Qatar is Growing, and Georgetown Qatar is Keeping Pace

There is little doubt that Qatar has pursued an ambitious path of domestic development. With preparations well underway for the FIFA World Cup in 2022, job growth and economic forecasts indicate that double digit real GDP growth rates will remain robust. And through the Qatar Foundation, established in 1995, achievements have included an impressive portfolio of programs and projects dedicated to furthering the goals of the Qatar National Vision 2030.

This national strategy, committed to ensuring a prosperous transition from an energy economy to a diverse knowledge economy, has included major investments in Education City – over 14 square kilometers of impressive architecture and even more impressive academic opportunities for the Qatari population, the expat residents, and the broader region.

While the branch campuses of Education City’s major international universities have seen several graduating classes pass through their halls, some of the member institutions themselves are now experiencing their own transitions. For Georgetown University Qatar (GU-Q), brick and mortar expansion has given way to a program expansion, with the announcement of a significant number of newly appointed faculty members, the launch of a new major and the introduction of a brand new certificate in media and politics offered in partnership with Northwestern University in Qatar.

“Georgetown brought its two-centuries-old tradition of teaching and research excellence in international affairs, social sciences and humanities to Qatar with the aim to help build leaders who will make a difference for their communities, their region and the world, and to contribute to knowledge at the highest level” said Dean Gerd Nonneman. “The current expansion of GU-Q’s impressive faculty, combined with the introduction of the brand new media and politics minor, presents a defining moment for our university, and will allow us to make an even greater contribution to Qatar’s National Vision.”

“This growth makes a lot of sense for Georgetown, our students, and for Qatar,” explained Dean Nonneman. “Qatar is growing, and our graduates are finding excellent opportunities for employment right here in Doha. And in turn, that investment in educating young people will directly support the human capital development goals of Qatar’s vision. So, of course, will the expansion of our globally recognized research, much of which also addresses directly matters of local and regional importance. So we can pursue what comes naturally to us, while at the same time aligning our academic growth with the needs and interests of this vibrant region. We look forward to broadening our offerings even more, both on our own and in collaboration with others.”

This coming academic year will see a total of 248 students enrolled in GU-Q’s four-year undergraduate program, representing 46 different countries, with roughly one third of the student body comprised of Qatari citizens. GU-Q offers Bachelor of Science degrees in International Politics, International Economics and Culture & Politics, and International History.

Dr. Daniel Stoll, Associate Director for Academic Affairs, notes that this major expansion of both faculty and programs, is an important contribution to GU-Q’s foreign affairs-focused education.

“Here at Georgetown, we are absolutely committed to enhancing our reputation as one of the world’s foremost institutions for the study of International Affairs. The addition this year of 15 top-tier professors, as well as the addition of new programs, are testament to our dedication to preparing our students for careers in an increasingly competitive and internationalized world”.

The 15 new academics slated to join GU-Q’s Education City campus in this expansion drive include faculty members from across several disciplines, including economics, applied linguistics, English, world literature, and Arabic language, literature and culture.