Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q), a QF partner institution, is offering an innovative course in Arabic that provides participants an opportunity to develop Arabic writing and critical thinking skills while exploring Arabic literature that sheds light on the social, philosophical and spiritual impact of the pandemic on human society.
The Executive Education Certificate course is titled “Literature of Being: Possession in the Time of Corona”, and will be delivered virtually July 6 – 29, 2020, between 7:00pm – 8.15pm on Mondays and Wednesdays.
The global effort to combat the spread of the COVID-19 virus has exposed severe underlying social, political, and economic conditions. Rodolph Boughaba, Associate Dean for Executive Education, notes that these events have raised many questions about modern society, and calls for deeper introspection into fundamental morals and values. “What we want from this course is to explore the writings of thinkers and writers of literature through their life and non-materialistic approaches to some of the existential questions posed by global crises such as the pandemic.”
The course will be taught by Assistant Professor of Arabic at GU-Q, Abdul Rahman Chamseddine, who emphasized the importance of providing platforms for discussion of contemporary issues that affect the region. “Throughout this course we will explore some renowned texts in literature, philosophy, religion and psychology that deal with the human condition and its approach to life. We will be exposed to some selected texts from Arabic and international works translated into Arabic.”
Participants will also gain critical Arabic reading and thinking skills, he said, and “learn how to extract the intended meaning from the texts by reading some of the most important works that criticize contemporary consumer lifestyle.”
The course is open to the public. Visit https://epe.qatar.georgetown.edu/executive-education to register before the course deadline, or for more information on the programs.
About Georgetown University in Qatar
Established in 1789 in Washington, DC, Georgetown University is one of the world’s leading academic and research institutions. Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q), founded in 2005 in partnership with Qatar Foundation, seeks to build upon the world-class reputation of the university through education, research, and service. Inspired by the university’s mission of promoting intellectual, ethical, and spiritual understanding, GU-Q aims to advance knowledge and provide students and the community with a holistic educational experience that produces global citizens committed to the service of humankind.
Located in Doha’s Education City, GU-Q offers the same internationally recognized Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service degree as Georgetown’s Capitol Campus in Washington, DC. This unique, interdisciplinary program prepares students to tackle the most important and pressing global issues by helping them develop critical thinking, analytic, and communication skills within an international context. GU-Q alumni work in leading local and international organizations across industries ranging from finance to energy, education, and media. The Qatar campus also serves as a residency and delivery location for the Executive Master’s in Emergency and Disaster Management along with the Executive Master’s in Leadership.
For more information please contact the Office of Communications +974 445 78100.
