Education City

Education City is an educational and research hub located in Al Rayyan Municipality in the Doha Metropolitan Area of Qatar. Developed by the Qatar Foundation, it was established by Moza bint Nasser, one of the consorts of Qatar's former ruler Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and the current ruler's mother, to advance education, research, and innovation in the region. Spanning , the property houses various educational facilities, including satellite campuses of eight international universities.

History

Education City was launched by Qatar Foundation in 1997. The same year, Virginia Commonwealth University became the first institute to establish itself on its campus. The city was officially inaugurated in 2003.

Over the past 20 years, Education City has grown from a single school to a multi university campus with students from over 50 countries and an enormous research fund, offering significant opportunities for the advancement of knowledge and research across a variety of disciplines.

Initially planned as a single university, Education City evolved into a partnership with international institutions tailored to Qatar’s needs.

Institutions

Education City is home to the following local Qatar university and six U.S. satellite universities, one British satellite university, and one French satellite university:
*Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar (CMU-Q). CMU-Q joined Education City in 2004. CMU-Q offers undergraduate programs in Biological Sciences, Business Administration, Computational Biology, Computer Science, and Information Systems. With 10 graduating classes, the total number of graduates from CMU-Q is more than 1,000.
*Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q). GU-Q was established in 2005. It offers a four-year Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service degree in one of four majors: International Economics, International Politics, Culture and Politics, and International History. A total of 441 students have graduated from GU-Q.
* Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU). HBKU was founded in 2010. It houses three national research institutes: Qatar Biomedical Research Institute, Qatar Computing Research Institute, and Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute. HBKU's academic portfolio is tailored to meet the needs of the local community, inspiring Qataris to continue their pursuit of education with a diverse offering of degrees, Master's programs, and PhD courses. HBKU's educational efforts comprise five colleges and an entity devoted to executive education: the College of Health and Life Sciences, College of Humanities & Social Sciences, College of Islamic Studies, College of Law & Public Policy, College of Science & Engineering, and the Executive Education Center.
* HEC Paris in Qatar was established in 2010. Courses on offer include Master's programs, Summer School, MBA, PhD, Executive MBA, TRIUM Global Executive MBA executive short programs, and customized executive education programs for companies. HEC Paris launched Qatar's first international Executive MBA, and also provides a Specialized master's degree in strategic business unit management. A total of 593 students have graduated from HEC Paris in Qatar.
* Northwestern University in Qatar (NU-Q). NU-Q was founded in 2008 and offers Bachelor of Science degrees in Journalism and Strategic Communication, and Communication. It also offers students the opportunity to earn a minor in Middle East Studies and a minor in Media and Politics. Additionally, students can earn a certificate in Strategic Communication. A total of 343 students have graduated from NU-Q. In 2013, NU-Q partnered with Al Jazeera for collaboration and knowledge transfer. However, NU-Q ended its collaboration with the network, as confirmed by a university spokesperson. The decision came after U.S. political pressures and claims linking Al Jazeera to Hamas.
* Texas A&M University at Qatar (TAMUQ). TAMUQ's campus was established in 2003. The university offers Bachelor of Science degrees in Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Petroleum Engineering. The university began offering graduate degree programs in Chemical Engineering in 2011. Over 1,000 students have graduated from TAMUQ.On February 8, 2024, the Texas A&M Board of Regents voted to close TAMUQ by 2028, citing regional instability and a desire to focus on U.S. campuses. The decision followed concerns raised by a think tank about national security risks and controversy over academic restructuring. The Qatar Foundation called the closure “misguided,” attributing it to a “disinformation campaign” and highlighting the partnership’s significant benefits for both Qatar and the U.S.
* Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar School of the Arts (VCUarts Qatar). Established in 1998, VCUarts Qatar was the first international partner university to open in Education City. VCUarts Qatar offers degrees in fashion design, graphic design, interior design and painting and printmaking, a Bachelor of Arts degree in art history, and a Master of Fine Arts degree in design. A total of 1017 students have graduated from VCUarts Qatar.
* Weill Cornell Medicine - Qatar (WCM-Q). WCM-Q was established in 2001 as a partnership between Cornell University and Qatar Foundation. WCM-Q's innovative six-year program of studies leads to the Cornell University MD degree. A total of 335 students have graduated from WCM-Q.
* University College London opened a campus in Qatar in 2010 and after it ended its 10-year contract, UCL left Education City on June 30, 2020. It used to offer a MA in Library and Information Studies and an MA in Museum and Gallery Practice. A total of 254 students have graduated from UCL Qatar.

Basic education

Other educational centers located at Education City include:
* Qatar Academy (QA) Doha was established in 1995, as Qatar Foundation's first school. It is an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School, accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, and the Council of International Schools. There are five Qataraadi Academy schools in different locations throughout Qatar, including QA Al Khor, QA Al Wakra QA Msheireb, and QA Sidra.
* Academic Bridge Program (ABP) was established in 2001 and is a rigorous, two-semester general studies program that focuses on English, math, science, and computer skills. Studies in these four areas help ensure students make a successful transition from high school to university.
* Awsaj Academy was established in 1996 and is a K-12 specialized school that addresses the needs of students with mild to moderate learning challenges.
* Renad Academy - was launched in 2016, helping children who have been diagnosed with mild to moderate Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
* Qatar Leadership Academy (QLA), opened in 2005. QLA follows a US curriculum model, with a full high school program in grades 8–12.

Research

Several centers based at Education City focus on science and research. These include:
* Qatar Science & Technology Park, a facility comprising 45,000 square meters of office and laboratory space. It provides incubation, funding, training, mentorship, and connection to the regional and global tech innovation ecosystem.
* Qatar National Research Fund provides financial support and guidance for original, competitively selected research.
* Sidra Medical and Research Center, a hospital and biomedical research center.

Other centers

* Al Shaqab is an equine center.
* Doha Debates, a public forum for dialogue which hosts international level debate events in its own unique "majlis" style.
*Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, houses the ‘Mathaf Collection’, co-owned by Qatar Museums and Qatar Foundation, which is the world's largest specialized collection of its kind. Oxygen Park is a landscaped open space that incorporates sports, recreation, and heritage in a relatively cool environment.
* QatarDebate, the national debating organization for Qatar.
* Qatar National Convention Centre
*Education City Mosque, with the capacity to host 1,800 worshippers in its main prayer hall and another 1,000 in its exterior courtyard, it also serves as a community mosque for the surrounding Al Rayyan area.
*Premier Inn Doha Education City is a 219 bedroom hotel located in Doha Education City.

Transport

Doha Metro: Three separate stations of the Doha Metro's Green Line (also known as the ''Education Line'') serve Education City: the Education City station, the Qatar National Library station, and the Al Shaqab station. All three stations were opened to the public on 10 December 2019.

Education City Tram: The Education City Tram is a sustainable transport system offering free rides within the campus. The tram has three lines: Yellow, Blue, and Green. The Yellow and Blue Lines serve the South Campus, while the Green Line connects the North Campus. This innovative system is designed to enhance connectivity and reduce the campus's carbon footprint.

Bus Service: Education City features a bus service with frequent stops across different service routes to ensure convenient access to all areas of the campus.

Controversy

American universities which have established campuses in Education City have been the subject of ongoing criticism of whether it is appropriate to maintain a campus in Qatar, given the alleged Qatari links to state-sponsored terrorism, the lack of freedom of speech in the country and the country's absolute monarchy. In an interview with ''Gulf News Journal'', Herbert London, president of the London Center for Policy Research and a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, said "universities I think have compromised themselves" by having campuses in a country like Qatar where academic freedom and freedom of the press are severely limited.

References

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Populated places established in 1997
1997 establishments in Qatar

Education in Qatar
Doha