Qatar has put education and scientific research at the centre of its human development goals and endeavours to make the country a knowledge economy.
Qatar’s education policy focuses not only equipping the next generation of Qataris with the skills needed in today’s world, but also fosters national identity and pride in the minds of children.
Investing in education and research is a priority for Qatar and over the past two decades, higher education and scientific research fields have grown massively in Qatar. Human development is one of the key pillars of the Qatar National Vision 2030, and the country’s leadership has invested significantly for the uplift of the education sector and to prepare the country’s youth to become tomorrow’s entrepreneurs, scientists and business leaders. Qatar spends 20 percent of its general budget on education and health sectors.
As the country strives to diversify its economy and increase the share of non-oil sector in the GDP, it has developed top-notch education and research institutions to drive innovation in all fields.
In a recent interview, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani said the government will continue to provide high quality education to all. For H H the Amir, it is the most important sector, he said adding that schools and teachers, to the State of Qatar and the Qatari society, have a great status, and the profession of the teacher is considered to be one of the noblest professions.
Qatar National Vision 2030 aims to build the capacities of Qatari citizens by establishing world-class education system that offers exceptional opportunities for quality education and training.
Qatar’s higher education sector is led by Qatar University and Qatar Foundation’s Education City, which houses branch campuses of a number of international universities. Currently there are 40,000 students enrolled in a total of 34 higher education institutions operating in the country. A number of global institutions are looking to establish their branch campuses in Qatar, with a reputable Malaysian university campus expected to open later this year.
The Ministry of Education and Higher Education is also providing scholarships enabling students to pursue higher education at home or abroad. Currently, about 3,000 Qatari students on scholarships are studying in various universities inside and outside Qatar, and 75 percent of them are women.
The country’s strategy to focus on education and research is yielding positive results with the young generation of Qataris driving innovation across industries and contributing to the country’s growth.
