VCUarts Qatar offers an array of Community Learning opportunities for Spring 2025
QF partner university opens registration for workshops and courses ranging from Journaling to Interior Design Doha, Qatar: Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar (VCUarts Qatar), a Qatar Foundation (QF) partner university, has announced its lineup for the Community and Continuing Education (CCE) short courses and taster sessions for spring 2025. The courses cater to various age groups and members of the public who would like to learn more about art and design or take their existing creative skills to the next level. The courses and taster sessions are led by professional artists and designers, many of whom are VCUarts Qatar graduates themselves. According to Rasha Alkasab, Program Manager for VCUarts Qatar’s Community & Continuing Education, “The 2025 line-up reflects our pledge to providing innovative courses that are relevant and responsive to the interests of our community. Our ongoing commitment remains steadfast – to curate engaging and educational opportunities that cater to diverse community interests and age groups, while ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the fundamentals of art and design.” For example, an introduction to journaling two-hour workshop is a tasting session that will take place on January 20th. This workshop is focused on the intentionality of journaling and its contribution to creativity and productivity and is timed to coincide with the new calendar year when people are focusing on a more productive and mindful approach to life. This session will be offered free of charge and take place online. Those with an interest in illustration can join an upcoming online workshop that will be taking place on April 7th, focusing on the art of children’s book cover design and illustration for young readers. This course will be led by the well-known Pakistani artist and designer Hazem Asif. A six-week advanced interior design course is also on offer for those eager to deepen their spatial design skills and explore architectural elements, multifunctional spaces and the impact of cultural influence on design. The course will provide hands on practice in creating space plans, and guide participants in creating their own designs. Later in the Spring, VCUarts Qatar will offer an Introduction to Virtual Reality, an evening course taking place over eight weeks, two nights a week, where participants will be immersed in virtual reality design and become familiar with innovative VR design tools like Tilt Brush and Gravity Sketch. For children, VCUarts Qatar is offering a course in acrylic design painting for kids, planned for Tuesday evenings from January 21st to February 25th. Children from 10-14 years old can explore and develop their artistic talents through color theory, brush skills and painting styles and will be guided through projects like landscapes, animals and imaginative scenes. These are just a few examples of the taster workshops and courses coming up soon at VCUarts Qatar. To register, or for further information including course descriptions, times and costs, please visit https://qatar.vcu.edu/campus-community/community-education/ or contact vcuqcommunity@vcu.edu
Ibtechar Launches New Innovation Services at Doha Media Conference
Doha, Qatar – 12 January 2025: Ibtechar, an award-winning innovation agency based in Doha, has announced the launch of two new service offerings: Ibtechar Academy and Ibtechar Consultancy. The announcement was made at a media conference held on January 9th at the Chedi Katara Hotel in Doha, attended by representatives from major Qatari media outlets. CEO and Co-founder, Eng. Nayef Al-Ibrahim, presented the new services, outlining how they will support organisations and individuals in developing and implementing a sustained culture of innovation. Ibtechar Academy focuses on delivering specialised training programmes in areas such as digital upskilling, innovation methodologies, and personal development. Ibtechar Consultancy works with organisations to embed innovation into their culture, strategy, and operations. Eng. Al-Ibrahim detailed the services offered, referencing Ibtechar’s partnerships with the Global Innovation Institute (GInI) and UQ, and highlighting their work across diverse sectors in Qatar. He also showcased Ibtechar’s history of innovation, including the development and management of innovation spaces, their work with Barzan Holdings, and their recognition by the World Economic Forum. With the floor open to questions, Eng. Al-Ibrahim took the opportunity to engage with individual journalists on Ibtechar’s story so far, and plans for the future. Highlights from the Q&A session are presented below. Q: How does Ibtechar tailor its services to clients’ needs? “We customise our solutions by first understanding the client’s needs through an innovation maturity assessment. This helps us determine whether they want to develop internal innovation capabilities or outsource them. We’ve supported entities in both scenarios. For example, we helped Barzan Holdings develop a drone tracking project by outsourcing to an existing company. In other cases, we help entities build internal competency through tailored programmes, hubs (like incubation labs), and other resources. ” Q: Are there any plans to expand in the region? “While we see high demand in the open market, especially with the rise of innovation officers and government initiatives, our priority is fulfilling requirements in Doha for now. Our focus is on helping public, private and third-sector organisations here to enhance their services, products, or internal procedures. Regional expansion is something we have in mind for the future.” Q: What has been a pivotal moment for the company? “Every year has its moments. Founding Ibtechar was a proud moment for me. The first day we moved into our offices was a big one. The first day we secured funding was another. And of course the establishment of our new service areas, which we’ve showcased today. Each moment has a unique value.” Q: What kind of courses does Ibtechar Academy offer? Who can join? “Our services are primarily B2B and B2G. Ibtechar Academy specialises in end-to-end technology training. Our expertise lies in technology development, covering areas like language learning, cybersecurity, and AR/VR. We focus on developing innovative solutions.” Q: It seems your clients are mainly organisations or government entities. Do you target universities, given your training programmes? “Universities are a potential target audience. Our client base is primarily organisations and government entities due to our focus and engagement model. However, we have worked with universities, such as Qatar University, where we developed an innovation lab for their international innovation centre.” Q: What are the company’s core strengths? “Our integrated service offering, combining content, technology, and training, is a key strength. We’ve been doing this for ten years. We specialise in technology, making it easy to adapt to new technologies and customise training quickly. We also have proven experience in designing, supplying, and operating digital labs. In Ibtechar Consultancy, our ability to design, supply, and operate labs for different sectors is a unique strength. This has allowed us to build a strong service line supporting innovation in the market.” Q: How does the company cope with evolving obligations and market demands? “Every year brings new trends. Our focus is on adapting quickly and understanding the objectives behind those trends. This informs how we integrate new developments into our content and training programmes.” Q: Can you elaborate on the company’s growth from a small company to achieving a 100 million milestone? “It’s been a team effort. It took us ten years to reach this point. Growing from a small local company to achieving this figure demonstrates our dynamism and our credibility in the market — and we’re excited to see what the next ten years will bring.” For further information contact info@ibtechar.com
OPPO Unveils Innovative AI Solutions at the 2025 Google Cloud Shenzhen Summit to Boost Smartphone Productivity and Security
Qatar, Doha, January 10, 2025: Global leading smart device brand OPPO debuted at the 2025 Google Cloud Shenzhen Summit, announcing further expansion of its collaboration with Google Cloud in AI productivity applications and cloud security, unveiling a series of new features. Kai Tang, President of OPPO’s Software Engineering, said: “OPPO collaborates with top global technology companies with an open mindset, striving to integrate cutting-edge AI technology into our products. Google is one of the leaders in the global AI field, and I believe that the partnership between OPPO and Google will bring users a more efficient and secure next-generation AI experience.” （Kai Tang at Google Cloud Shenzhen Summit) OPPO and Google Expand Collaboration in AI Productivity In the Find X8 series launched in international markets, OPPO has utilized Google’s Gemini model in several efficient productivity tools: Based on the long-term collaborative achievements with Google in the field of AI, OPPO announces that it will introduce Google AI capabilities into more new application scenarios in the future, including: OPPO Collaborates with Google Cloud on Mobile Cloud Security Architecture While AI can bring significant convenience to users, many powerful AI applications still rely on the power of cloud computing. Ensuring the secure handling of user information in the cloud has become a significant challenge for the industry. OPPO believes smartphone manufacturers must work with cloud service providers and other partners to build end-to-end security and privacy protection capabilities, ensuring the optimal protection of user information. OPPO announced it would collaborate with Google Cloud on mobile cloud security architecture and develop Private Computing Cloud technology to provide users with a safer AI experience. OPPO is dedicated to making AI phones accessible to everyone. By developing its own AI technologies and collaborating with leading industry partners like Google, OPPO aims to deliver the best AI experience through its smartphone devices.
Place Vendôme & Qatar Tourism Honoured for Innovative Collaboration
Doha, Qatar – January 11th, 2025: Having recently hosted the opening ceremony for Shop Qatar 2025, Place Vendôme is pleased to have presented H.E. Mr Saad Bin Ali Al Kharji, Chairman of Qatar Tourism, with an award commemorating its innovative collaboration with Qatar Tourism during last year’s event. Place Vendôme’s collaboration with Qatar Tourism during Shop Qatar 2024 clinched the coveted ‘Gold award’ in the Marketing Excellence category at the prestigious Middle East Council of Shopping Centres & Retailers (MECS+R) Awards. This award recognizes the efforts of both Qatar Tourism and Place Vendôme to enhance Qatar’s reputation as a leading global luxury retail destination. The MECS+R Awards are widely recognized as the gold standard for excellence in the sector, celebrating innovation, creativity, and outstanding achievements in retail, marketing excellence, and property development. Shane Eldstrom, CEO of United Developers, Owners of Place Vendôme, said: “The team at Place Vendôme is proud to have played a role showcasing the Shop Qatar initiative for its past two editions. We have worked tirelessly to bring some of the best brands and experiences from throughout the region and the world to Place Vendôme and are grateful for the support of Qatar Tourism in bringing our destination to new audiences”. This year’s edition of Shop Qatar, the nation’s largest shopping and entertainment festival, launched on January 1 with an elegant opening ceremony at Place Vendôme, featuring a performance by Lebanese singer Abeer Nheme, alongside colourful parades, family activities and a stunning fireworks display. Qatar’s retail sector has been experiencing a boom, with the market expected to grow at a CAGR of over 5% in the coming years. The country’s high GDP per capita, coupled with a population that values quality and innovation, has created a fertile ground for retail excellence. Place Vendôme’s success at the MECS+R Awards reflects this thriving environment and the mall’s ability to capture the essence of Qatar’s dynamic retail landscape. Since its opening in April 2022, Place Vendôme has rapidly established itself as a cornerstone of Qatar’s retail and lifestyle scene. The mall’s unique blend of luxury brands, diverse dining options, and state-of-the-art entertainment facilities has made it a favourite among locals and tourists alike. This latest recognition at the MECS+R Awards adds to Place Vendôme’s growing list of accolades, which include the UNESCO Prix Versailles for World’s Most Beautiful Shopping Mall in 2023; the respected ‘Premier Shopping Mall Experience’ at the Qatar Tourism Awards; Qatar Museums’ Bronze Key; RLI MENA ‘Shopping Center – New Build’ Award; as well as, ‘Best Mall Award’ and ‘Highest Participation Award’ by Shop Qatar. Place Vendôme’s ongoing efforts are aligned with the pillars of Qatar National Vision 2030, that aims to drive economic, social and cultural development in the country. By enhancing Qatar’s appeal as a global retail and tourism destination, Place Vendôme contributes to the diversification of the national economy, promotes cultural exchange, and fosters sustainable growth. The mall’s dedication to this vision reflects its commitment to making a meaningful impact on the country’s economic prosperity, social cohesion, and heritage preservation. These MECS+R Awards not only celebrate Place Vendôme’s achievements but also highlight Qatar’s growing influence in the regional and global retail landscape. For more information about Place Vendôme, please visit www.placevendomeqatar.com
