Qatar University Female Students Bring out the Leader in Themselves

Given the proper tools to support their endless ambition, women, worldwide, can excel and rise to – or above - the expectations of their societies.  They are capable of absorbing and utilizing information that would make them better engaged citizens who confidently address publics and governments.  In Qatar, female students from Qatar University (QU) enjoyed a one-month Leadership Academy, organized by QU staff and led by regional and international experts.  Supported by the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) local grants program, students from diverse majors at QU attended leadership and civic engagement workshops and sessions that resulted in the selection of community issues for which the students would advocate.

“The academy participants were so active and engaged in their group projects and their presentations showed their creativity, commitment, and embrace of leadership as a life-long skill”, commented Ms. Mohana Rajakumar, Education Consultant and the MEPI project coordinator at QU.

During February 2009, trainers from the National Democratic Institute (NDI) led interactive sessions that taught QU students how to develop an advocacy campaign, how to promote their projects, message development, and organizational development.  The training continued with sessions on improving interview and presentation skills and writing press releases, and concluded with a panel discussion on becoming a proactive leader.  Students then applied what they learned by engaging in a group project that focused on serving the campus community.  The academy “challenge[d] students to be active learners and not merely absorbers of information”, added Mohana.

One of the sessions focused on visualization exercises and character development, where students learned about personal strengths they can use in their advocacy efforts.  “Working on a project with a clear message and focusing on a target, not just a general audience is an exciting new experience for me,” commented Reem Al Mohamed, an engineering student.

A group of Leadership Academy graduates later had the opportunity to take part in the Reading Awareness booth at the Qatar Career Fair, as well as volunteer at the first observed World Book Day in Qatar.  Some of the resulting group themes included encouraging reading in primary school children, interviewing leaders across a variety of leadership styles, and a video report on the female custodial staff at QU. Mohana looks forward to witnessing the students acquired knowledge and enthusiasm as having a permanent effect on their campus and their country.