed her gratitude to the dedicated team that made the conference possible, underscoring the commitment to enhancing education, stating, “Today, I am pleased to welcome all attendees, including deans, associate deans, and participating professors from various international and local educational institutions who collectively dedicate their efforts to the cause of reimagining higher education. I stand before you today to embark on a journey that transcends time and place, a journey capable of profoundly changing your academic lives by acquainting you with high-impact practices.”
Dr. Saba further explained that these practices ensure students engage deeply in their learning, requiring them to apply what they have learned in new contexts or solve complex problems. Examples include first-year seminars, internships, undergraduate research, and community learning.
Dr. Qadhi delved into the program's intricacies, explaining, “QU now offers 60 programs in both Arabic and English, including math, science, social skills, and many more. Additionally, new programs are on the horizon, such as Artificial Intelligence and Creative Industries, as well as courses in logic and critical thinking.” She added, “We want students to emphasize taking this program and change the reality of education. We do not want our students to merely read textbooks and test them on the content we have delivered. We want a different kind of thinking; we want students who can achieve that. We do not want another generation relying on commercial markets. We want to be strong and extremely strong.” She acknowledged the challenges of restructuring the curriculum but expressed confidence in achieving it with students' cooperation.
She added, “The mission of the program is to clarify what students have to do and what is expected of them, and to cultivate each course to serve our mission. There will also be an extensive revision of all courses, programs, and references to ensure alignment with the Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs) and to develop the knowledge, skills, and attributes that students need to enhance academic success, growth, and responsible citizenship.”
In her address, Prof. Pasquerella stated, “It is such an honor and privilege to be with you here today. I want to begin by thanking Dean Connie and the members of the Core Curriculum Program for their kind invitation, the QU community for their gracious hospitality, and each of you for your ongoing commitment to excellence in general education.”
She also recognized the challenges higher education faced due to the global pandemic, which brought unparalleled disruptions to every segment of society, including higher education. Prof. Pasquerella emphasized the far-reaching impact of the pandemic, saying, “Globally, over 1.6 billion students in 192 countries were impacted by school closures, eroding the post-secondary pipeline and creating the prospect of a lost generation of college students.”
She stated, “General education is a critical element of the student experience, encompassing at least one-third of the curriculum in most institutions. The program is based on a shared experience among all students, providing a platform to enhance competencies that extend across all fields of study while offering opportunities for experiential learning that arises from tackling complex problems, where students apply broad and integrated learning.”
She added, “At the AAC&U, USA, we launched an initiative to underscore the importance of general education in the curriculum and the specific attributes that should be present throughout the entire curriculum, bridging the gap between general education and majors, and connecting the curriculum with students' non-formal learning. A moment of extraordinary opportunity has emerged for revolutionizing higher education, reaffirming the critical role of general education in preparing students for success in the 21st century.”
It is worth noting that the forum included several discussion sessions, such as Entrepreneurial Education: Preparing Graduates to Face 21st Century Challenges, moderated by Dr. Rana Sobh, Dean of the College of Business and Economics at QU. The participants in this session were Dr. Said Al-Banna, Director of Entrepreneurship and Organizational Excellence at the College of Business and Economics at QU; Professor Leslie Pal, Founding Dean of the College of Public Policy at Hamad Bin Khalifa University; and Dr. Salem Al-Halbadi, Assistant Professor in Entrepreneurship at the College of Business and Economics at QU.
The second session discussed Embedding Civic Engagement in General Education: International Perspectives, moderated by Dr. Abdelhamid Ahmed as the session chair, Associate Professor, and Coordinator of Innovation, Leadership, and Civic Engagement at QU's Deanship of General Studies. The participants included Professor Lynn Pasquerella, President AAC&U, USA; Dr. Haifa Jamal Al-Lail, President of Effat University in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; and Dr. Mohamed Evren Tok, Assistant Dean of Innovation and Community Engagement at Hamad Bin Khalifa University.
The third discussion session was titled Digital Learning and the Fourth Industrial Revolution in General Education: Making the Exceptional Happen. Dr. Wael Youssef, Assistant Professor of Educational Technology at QU's Core Curriculum Program, at the Deanship of General Studies, moderated this session. The session featured Dr. Mohamed Samadi, Director of the Digital Learning and Online Education Office at QU; Dr. Shaker Lashuel, Executive Director of Global Studies Institute, Doha; and Dr. Ahmed El-Magarmid, Executive Director of Qatar Computing Research Institute, Qatar Foundation. The symposium concluded with recommendations presented by Dr. Mariam Al-Kuwari, Associate Director of the Core Curriculum Program, Deanship of General Studies at QU.
The “Reimagining General Education” forum at QU reflects the dedication of QU and the AAC&U to redefine the landscape of higher education and marks the beginning of an exciting journey to transform education and prepare students for the challenges of the 21st century.