Doha / Information Office / February 24

The Qatari Committee for the Alliance of Civilization (QCAC) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Qatar National Commission for Education, Culture and Science held today, a ceremony honoring the winners of Alliance of Civilization Award in its second edition for the year 2019, at the headquarters of the Diplomatic Institute.

The honoring ceremony was held under the patronage of HE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, and HE Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Chairman of Qatar Committee for the Alliance of Civilizations Dr. Ahmed bin Hassan Al Hammadi, as well as HE Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education Dr. Ibrahim bin Saleh Al Nuaimi, and Secretary General of Qatar National Commission for Education, Culture and Science Dr. Hamda Hassan Al Sulaiti.

In his speech at the beginning of the ceremony, HE Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Chairman of Qatar Committee for the Alliance of Civilizations Dr. Ahmed bin Hassan Al Hammadi stated that the award is granted to two categories within three levels, where it is granted to individuals and students, as well as to distinguished educational institutions in the field of implementing activities, programs and initiatives that enhance the values and concepts of the Alliance of Civilizations.

HE Dr. Al Hammadi indicated that the Alliance of Civilizations is today one of the most important tools for soft diplomacy that contribute to promoting peaceful coexistence between different nations and peoples.

His Excellency said that the subject of the Alliance of Civilizations is one of the topics that received special attention from the wise leadership, and this was embodied in Qatar National Vision 2030, which emphasized the care and support of dialogue among civilizations and coexistence between different religions and cultures.

His Excellency noted the establishment of the Qatari Committee for the Alliance of Civilization in 2010, whose mission is to enhance the role of the State of Qatar in highlighting the contribution of Islamic civilization, along with other civilizations, and its role in promoting dialogue and resolving conflicts and disputes, emphasizing the values of tolerance and solidarity, peace and exchanging experiences and benefits between peoples on the basis of the values of truth, justice and equality, and in order to achieve the lofty goals of human society.

His Excellency pointed out that the Alliance of Civilization Award comes within the framework of implementing the State of Qatar's plan for the Alliance of Civilizations 2018-2020, which aims to achieve understanding between nations and peoples and establish solid relations between them, and remove the causes of discrimination and misunderstanding in pursuit of the humanitarian goal in peacefulness coexistence, acceptance of others and respect for different peoples and cultures.

On the State of Qatar's plan for the Alliance of Civilizations, His Excellency explained that the plan includes the implementation of many programs and activities aimed at achieving the goals of the Alliance of Civilizations in its four fields, including the field of education, where the plan in the field of education included several goals, including the third goal, which is to provide appreciative prizes for business outstanding research and financing solid research in the dialogue among civilizations.

At the end of his speech, HE Dr. Al Hammadi indicated that next month the Qatar Alliance of Civilizations Award, which will be centered on migration, will be presented next month, noting in this context that the issue of migration has become a major concern among countries and humanitarian organizations, as the world is witnessing a great movement of migration due to wars and armed conflicts in various countries of the world, especially in the Arab region, from which migrants account for the largest percentage of migrations to Europe and America, while the number of migrants worldwide reached 272 million in 2019, making up about 3.5 percent of the world's population.

For her part, Secretary General of the Qatar National Commission for Education, Culture and Science Dr. Hamda Hassan Al Sulaiti pointed out during her speech at the ceremony the distinction of the award for 2019 in terms of the number of participants, which reached 32 student research and 13 school files, along with its quality in terms of selecting topics and scientific tools for research, and the richness of the general content of the research.

Dr. Al Sulaiti stated that the award seeks to enhance the spirit of dialogue, civilizational alliance and global citizenship, and encourage students in pursuing scientific research and highlighting their talents, in addition to learning about civilizations, cultures and exchanging distinguished practices and experiences between people. She stressed that the committee seeks to increase the number of participants in the award in the future, through the provision of training and awareness workshops on the award, as well as translation of brochures and publications.

The award aims to encourage contributions in the field of dialogue of civilizations, whether for individuals or educational institutions, by encouraging research, experiences and contributions related to this field, as well as encouraging schools and educational institutions to promote dialogue of civilizations and openness to the other by incorporating concepts related to this aspect in educational curricula and student activities, and encouraging students to accept the other and form a realistic picture of other societies and civilizations.

The Alliance of Civilization Award is the result of a joint cooperation between the Qatari Committee for the Alliance of Civilizations and the Qatar National Committee for Education, Culture and Science, and aims to uncover and encourage scientific talents, enhance the spirit of scientific research among students and achieve distinction between different educational institutions.

The results of the judging processes at the level of student research resulted in a first place victory for Mohammed Abdulla Malazhi of the Religious Institute Secondary Independent School for his research entitled 'Qatar's pioneering role in promoting civilized dialogue through dialogue and debate - QatarDebate Centre as a model.'

Turki Faisal Abdulaziz from Hassan Bin Thabit Independent Secondary School was in second place for his research entitled 'The role of education in developing trends and skills of civilizational dialogue for secondary students in the State of Qatar.' Meanwhile, Wijdan Rashid Al Marri from Aisha Bint Abi Bakr Secondary School for Girls came in third for her research entitled 'The role of education in promoting civilized dialogue.'

On the level of distinguished schools, which have initiatives, activities and programs that enhance the values of the Alliance of Civilizations, Al Bayan Secondary Independent School for Girls came in first place, Qatar Banking Studies & Business Administration Independent School for Girls was second, and Al Shifaa Bint Abdul Rahman Al Ansaria School for Girls and Rawda Bent Mohammed Secondary School for Girls shared third place.

In a statement to Qatar News Agency (QNA) on the sidelines of the ceremony, the principal of Qatar Banking Studies & Business Administration Independent School for Girls Dr. Dhabia Al Bueineen expressed her happiness at winning second place, stressing that the award has an important role in promoting and developing the dialogue of civilizations, and promoting this concept among students.

She pointed out that the school seeks to link its students to the goals of sustainable development, in a way that enables them to learn about civilizations and cultures of others and learn the best of other civilizations besides preserving the Qatari identity, by educating them about the concepts of dialogue of civilizations and incorporating those concepts in the field of study along with focusing on active participants that make the most out and gain experience so that they can serve their country and nation.

Al Bueineen pointed out that the school aims to develop female students who are more open, knowledgeable and skilled, by making them realize that they are global citizens, as well as enabling them to represent the State of Qatar in international student forums and in the field of entrepreneurship.

The principal of Qatar Banking Studies & Business Administration Independent School for Girls added that the school is the first specialized school in the State of Qatar, focusing its curriculum on the banking sector as well as business administration and on promoting entrepreneurship.

Through its vision, the school aims to foster creativity and instill concepts of entrepreneurship, through curricula and mechanisms that enable its students to train in banks and banking institutions during their three-year study period, which achieves great benefit to them besides theoretical study so that they are prepared to go to the labor market or to continue specialized study in the field of banking and business administration.