Agreement will see Education Above All-supported students from the American University of Beirut spend a semester at Qatar Foundation's Education City.
Students based in Lebanon who have overcome challenges and barriers to access higher education and excel in their studies are to advance their learning journey within Qatar Foundation's globally unique education ecosystem, through a new partnership between the organization, Education Above All Foundation, and the American University of Beirut.
Study Abroad in Qatar – a component of the Qatar Scholarship Programme, a project of Education Above All (EAA) Foundation's Al Fakhoora program – will initially see six scholarship recipients from the American University of Beirut (AUB) placed within two Qatar Foundation (QF) partner universities, Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar and Texas A&M University at Qatar, during the 2024 spring term.
An agreement signed at the 2023 WISE Summit will also pave the way for more AUB student cohorts to travel to Qatar and benefit from the diverse, multidisciplinary landscape of learning that QF's Education City offers, with world-class universities standing alongside research and innovation hubs, and community programs and initiatives.
Over the next two years, up to 15 Qatar Scholarship recipients from AUB – selected based on their areas of specialization and academic performance – will travel to Qatar to study at QF, becoming part of the Education City student community and adding a new dimension to their learning experience within and beyond the classroom.
"We are thrilled to welcome students from the prestigious American University of Beirut into our diverse academic community at Education City," said Francisco Marmolejo, president of higher education and education advisor at the Qatar Foundation.
“This partnership is not just about providing students with the opportunity to acquire knowledge from top universities at Qatar Foundation; it's about developing a global mindset with a sense of community engagement, encouraging inter-institutional collaboration, fostering long-lasting partnerships, and, more importantly, preparing our students to be leaders in an interconnected world."
EAA's Qatar Scholarships Programme provides opportunities for marginalized youth to pursue their higher education at leading, academically rigorous universities. Since its establishment, it has provided over 9,000 scholarships to students from nine countries.
Talal Al-Hathal, Al Fakhoora Programme director, said: “Study abroad greatly enriches a student's academic journey, allowing them to learn in new, dynamic environments, expand their personal and professional networks, and make life-long memories."
“Education Above All Foundation, in partnership with AUB and QF, is proud to be able to provide this opportunity to our Qatar Scholarship scholars from the American University of Beirut, to spend a semester abroad at the prestigious universities here in Qatar."
Dr. Zaher Dawy, American University of Beirut provost, said: “We at the American University of Beirut are proud of our solid partnership with Education Above All and Qatar Foundation."