The Ministry of Education and Higher Education said yesterday that any Qatari student wishing to study abroad must obtain its approval, regardless of whether it was the student or his company that will cover the expenses.
The student must also commit to the conditions set by the ministry to guarantee the equation of their certificates, chair of the ministry's committee for equating certificates Dr Ibrahim Al Naimi said in a press conference.
Al Naimi said that the ministry's approval was only binding starting December 29, 2014. So students studying abroad before that date can continue with their studies and the committee will look into their situation case by case.
Al Naimi said that it was the right of the student to study at any university he pleases. However, if he wanted to work at any of the state's institutions he will have to stick to the ministry's rules. He said that these rules were put in place to ensure students get the quality education required to realise Qatar National Vision 2030.
The ministry has issued updated version of a list of International and Arab higher education institutions recommended for Qatari students to study on their expense on September 4, 2016. The ministry issued the first list of recommended universities on December 29, 2014, said Al Nuaimi.
Student who got admission in 2016 in accordance with the previous list are advised to certify their certificates at the ministry and apply personally (not online) showing admission letter from the university dated before September 4, along with a letter from education office at the embassy, entity working for and the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs.
Al Nuaimi said that the committee equated 1,070 certificates since the beginning of this year until October 20, with 80 per cent of those certificates for Qatari students.
Meanwhile, the Ministry yesterday announced in its online account that Qatari students who have got admission in universities that have been removed from the list of recommended universities need to apply to the ministry to join other universities or continue their studies.
Students could apply between 1-30 November, said the Ministry in an announcement published in its official account yesterday. Qatari students who have got admission to universities in Egypt or Sudan without an advance approval of the Ministry and before the issuance of the updated list of recommended universities have the opportunity to apply in accordance with the conditions set by the ministry.
Some international and Arabic higher education institutions were excluded from the updated list of recommended universities issued this year including some Sudanese and Egyptian universities.
The list includes over 400 international and Arabic higher education institutions in about 60 countries.
