Students at the Heart in Qatar

LJMU has successfully delivered the first international version of its Students at the Heart conference (SATH-QR 2025) with partner institution Oryx University.

The two-day event, held at Oryx University’s Doha campus, brought together more than 150 university leaders, academics, policymakers and representatives from various industry sectors from within Qatar and abroad.

The opening ceremony featured a message from Professor Mark Power, Vice-Chancellor of LJMU, welcoming remarks from Mr. Azmy Ameer, President of Oryx University and a keynote address delivered by H.E. Dr. Ibrahim bin Saleh Al-Naimi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, Qatar.

Shaping higher education

Across the two days, the conference hosted a number of research presentations, workshops and academic exhibitions addressing the most prominent trends shaping higher education today, including artificial intelligence and the future of learning, digital transformation, sustainability and wellbeing, pedagogical innovation, and career readiness.

This conference is more than a meeting of minds, it is a call to action. A moment for us to ask bold questions and seek honest answers about the future of higher education in the region and beyond. And at the centre of this conversation is a truth we must not overlook: students must be partners, not bystanders, in the transformation of higher education.

Professor Mark Power, Vice-Chancellor of Liverpool John Moores University

The conference featured a number of thought-provoking panel discussions:

• ‘The Journey of Higher Education in Qatar: Past, Present, and Future.’ 
• ‘AI-Enabled Digital Transformation in Teaching and Learning.’ 
• ‘What Industry and Community Need from Higher Education: Bridging the Gap Between Academic Excellence and Real-World Impact.’
• ‘Transnational Education in Qatar and the Region: Recent Developments and the Future Ahead.’

SATH-QR 2025 included the active participation of students, who presented papers and research projects from universities across Qatar and the region, including Qatar University, Zayed University, the American University of Sharjah, Gulf Medical University, and Oryx University.

In his closing remarks, Mr. Azmy Ameer, President of Oryx University, expressed pride in the event’s success, describing it as: “A historic moment in the journey of higher education. Hosting the ‘Students at the Heart’ conference in Doha embodies the truth that educational excellence knows no borders. Our shared mission is to empower generations and shape the future.”

About Students at the Heart Conference

The Students at the Heart Conference was first delivered by LJMU in 2022.

This annual conference provides a dynamic space for staff, students and partners to come together to share ideas, learn from one another, and celebrate collective achievements. It offers a valuable opportunity to exchange knowledge, explore practices, and build meaningful connections across the university community and beyond.