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H igher
Education in Qatar started in the early 1970s. In
1973 an Emiri decree was issued to establish two
Colleges of Education, one for males and the other
for females. They became then the nucleus of the
University of Qatar.
In
1977 Law no. 2 was issued to establish the
University of Qatar to be a center of higher
education programs, training and scientific
research, as well as to qualify students to enter
job market.
The University set out with four faculties in 1977:
It did not
take long before three more
faculties were opened: The Engineering Faculty in
1980, The Administrative Sciences and Economics
Faculty in 1985, and The Technoiogical Faculty which
was established in 1990, then became the
Qatar Faculty of Technology after an ordinence
issued by The Emir in 2002. The latest addition was
the faculty of Post-graduate studies in 1999.
The University set up 6 research centers to
support theory with practice. The Marine Biology
Department was equipped with a special vessel to
carry out such research.
The University also works hard to consolidate
research through specialized scientific periodicals
published by different faculties and research
centers. These centers are:
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The Scientific and Applied Research Center
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The Seera and Sunna Studies Center
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The Educational Research Center
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The Documentation and Humanities Center
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The National Center for Economic Research
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The Gulf Studies Center
The library has access to
the American Database known as
“DIALOGUE” which gives students
access to libraries in other
countries worldwide via satellite.
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The University’s
faculties and research centers are supported by two
advanced computer and education technology centers.
There are also two separate main libraries for male
and female students in addition to a number of sub
libraries in various faculties and research centers.
Together these libraries have more than 360.000
volumes and books including 5300 MA and PhD theses.
The libraries are subscribed to more than 190 Arabic
periodicals and 850 periodicals in English and other
languages.
The library has access to the American Database
known as
“DIALOGUE” which gives students access to libraries
in other countries worldwide via satellite.
Moreover, students can make use of more than 30
databases on CDs.The University campus is built on a
total area of about 8 Km². The buildings are modeled
on bee hives to indicate dedication to hard work and
continuous activity.
The University has two separate
campuses for male and female students, however the
teaching staff is the same for both.
Recently, the University has witnessed great
improvements, qualitatively and quantitatively, in
developing programs, diversifying disciplines,
enhancement of administrative performance, and
social involvement.
As
far as the quantitative development of the
university is concerned, the number of students
registered rose from 150 (males and females) in
1973-1974 to 8885 students in 2001-2002, of whom
7166 are Qatari nationals, about 81.3% of the total
number.
The total number of the graduates stood at 30681 in
2001-2002, of whom 23312 are Qatari nationals, 7369
of Arab Gulf states, and other Arab and Islamic
countries.
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As
the University developed, the number of students
registered each year increased steadily from 378 in
1981 to 1451 in 2001 of which the majority were
females.
Foreign students formed 20 % of the total number of
students who joined the University in its first
year.
The University's decision to raise student
acceptance grades for all faculties starting from
2001 was considered another stride towards ensuring
better quality and distinguished graduates who would
be able to keep abreast with the employers
expectations, in the public and private sectors.
In 2002 the percentage dropped to 19 %. Tuition is
free for Qatari as well as GCC students. The
University also offers scholarships to students from
Arab and Islamic countries.
In 2000 the number of the University’s personnel was
1156, of whom 956 were Qatari nationals.
The total number of faculty members
stood at 656 including 243 Qatari PhD holders (53%
of the total holders of such qualifications), 38
associate professors, and 21 teaching assistants.
The Qatari faculty is considered an investment in
competent national human resources. There were
not any Qataris on the faculty when the University
was founded back in 1973 .
The number of Qatari postgraduate students on
scholarships abroad are 53, both males and females,
38 of them are to join the teaching staff once they
have obtained their Ph Ds.
|
Year |
Female
Students |
Male
Students |
Total |
|
1980 /
1981 |
233 |
145 |
378 |
|
1985 /
1986 |
543 |
314 |
857 |
|
1990 /
1991 |
625 |
305 |
930 |
|
1994 /
1995 |
832 |
292 |
1124 |
|
1999 /
2000 |
942 |
354 |
1296 |
|
2000 /
2001 |
1041 |
410 |
1451 |
|
2002 /
2003 |
6240 |
2381 |
8621 |
Shaqab College
Established in
1998,
Shaqab College of
Design Arts for girls,
a daughter institute of the USA's
Virginia
Commonwealth University
School of Arts, is
a non-profitable private institute. It prepares
students for the Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in
Communication Arts and Design (Graphic Design),
Fashion Design and Merchandising, and Interior
Design. The first batch of 21 students graduated
in 2002.
Cornell Medical
College
An
innovative and pioneering project started
jointly by
Weill Cornell Medical College
in New York City, and the Qatar Foundation for
Education, Science and Community Development (QF).
As a result of an agreement between the two
institutions, the Weill Cornell Medical College
(WCMC) has established a branch in Qatar’s
capital city of Doha.
Pre-Medical and Medical programs will reflect 70
% representation by Qatari citizens, assuming a
sufficient number of qualified applicants. The
pre-medical program started in September 2002.
The medical curriculum proper will commence in
September 2004.
College of North Atlantic
-Qatar
The Qatar branch of the
College of North Atlantic
was opened in September 2002.
According to the contract signed between The
Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and
Community Development and College of the North
Atlantic, the latter is committed to providing
the personnel and training programs specially
designed for industrial, commercial, and
government institutions in the State of Qatar.
The College also provides technological programs
in petroleum and gas, information technology,
administration, electricity, electronics,
industrial construction, and health sciences.
The Supreme
Education Council
Established
by Emiri decree No. 37, November 2002, the
Supreme Education Council (SEC) directs the
nation’s education policy. It plays an integral
role in the development and implementation of
the education reform efforts.
Two bodies are working under the umbrella of SEC
and are directly responsible for the reform’s
success:
• The Education Institute oversees and supports
the private Schools.
• The Evaluation Institute : develops and
conducts testing of students, monitors student
learning and evaluates school performance.
There are also plans for establishing a
Post-Secondary Education and Career Development
board. It would advise individuals about career
options and opportunities for higher education
in Qatar and abroad, and would administer
scholarships and grants.
Members of the
Supreme Education Council
His Highness The Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim bin
Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani as President.
Her Highness Sheikha Mouza bint Nasser Al-Missned,
Consort of His Highness the Emir as
Vice-President.
Her Excellency Sheikha Al-Mahmoud, Minister of
Education.
His Excellency Sheikh Abdulah bin Saud Al Thani,
Director of State Audit Bureau.
Sheikha Abdulah Al-Misnad, President of the
University of Qatar.
Mohammed Saleh Al-Sada, Technical Director of
Qatar Petroleum.
Mohammed Khaled Al-Mana, Chairperson of Qatar
Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Responsibilities
of the Supreme Education Council
The Supreme Education Council is entrusted to
draw up a national education strategy plan and
to play an integral role in developing and
implementing it. The SEC also supervises and
endorses the works and budget of the Education
and Evaluation boards as well as the nomination
and endorsement of private schools contracts.
How are the Education Institute and
Evaluation Institute related to the Supreme
Education Council?
The Supreme Education Council (SEC) is entitled
of overseeing the performance of the two
Institutes and nominates their directors.
The Education Institute oversees and provides
support services to the new schools in three
essential areas.
First: the Institute develops
curriculum standards in key subject areas to
facilitate a high level of learning.
Second: the Institute provides
professional development opportunities so
teachers and principals can stay current on the
latest teaching and management techniques.
Third: the Institute ensures
that the schools are fiscally accountable by
monitoring their financial management through
periodic reports and audits.
Directed by Darwish Al-Emadi, Ph.D., the
Education Institute houses three offices:
• Office of Independent Schools
• Office of Curriculum Standards
• Office of Professional Development
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