Msheireb Museums Collaborates With HBKU On Digital Citizenship Project In Qatar

In a forward-looking initiative that aligns with this year's International Museums Day theme, "Museums for Education and Research", Msheireb Museums and Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) have announced a collaboration on a pioneering research project. This project is aimed at promoting responsible digital citizenship and fostering constructive online community engagement. The announcement was made in an effort to highlight the role of museums in creating a more conscious, sustainable, and inclusive world.

The partnership focuses on the "Future of Digital Citizenship in Qatar: A Socio-Technical Approach" project, which spans over four years and is supported by the Qatar Research, Development and Innovation Council's (QRDI) National Priorities Research Programme-Cluster (NPRP-C). Msheireb Museums joins this venture as a commitment to not only preserving cultural heritage but also addressing the emerging challenges and opportunities presented by the digital age.

Abdulla Al Naama, General Manager of Msheireb Museums, expressed the institution's pride in joining forces with leading researchers and innovators. "By participating in this project, we aim to showcase the vast knowledge museums can offer, especially in the digital knowledge sharing and education landscape," said Al Naama.

The research project, led by Hamad Bin Khalifa University, unites 10 national and international entities from both academia and industry. It is composed of six sub-projects focusing on a variety of areas including social media discourse, web-based tool development, educational resources, digital literacy, gender equality, social inclusion, and online security. The ultimate goal is to enhance the digital experience for users across the Arab world and the GCC area, emphasizing diversity and inclusion.

Outlined below are the six sub-projects and their respective leads:

Al Naama further emphasized Msheireb Museums' eagerness to leverage its expertise in cultural heritage, community outreach, and education to contribute to the evolution of digital citizenship in Qatar and beyond. The museums are offering researchers access to their heritage houses, collections, and exhibitions as platforms for public engagement on digital citizenship matters.

Dr. Raian Ali, a leading researcher on the project, praised Msheireb Museums for providing a dynamic backdrop for their research. He highlighted the importance of understanding and engaging with digital citizenship in today's digital age and the value of the museums' narrative and digital exhibits in this context.

Msheireb Museums, located in Msheireb Downtown Doha and developed by Msheireb Properties, comprises four heritage houses that narrate Qatar's societal evolution. These museums have become synonymous with shedding light on human heritage and cultural diversity. Specifically, Bin Jelmood House focuses on acknowledging the contributions of formerly enslaved people to the development of human civilizations.

Dr. Hafiz Al Abdulla, Senior Director of Corporate Communications at Msheireb Properties and ICOM Qatar Board Member, shared his insights on the International Museums Day theme. He underscored the vital role museums play in supporting education and research, advocating for a future where technology and research practices allow knowledge to flourish without constraints.