Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS) recently hosted a panel discussion on ‘Conceptualising the Middle East’, attended by college professors and distinguished members of the country’s diplomatic community.

In a series of panel conversations that were administered by the faculty, speakers each presented their views on a wide array of topics that touched upon the emerging challenges in the region as well as international affairs.

Founding Dean of CHSS Dr Amal Mohammed Al Malki said they were happy to bring the academic and diplomatic communities together in an insightful conversation about the Middle East.

We have drawn on the expertise of the ambassadors and the research of our faculty members to engage the students as active participants on the discussion about the current situation in the Middle East. By engaging students, we were able to successfully build connections between what is taught in the classroom and what happens in reality, further opening a space for intellectual freedom of speech.’

The panel’s areas of discourse included discussions on the roles of women, gender and youth in the Middle East as well as the ideological challenges and future prospects facing the greater region. It also touched upon issues such as extremism and ‘hurdles’ to coexistence in globalised societies.

In a conversation on the geopolitical climate from a Qatar-centric perspective, the panelists deliberated on how other states, outside the region, may contribute to promoting security and regional order.

This year’s panel discussion comes as the latest in a series of events that HBKU has organised with diplomatic missions across Doha. Through its collaboration with embassies, HBKU actively promotes discourse, critical thinking, and multi-culturalism at its campus, as well as fosters a dynamic learning environment for all members of its community.

For more information, visit the HBKU website at hbku.edu.qa.