The Qatar Finance and Business Academy (QFBA) has signed a MoU with Northumbria University in Newcastle, UK, to offer joint professional and academic programmes starting from September 2017.  

Northumbria University’s Newcastle Business School was named the ‘UK Business School of the Year’ in the prestigious Times Higher Education Awards last December, and it recently achieved double AACSB accreditation in Accounting and Business (making it the only business school in Europe to earn such an accreditation).

The agreement signed by QFBA and Northumbria University is a great achievement for the academy and the university which will lead to a strategic cooperation in various technical and scientific fields in addition to the exchange of expertise and professors to provide the best accredited academic and professional programmes, said a statement from the Qatari institution.

Meanwhile, Northumbria's innovative programmes for QFBA students provide them with the knowledge necessary to compete in an increasingly globalised economy and boost their employment prospects, through which they can exercise the skills and knowledge gained in the academic and professional programmes offered in partnership with the university, it stated.

Through the technical and scientific programmes that will be presented in partnership with the university, beneficiaries will learn about the latest scientific developments in areas of interest, in addition to the best practices in these aspects, it added.

On the new programmes, Sheikh Fahad Faisal Al Thani, the chairman of QFBA, said: "Our academy’s agreement with Northumbria University represents a milestone in our tangible contribution to the realisation of the Qatar National Vision 2030."

“This agreement is poised to play a key role in harmonising training qualifications with the evolving job market needs, while powering the financial sector in Qatar and the region with an entire generation of well-qualified professionals, capable of elevating the profile of their organisations as well as Qatar as a preferred business hub that attracts investments and businesses,” he noted.

CEO Dr Abdul Aziz Al Horr said: “Our partnership with Northumbria University opens a world of opportunities for Qatar’s youth. Through this agreement, we will be presenting a package of various scientific and professional programmes that harmonises with the needs of the labour market in Qatar.”

“The programmes will sport a qualitative aspect and international recognition for the national and international reputation that the Academy and the University enjoy,” he added.

Prof Jon Reast, pro vice-chancellor (International), Northumbria University, said: "We are pleased to embark on this new relationship with QFBA to provide the academy’s students with state-of-the-art undergraduate and post-graduate courses that will sharpen their knowledge and enable them to compete in the global job market.”

“Our university’s approach to creating a distinctive learning experience that engages, empowers and inspires achievement is simple but powerful. We have top academics that work with students at every stage, to maximise their potential,” he added.-TradeArabia News Service