DOHA, QATAR – The Permanent Committee for Drugs and Alcohol Affairs (PCDAA) of the Ministry of Interior (MOI) and Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar have entered into an agreement to enhance future cooperation efforts in preventive education, scientific research and drug awareness. The two organizations signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on February 7 at the MOI’s premises in Doha.
The MoU, which aims at boosting ties between the two organizations, was signed by Dr. Ilker Baybars, dean of Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar and Major General Saad bin Jassim Al Khulaifi, director general of public security and chairman of the PCDAA.
According to dean Baybars this agreement will strengthen ties between the two organizations and help in effectively integrating government organizations and academia, while sharing best practices in the fields of preventive education, computer science and information systems.
"Carnegie Mellon’s business strategy is in line with the four pillars of Qatar’s National Vision 2030 (QNV2030) and in particular with the targeted objectives of the social development pillar, which aims at the development of all the people of the State of Qatar to enable them to sustain a prosperous society, promote human and moral values through protecting young people from the risks of drugs", said Baybars while reaffirming the university’s commitment to supporting the country’s national vision.
“The university’s business strategy includes the launch of several initiatives in Qatar, in collaboration with the PCDAA among other organizations,” he added.
Carnegie Mellon Qatar has been instrumental in implementing Qatar’s National Strategy for Combating Drugs, as it has recently launched several strategic initiatives, including the second version of Weqaya (Arabic for protection) Indoor Football Championship in collaboration with all universities in Qatar, under the supervision of the Indoor Football Committee at Qatar Football Association. The championship aims at educating students about the harmful effects of drugs and alcohol, as well as prepares young people for leadership in various fields.
The academic curricula at Carnegie Mellon Qatar is designed to prepare young students to compete in the global labor market, and keep pace with the growth and development taking place in Qatar.
According to a senior official at Carnegie Mellon Qatar, more initiatives, focusing on information technology and building database of the PCDAA, will be launched in the very near future.
