Qatar University's (QU) Foundation Program Department of English (FPDE), in collaboration with the College of Business and Economics (CBE) and the Center for Entrepreneurship and Organizational Excellence (CEOE), organized the Foundation Program Showcase Event—the first of two entrepreneurial events held during the week.
The showcase featured 59 teams of female students and 16 teams of male students from the Business English course, presenting innovative business concepts to a diverse audience that included university members and business professionals. The exhibition was inaugurated by Dr. Rana Sobh, Dean of CBE; Dr. Hezam Al-Awah, FP Director; Dr. Saeed Albana, Director of the CEOE; Dr. Hala Hadba, FP Associate Director; Dr. Abir Ahmed, Head of FPDE; Ms. Zhuldyz Galiakpar, Social Performance and Social Investment Manager at Qatar Shell; and Mr.Ahmed Al-Saygh, Senior Entrepreneurs Engagement Officer at QDB.
The showcase marked the final stage of the Business English Entrepreneurship Project, where students applied their business knowledge and English communication skills to Qatari market ventures. Faculty members from CBE and FPDE praised the students for their passion and confidence during the event, and featured meticulous evaluations by a panel of judges from FPDE, CBE, and the local business community.
Earlier this month, the CEOE collaborated with FPDE's Business English course to host the 'Ignite Your Entrepreneurial Future' competition, following the Foundation Program Showcase Event. Four teams from the showcase lineup were selected to compete in the event.
Participants pitched their ideas to a panel of four judges comprised of local entrepreneurs. The judges included Mr. Ahmed Al-Saygh, Mr. Ahmed Dedeche, Ms. Khadeja Albuhaliqa, and Ms. Alanood Jamal. To incentivize student performance, CBE provided monetary awards for first place (7,500 QR), second place (5,000 QR), and third place (2,500 QR).
The Ignite Competition allowed students to demonstrate their creativity, entrepreneurial aspirations, and communication skills, providing valuable experience for their future endeavors. The CEOE and the Foundation Program aim to host events like the competition to expand on the Entrepreneurship Project, offering ongoing support and challenges for students' entrepreneurial development.
Overall, the back-to-back entrepreneurial events at QU highlight the university’s dedication to developing the next generation of Qatari entrepreneurs for the country and the Gulf region. Such initiatives also promote collaboration between faculty and entrepreneurship stakeholders, offering multiple platforms for students to cultivate their entrepreneurial potential.