Special Supplement Thursday, May 30, 2019
The City of Universities For the past 23 years, students in Qatar have been studying in a city where the iconic landmarks are some of the world’s top universities from New York, Paris, Chicago, London, Washington, DC, and more. Kuwari, CEO of Qatar Foundation International. “Collaborations between some of the world’s best institutions are happening right here in Doha.”
W
hat started with a single school has transformed into Qatar Foundation’s (QF’s) ‘Education City,’ a 12 square kilometer urban development housing various education and research institutes. This model was created when QF’s founders developed a plan for Qatar’s future that would provide a greater choice in education, research, and community development. The organization partnered with Georgetown, Cornell, Carnegie Mellon, Northwestern, Texas A&M, Virginia Commonwealth, HEC Paris, and University College London to offer their flagship programs in Doha. In 2010, QF established Hamad Bin Khalifa University, a homegrown research university that offers customized programs catered to the needs of the region. While they are supported by QF, all the universities enjoy complete academic freedom and authority over their curricula and the recruitment of students, faculty, and staff. The Education City Model At Education City, students have a chance to experience multiple universities during their
academic journey. “One of the best parts of being with QF is that they always urge us to be experimental. They want us to do things that we might not be able to do on our Washington campus,” said Brendan Hill, Senior Associate Dean for Students at Georgetown University in Qatar. One example: Georgetown’s partnership with Northwestern on a combined minor in Media and Politics, capitalizing on the respective strengths of each school.
Education City universities are within walking distance of one another and cater to more than 3,000 students every year. Housed in builtfor-purpose campuses, they offer programs in media, international affairs, business, computer science, medicine, engineering, cultural heritage, knowledge management, and arts.
“These students are part of a larger ecosystem at QF that includes scholars, researchers, and innovators generating significant achievements in key areas including the social sciences, healthcare, IT, the environment, and food security with associated commercial opportunities”
Part of Something Greater While studying at QF, students can take advantage of QF’s offerings in research and community development. “Education is an integral part of our mission, but, for us, it’s the first step to help us develop the country’s full potential,” says Dr. Richard O’Kennedy, QF’s Vice President for Research, Development and Innovation (RDI). “These students are part of a larger ecosystem
at QF that includes scholars, researchers, and innovators generating significant achievements in key areas including the social sciences, healthcare, IT, the environment, and food security with associated commercial opportunities” Some of those opportunities for students include the chance to turn their entrepreneurial ideas into businesses through QF’s technology hub, Qatar Science & Technology Park, or turn their curiosities
into fully funded research projects via any of the institutes based in Education City. Moreover, students get to participate in some of the world’s leading conferences, such as the World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) and the World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH). As Qatar continues to fast track large-scale developments and prepare for its future needs, QF is continuing to expand the offerings at Education City. (Courtesy: Qatar Foundation)
Supplement Team Director-Marketing
James John
Supplement Editor
Layout Graphics
Sr. Business Development Manager
Circulation In-charge
Abdul Wahid Sanjai Noah
Advertisement
Renju Varghese
Majeed Nadapuram Sherif Samy Printed by
Raya Commercial Printing Press
Such joint programs are only one aspect of this unique model. Enrolled students can cross-register at other schools, conduct research with their faculty members, or even start entrepreneurial initiatives with them.They can also study abroad at their respective university’s main campus or participate in fully funded learning trips and residencies in all corners of the globe. “When Education City was first conceived, its vision was to provide world-class education to the people of Qatar. But over the past 23 years, this project has achieved beyond that goal, and the result is an academic hub with unique opportunities and initiatives,” said Omran Al-
Stenden University Qatar Creating critical global thinkers through a broad-based professional education Q How is the relation with the students? How do you support them?
As I said before, we all are one big family at Stenden Qatar. I think the most important thing a good teacher can do is build relationships with the students and being close to them. I know all of my students by name and my office door is always open following our “open doors policy”. Furthermore at Stenden University Qatar there is a counselling department in case any of our students faces challenges, be it academically or on a personal level.
Vanessa Alvarez Fraile
V
anessa Alvarez Fraile is Spanish Lecturer at Stenden University Qatar. Holder of a Master’s degree in teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language and a BA in Management and International Business Administration, she teaches in all three undergraduate degrees offered at the University: International Business, International Hospitality Management and Tourism Management. Before coming to Qatar, Fraile worked in different management positions worldwide in the tourism industry for 15 years. Having spent the whole of her career in the field of tourism, when she moved with my family to Doha five years ago, she decided it was time for a new challenge. That’s when she made a career change to Education. Gulf Times caught up with her to know how about her experience of switching career and her time at Stenden University Qatar. Excerpts from the interview: Q How do you feel about your new career at Stenden University Qatar? I have been enjoying this experience, particularly mixing with staff and students from all over the world. I enjoy helping students grow! It is rewarding to see how their competencies and confidence grow over the courses and being part of that.
Q How do you enjoy working with Stenden? I love teaching at Stenden! It’s a second home for teachers and students alike. There is such a family atmosphere at Stenden Qatar. I especially enjoy the interaction with the students. I have the privilege of teaching students from across the world with varied languages and different life perspectives. I think I learn just as much from my students as they do from me.
I try to connect my students with what they are learning through engagement and creating learning opportunities. My role as a teacher is to work together with the students acting as a facilitator without always telling them what to do, so that they can be active participants in the learning process. I do appreciate their input and contribution in the class. Q
How do you see your students in the future?
I know that our students are well equipped to start working in the real world immediately after
graduation as they are highly sought after by potential employers. We are proud of the high employability of our alumni within six months of graduation. We attribute such success to our curriculum which is designed to strike the right balance between theory and practice.
adaptable to change. Thus they are welcome worldwide, in all sectors of business and service management. I can confidently say that a degree from Stenden Qatar opens doors to an exciting future with varied career prospects and options.
At Stenden Qatar, we attach a lot of importance to the quality of education which is why all our degrees are internationally accredited. Our programmes provide a flexible and broadbased professional education which makes our graduates critical global thinkers who are
Q
What are your plans for the future?
Life has taught me not to make so many plans for the future as it changes so easily. I am enjoying so far teaching at Stenden. Maybe I will go back to Europe someday, but who knows.