Qatar - Education and TrainingQatar - Education and Training
Overview
(Services statistics are not available.)
Qatar is using its hydrocarbon-fueled wealth, in part, to invest in educational reform. The Government of Qatar recognizes that it must develop a diversified, knowledge-based economy to ensure the country continues to thrive over the long-term. Seeing the failure of some educational systems throughout the Arab world, Qatar continues to overhaul its primary and secondary schools. For university education, they have imported not just the American model, but the U.S. universities themselves – six– with the goal of creating the best-educated citizens in the Middle East, fully prepared to participate in the global economy.
Qatar Foundation (QF) is a major vehicle for the government’s education agenda. QF’s flagship project is a 2,500 acre campus in Doha which hosts six U.S. universities including: Weill-Cornell Medical College (medicine); Carnegie Mellon University (computer science, business); Georgetown University School of Foreign Service (political science and international affairs); Virginia Commonwealth University (art and design); Texas A&M University (engineering); and Northwestern University (journalism). The Supreme Education Council, through the Outstanding Schools Initiative, has imported one U.S. high school.
Qatar has almost 250 independent schools which function like charter schools in the United States. While the Government of Qatar requires all independent schools to comply with national curriculum standards in all core subjects, the government is gradually modifying its educational curriculum to match international baccalaureate standards. The government continues to look to expand the number of primary and secondary private schools, particularly high-quality ones, to cater to the growing population of foreign professionals working in Qatar and provide options to its citizens. With the country growing at a fast pace the shortage of private international schools is becoming an issue that directly affects the families of the foreigners joining the work force. Waitlists can sometimes be long, and options limited. The education sector is striving to keep up with increasing market demands. Several new international schools are opening but more institutions are still needed. The Supreme Education Council is making great efforts to promote the establishment of top international institutions in Qatar.
In April of 2017, Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF), a member of Qatar Foundation for Education Science and Community Development, and Texas A&M University at Qatar signed an agreement to create an innovation laboratory to support outreach and academic enrichment initiatives in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) for schoolchildren in Qatar. Under the agreement QNRF will provide funds to build the lab for K-12 student programs. The STEM Hub was launched in January 2019.
The Government of Qatar provides every citizen free education at the primary and secondary level. The Government of Qatar’s Higher Education Institute (HEI) scholarship awards full scholarships to Qatari nationals admitted into a variety of designated undergraduate and graduate schools in the United States (as well as other countries). The goal is to provide these Qataris with the appropriate mix of skills in key sectors in support of Qatarization.
Qatar’s senior leadership, as part of the vision 2030, established a strategy, which seeks to educate highly productive, skilled Qatari nationals to meet the demands of the labor market. This strategy is known as “Qatarization” and is designed to increase the number of Qatari nationals in all joint venture industries and government departments to assume key positions formerly occupied by expatriates. The target is 50% of the workforce in the industry and energy sectors.
Sub-Sector Best Prospects
This sector is open for new opportunities but must fit into the educational and economic goals of the Qatar Foundation and national plans. The country is investing significant resources to train Qatari youth to enable them to become entrepreneurs and qualified professionals for the economy.
School operators are in high demand as the country tries to cope with the growing education need. Several projects such as Lusail City are contemplating to build schools to cater their residents. Register for tender opportunities.
Web Resources
Contact the Commercial Section of the U.S. Embassy.
Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.
(Services statistics are not available.)
Qatar is using its hydrocarbon-fueled wealth, in part, to invest in educational reform. The Government of Qatar recognizes that it must develop a diversified, knowledge-based economy to ensure the country continues to thrive over the long-term. Seeing the failure of some educational systems throughout the Arab world, Qatar continues to overhaul its primary and secondary schools. For university education, they have imported not just the American model, but the U.S. universities themselves – six– with the goal of creating the best-educated citizens in the Middle East, fully prepared to participate in the global economy.
Qatar Foundation (QF) is a major vehicle for the government’s education agenda. QF’s flagship project is a 2,500 acre campus in Doha which hosts six U.S. universities including: Weill-Cornell Medical College (medicine); Carnegie Mellon University (computer science, business); Georgetown University School of Foreign Service (political science and international affairs); Virginia Commonwealth University (art and design); Texas A&M University (engineering); and Northwestern University (journalism). The Supreme Education Council, through the Outstanding Schools Initiative, has imported one U.S. high school.
Qatar has almost 250 independent schools which function like charter schools in the United States. While the Government of Qatar requires all independent schools to comply with national curriculum standards in all core subjects, the government is gradually modifying its educational curriculum to match international baccalaureate standards. The government continues to look to expand the number of primary and secondary private schools, particularly high-quality ones, to cater to the growing population of foreign professionals working in Qatar and provide options to its citizens. With the country growing at a fast pace the shortage of private international schools is becoming an issue that directly affects the families of the foreigners joining the work force. Waitlists can sometimes be long, and options limited. The education sector is striving to keep up with increasing market demands. Several new international schools are opening but more institutions are still needed. The Supreme Education Council is making great efforts to promote the establishment of top international institutions in Qatar.
In April of 2017, Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF), a member of Qatar Foundation for Education Science and Community Development, and Texas A&M University at Qatar signed an agreement to create an innovation laboratory to support outreach and academic enrichment initiatives in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) for schoolchildren in Qatar. Under the agreement QNRF will provide funds to build the lab for K-12 student programs. The STEM Hub was launched in January 2019.
The Government of Qatar provides every citizen free education at the primary and secondary level. The Government of Qatar’s Higher Education Institute (HEI) scholarship awards full scholarships to Qatari nationals admitted into a variety of designated undergraduate and graduate schools in the United States (as well as other countries). The goal is to provide these Qataris with the appropriate mix of skills in key sectors in support of Qatarization.
Qatar’s senior leadership, as part of the vision 2030, established a strategy, which seeks to educate highly productive, skilled Qatari nationals to meet the demands of the labor market. This strategy is known as “Qatarization” and is designed to increase the number of Qatari nationals in all joint venture industries and government departments to assume key positions formerly occupied by expatriates. The target is 50% of the workforce in the industry and energy sectors.
Sub-Sector Best Prospects
- Language: ESL and TOEFL
- Undergraduate: Business Administration, Engineering and Communication
- STEM programs
- Post-Graduate: Pharmacy, Dentistry, MBAs
This sector is open for new opportunities but must fit into the educational and economic goals of the Qatar Foundation and national plans. The country is investing significant resources to train Qatari youth to enable them to become entrepreneurs and qualified professionals for the economy.
School operators are in high demand as the country tries to cope with the growing education need. Several projects such as Lusail City are contemplating to build schools to cater their residents. Register for tender opportunities.
Web Resources
Contact the Commercial Section of the U.S. Embassy.
Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.