A group of executive master’s in leadership students from the College of Business and Economics at Qatar University visited the Digital Industry Affairs Sector at the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology on June 1, 2023. This visit comes in light of one of the courses of the Executive Master's Program in Leadership, which is offered at the College of Business and Economics in cooperation with the Qatar Leadership Center. Organized by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology at the Digital Excellence Center in Msheireb, the Digital Excellence Center aims to develop the technical skills of students in addition to those already in the workforce. During this visit, the students learned about the programs and initiatives of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and its role in leading digital transformation and enabling the digital economy. They also had the opportunity to meet officials of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, where they were encouraged to follow up and think about the available jobs in the field of information and communication technology. The students also learned about Qatar's smart projects, such as the crowd management application and the smart parking.

The visit included a series of interesting presentations that shed light on the global trends that shape the emergence of smart cities. The students were briefed on the Smart Qatar Program "TASMU", which embodies Qatar's commitment to take advantage of smart technology to create a robust, vibrant and diverse digital ecosystem for Qatar's citizens, residents and visitors in order to promote economic diversification and improve the quality of life in Qatar. In addition, a presentation was presented on the TASMU Innovation Lab, which aims to create an integrated environment for the development of collaborative research and the adoption of innovative solutions according to national priorities and directions by working to develop tangible solutions and results in areas centered on modern technologies, access, exploration and development. This is done by taking advantage of the supportive system for the growing research and development in the State of Qatar. The TASMU Innovation Lab plays the role of an organizer between government agencies, researchers, and technology partners to benefit from their expertise and explore solutions provided in the relevant fields.

In her speech, HE Mrs. Reem Mohammed Al Mansoori, Head of the Sector in the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, said, "Digital transformation has become a catalyst for progress and reshaping industries, economies and societies around the world. It has revolutionized the way we work, communicate, work and live, which It offers unparalleled opportunities for innovation and growth. As students, you are at the forefront of this digital revolution, armed with the potential to shape the future through your knowledge and determination.

Her Excellency added, "The path to digital leadership is not paved with technical skills alone, but requires a commitment to continuous learning and skills development, and embrace the thirst for knowledge, because it is the key to unleashing your full potential. Equip yourselves with the tools necessary to thrive in the digital world such as digitization, data analytics, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and more." Finally, seize every opportunity to enhance your skills, as through this endeavor you will become the architects of the digital tomorrow.”

At the end of the visit, the students were provided with valuable insights into the challenges facing the ICT sector and discussed the importance of engaging the public and private sectors and technology pioneers to provide easy and affordable solutions to these challenges by adopting information, databases and smart technologies without the need to impose radical change. Moreover, the students received comprehensive information about the support opportunities available to startups in the ICT sector. The ministry's commitment to promoting innovation and nurturing entrepreneurial talent has been demonstrated by providing various resources and initiatives designed to empower startups.

The visit comes within the framework of the efforts of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology to raise awareness of the importance of supporting, developing and stimulating the communications and information technology sector, encouraging investment in it, securing, enhancing and raising the efficiency of technological and information infrastructure, and developing it, in addition to educating the community on the importance of using communications and information technology in safe ways to improve the life of the individual and the advancement of society. In order to build a knowledge society based on the digital economy.