Education City

Built on the border of the capital of Qatar, Doha, Education City is a project of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development. Some of the world’s leading universities have their branch campuses on the site which also hosts educational institutes from school age to research level. Developed on 14 square kilometers, Education City educates students in fields of critical importance to the Gulf Cooperation Council region and is a center of educational excellence in the state. It gives a chance to universities to form relationships and share research with institutions and business in public and private sectors.

The center has branch campuses of six American universities as follows:

1- Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar (WCMC-Q)

Founded by Cornell University in 2001, the Medical College offers a two-year pre-medical program followed by a four-year course leading to a Doctor of Medicine degree.

2- Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar (VCUQ)

If you want to secure a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in interior design, fashion design or communication design, you could enroll in a four-year curriculum which VCUQ has been offering to its students since 1998.

3- Texas A&M University at Qatar (TAMUQ)

Set up in 2003, TAMUQ offers undergraduate degrees in electrical, petroleum, mechanical and chemical engineering. Masters programs in science and engineering were added by TAMUQ in 2007.

4- Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar (SFS-Qatar)

A four-year program has been offered by SFS-Qatar since 2005 which leads to a bachelor’s degree in foreign service.

5- Northwestern University in Qatar (NU-Q)

Degree programs in communication and journalism are being offered by the university since fall 2008.

6- Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar (CMU-Q)

This university offers undergraduate degrees in computer science programs and business since 2004. An undergraduate degree in information systems is also being offered since 2007.

Education City also has one Qatar University, Qatar Faculty of Islamic Studies (QFIS). It offers a Masters degree in Islamic Studies starting in 2007.

The center has been an inspiration for other arrangements made between Michigan State University and Dubai and New York University and Abu Dhabi. Though the oil-rich Persian Gulf nations are buying prestige through these elite universities, these Western institutions may have a liberalizing influence on the culturally conservative region.

Education City also has also other educational centers in the region:

The Learning Center:

Students having academic problems and with average or above average potential are enrolled in the Learning Center. Compensatory skills of students are developed here for their individual learning differences.

Qatar Academy:

Boys and girls from preschool to university entrance are educated here according to international standards. The Academy is fully affiliated with the Europe-based Council of International Schools and the U.S. –based New England Association of Schools and Colleges.

Academic Bridge Program:

This center founded in 2001 prepares specially selected, high-caliber secondary school graduates for entrance into degree programs of world-class universities as well as Qatar Foundation’s Education City campuses.

Science and Research:

Education City has several centers that focus on research and industry as follows:

1- Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP)
2- Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF)
3- RAND-Qatar Policy Institute (RQPI)

Some other centers:
1- Qatardebate
2- Al Jazeera Children's Channel (JCC)
3- Doha Debates
4- Al Shaqab stud farm and equestrian academy
5- Sidra Medical and Research Center
6- Fitch studio, an extension of the Fitch London studio