Dean’s Message

Georgetown University in Qatar marked key milestones during the 2018-2019 academic year including the graduation of our 11th class, the most successful recruitment season to date, and the publication of the 100th book by GU-Q faculty and researchers since the Qatar campus opened in 2005.

GU-Q 100: A Celebration of Knowledge, our signature event for the year, offered the opportunity to reflect on the research impact of our campus in Qatar and of the region. Notably, it coincided with the beginning GU-Q’s participation in the centennial celebrations of Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service (SFS) in Washington, DC.

Highlights from this academic year, evidence of the rich research environment for students and faculty, include the publication of 12 books, 17 book chapters, 25 articles in peer reviewed journals, and the organization of 42 scholarly events. In addition, the Center for International and Regional Studies (CIRS) initiated the Undergraduate Research Advancement program to further support student research.

Many of the research events were open to the public, with cutting-edge research on policy, history, government, and economics made accessible to the broader community in Qatar. GU-Q is also a recognized venue for civil society engagement, offering numerous public events and lectures, including student-led events, organized during the academic year. These events involved a number of prominent speakers, including government ministers and officials, as well as distinguished foreign diplomats.

By leveraging the expertise and scholarly networks of our faculty, GU-Q engaged national leadership, international experts, and the diplomatic community in productive dialogues with students and the wider community on issues of topical concern and relevance. In addition, GU-Q continued to extend community engagement through customized education that supports professional development through a variety of on and off-campus courses.

Above all, GU-Q remained focused on providing an environment that fosters academic excellence. GU-Q programs were enriched through continuous improvement of the curriculum, research on local and regionally relevant themes that inform the teaching and learning experience, and a strategic enrollment framework designed to sustain both a strong Qatari presence and a genuine cohort diversity in terms of nationality and socio-economic background. Academic program offerings during the year were also enriched through the addition of new content for 16 courses. Options for completing additional minors in Economics, Government, History, Philosophy, and Theology, in line with recent curricular changes at SFS, were also approved.

It is my great pleasure to share with you this record of the collective accomplishments of our dedicated faculty and staff, and inspiring students, who are working together to build a better future for Qatar and the world.

MISS ION The University is dedicated to promoting intellectual, ethical, and spiritual understanding through serious and sustained discourse among people of different faiths, cultures, and beliefs.

Through education, research, and service, it aims to advance knowledge and to provide students and the community with a holistic experience that produces global citizens committed to the service of humanity. It seeks to build upon the world-class reputation of Georgetown University and its schools across a variety of disciplines, and work with its partner Qatar Foundation (QF) to support the Qatar National Vision 2030, and to help develop Qatar’s knowledge economy.

Ahmad Dallal Dean, Georgetown University in Qatar