Ashghal signs a Memorandum of Understanding with Texas A&M at Qatar
Published Dec 13, 2017The Public Works Authority ‘Ashghal’ has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Texas A&M University at Qatar to offer a number of training and development programmes for both Ashghal employees and university students.
His Excellency Dr. Eng. Saad bin Ahmad Al Muhannadi, President of the Public Works Authority, was joined by Texas A&M at Qatar Dean Dr. César Octavio Malavé in signing the MoU during a ceremony in the Texas A&M Building in Education City on Monday, 11 December 2017.
According to the MoU, Ashghal will offer training opportunities for students in the fields of construction and management of projects. On the other hand, Texas A&M at Qatar will provide educational support to Ashghal staff who wish to continue their studies in the university in various fields, through training courses offered by the university to employees.
Ashghal will also sponsor Texas A&M at Qatar’s upcoming conference, “Advances in Materials and Pavement Performance Prediction” (AM3P), to be held in April 2018 in Doha, in collaboration with a number of Qatari and international entities.
The memo also stipulates that Ashghal’s employees participate in the steering committee of the Consortium of Asphalt Pavement Technologies, with the goal of constructing long-lasting and high-performing roads in Qatar.
At the beginning of the signing ceremony, Dr. Eng. Saad Al Muhannadi, President of the Public Works Authority, delivered a speech expressing his happiness with the collaboration between Ashghal and Texas A&M at Qatar.
“Within Ashghal’s strategic objectives that relate to training and developing national competencies according to the National Vision 2030, Ashghal seeks to support Qatari students who attempt to improve their skills and scientific background, in addition to enhancing Ashghal’s staff efficiency, through continuing their educational journey, and widening their knowledge in various fields of specialisations”, He said.
The President of Ashghal added: “There is a continuous cooperation and coordination between Ashghal and various education entities in the country. This agreement represents a strategic cooperation and a good effort to develop Ashghal's vision in training and development to meet the needs of the Public Works Authority in this field, in addition to the cooperation in research and recycling materials used in Ashghal’s projects, opening the possibility of finding alternatives for projects’ materials to guarantee quality and reduce cost.”
Dr. Malavé said, “Texas A&M at Qatar and the Public Works Authority have a long history of collaboration and mutual support that has led to this significant milestone that we think will have significant impact on Qatar’s roads and indeed around the world. We are grateful to our friends at Ashghal for their continued support as we work to address road construction challenges and reduce costs for all stakeholders”.
The Memorandum of Understanding signed by the Public Works Authority and Texas A&M at Qatar reflects the desire of both sides to promote and develop awareness of the importance of similar educational initiatives as a platform for the exchange of knowledge, academic learning and professional development between the Authority and the branch campus.