During a press conference held yesterday, it was announced that Qatar University (QU) joined the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF). The announcement was made in the presence of QU President Dr. Hassan Al-Derham; HE Ambassador of the French Republic to the State of Qatar, Jean-Baptiste Faivre, Regional Director of the AUF, Dr. Jean-Noël Baléo; Prof. Lara Karam Boustany, President of the Univesite La Sagesse in Lebanon and President of the Conference of Rectors and Presidents of the Middle East Region (CONFREMO); Cesar Wazen Director of International Affairs Office in QU; as well as a number of Vice Presidents and officials from QU.
QU President, Dr. Hassan Al-Derham spoke during the press conference saying, “We are very pleased to have been joined the AUF, due to its significance, which will open wide horizons for the University to have cooperation with prestigious French universities, as well as in Canada and important French-speaking African and Arab countries.”
He adds, “Qatar University, in its role as the national university, sees to take advantage of the distinguished relations between Qatar and France, in all fields, and to expand this cooperation to include educational aspects. The University built this relationship years ago, through its many French offerings. The State of Qatar also includes many French-speaking schools. The inclusion of Qatar University to the AUF will open the opportunity for us to work together with French universities in the academic and humanitarian fields.”
Regional Director of the AUF, Dr. Jean-Noël Baléo introduced the AUF to the audience, explaining its tasks and objectives, noting, “We do work to promote the entrepreneurship of the students, we have a network capacity so we work on the international networking and cooperation, and of course quality of education.” He also addressed important aspects that such a partnership could include, for example: student exchange between member universities and faculty exchange, as well as the exchange of research databases.
HE Ambassador of the French Republic to the State of Qatar, Jean-Baptiste Faivre also spoke during the event noting his pleasure at being part of this event to celebrate the induction of Qatar University to the AUF. He said that the membership of QU to AUF reflects the will of the University to develop the teaching of the French language but also, and in a general way, training and research in the field of Francophone literatures and civilizations. He also expressed his interest and support of any initiative taken by AUF and QU, and which would go in the direction of the enrichment of the activities of francophone training and/or research and his wish that the adhesion of QU to AUF is also the starting point of many fruitful projects of cooperation between QU and francophone universities.
Prof. Lara Karam Boustany, President of the Universite La Sagesse in Lebanon and President of CONFREMO noted that the joining of QU to the CONFREMO will offer a number of advantages to both institutions and thanked the University for hosting the event.
Cesar Wazen, Director of International Affairs Office in QU highlighted the importance of the inclusion of QU to the AUF, “Announcing the membership to AUF, and being a member of this organization, alongside over 1000 universities, is very important. This started in 2012, when the State of Qatar, was accepted as an associate member of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF). Now, as QU is part of the AUF, we are greatly happy with this collaboration with the organization and with the Francophone world.”
The AUF mission aims at promoting an interdependent French speaking university-based community committed to the social, economic and cultural development of society. AUF supports its member institutions to meet the three challenges they face: quality of education, research and academic governance, the challenge of professional integration and employability, and the challenge of involvement in social development in general.
It is important to note that QU offers a number of French courses for its students through the College of Arts and Sciences, and to the community through the Community Service and Continuing Education Center.
Source: Qatar University