Monday, April 23, 2018

Qatar's Education City and the prospect of academic cooperation

Qatar's Education City wasn't necessarily conceived as an "education/talent hub" when it began over 20 years ago. The unique placement of eight branch campuses and one local institution on one site created the unique opportunity for cross-institution, inter-disciplinary, and innovative academic work that is now coming to fruition.

Universities, especially those with high brand and name recognition, are often reluctant to join hands for fear of tainting or diluting their brand. However, when Qatar made it so easy, it's only natural that the branches they host would begin to see the advantage and innovation that is possible when you work across programs. Northwestern and Georgetown Universities found a natural linkage between courses in journalism and politics (respectively) which resulted in a minor in Media & Politics that can be completed by taking courses at both institutions. In addition to the unique opportunity offered for students to take a course of study from two major universities, Mohamed Zayani, Associatie Professor at GU-Q, also lauded the impact on faculty research opportunities - "Since its launch, the Media and Politics program has also helped create promising research synergies between Georgetown and Northwestern faculty and researchers, and has opened up exciting opportunities for high impact collaborative research."

The availability of extraordinary academic programs is matched with an engine of innovation, the Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP). International companies are offered a "free zone" where new products are created and disseminated by their innovators. Stellic and Meddy, created by Carnegie Mellon University students in Qatar, and supported by CMU-Q faculty, received support from QSTP and now benefit Qatar as well as have been disseminated in the U.S. and Mexico.

Qatar's Education City was made possible by a host of other changes and initiatives over the last 20+ years. Even in the face of the Saudi Arabia blockade which began almost a year ago, the country remains strong and it continues to find ways to innovate and serve as a model for the Arab world.

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