Al Quds Bard College Students Studying at GU-Q Share Their Inspirational Journey
Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q) proudly hosted a delegation from Al-Quds Bard College, including Vice Dean Dr. Amneh Badran, Visiting Assistant Professor Dr. Sobhi Samour, and six students studying in Palestine. This visit marked an important milestone in the growing partnership between GU-Q and Al-Quds Bard College (AQB), facilitated by an innovative program offered through Education Above All Foundation (EAA).
Announced in December, the agreement between EAA, Qatar Foundation, and GU-Q enables Al-Quds Bard College students studying Arts and the Cultural Economy to receive a scholarship from Qatar Foundation to study abroad at GU-Q, where they can take classes from both AQB and GU-Q while interning at Qatar Museums.
A highlight of the delegation’s visit to campus was a fireside chat with AQB students currently enrolled at GU-Q for the spring semester, Majd Johar, Ala’a Abhari, Abdelrahman Meki, and Shatha Al-Sabbah, who shared their courageous educational journey. Diana Buttu, Visiting Fellow at GU-Q and a renowned human rights lawyer, moderated the discussion, contributing insight into the laws governing Palestinians.
The panelists shared what it is like to study in Doha, highlighting the stark differences they immediately observed. “Qatar was my first time for a lot of things, like the first time I saw a sea and actually touched the water, I’ve never been to touch the sea in Palestine, I’m very close to the Dead Sea but I’ve never been to it,” said Shatha.
Majd noted that she also enjoyed the ability to get around, and pursue her studies freely. “The university stays up until midnight which is not a common concept in Palestine, I see students come to the library and chill…back in Palestine we have to go back home by six p.m. because we have to manage to get to our houses. It is very interesting here that the community is having an actual life, a social life in college, and freedom of speech.”
Diana Buttu, who is teaching courses at GU-Q this spring on Negotiation, and Palestine and the Law, offered context on how limits to freedom of speech constrain mobility. She explained: “If they find that you have Telegram, or Whatsapp, or some videos of things that are happening in Gaza, you can be arrested, you can be thrown in prison… Telegram is a method we use a lot to figure out which checkpoints are open and closed, which changes every 15 minutes.”
The fireside chat was very impactful for Iman Nait Chalal (SFS’26), who said, “Hearing how dystopian their experiences were was very eye-opening. I’m so happy that Georgetown agreed to host them. I look forward to the chance to learn with and from them this semester, and also benefit from the expertise of Diana Buttu and the other visiting fellows joining our community this spring.”
Speaking about his experience studying abroad at GU-Q, Ala’a concluded: “I love the classes I am taking and the professors, and how welcoming they were in terms of the way they teach and the environment within the class. Qatar in general is very accessible, which is amazing to see.”
The engagement with AQB faculty and students underscores GU-Q’s two-decade-long dedication to supporting global educational initiatives, providing a platform for critical conversations that inspire change, and empowering students to become leaders and changemakers.