Qatar Sees Development Program Bear Fruit

Sky Fruit With 122 students successfully completing their studies at the campuses of high-ranking western universities in Qatar last week, the country saw the preliminary results of its new national development program.During the next 10-20 years, this petro-state hopes to become an economy based on knowledge and innovation. Huge profits from oil and gas exports will be used to finance the transition.“We are dependent on oil and gas, but we are trying to move away from it, as this single resource could easily be depleted,” explained Dr. Ibrahim Al Ibrahim, secretary general of the Qatar General Secretariat for Development Planning, an institution founded last year to develop a national strategy.From oil to innovationThe new economic vision evolved over recent years. The country took a radical turn in 1995, when Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani succeeded his father as Amir of Qatar.Qatar has exported oil since the late 1940s, but the country had never before seen such robust development as it has over the last decade. The capital city of Doha is crowded with sky-scrapers and operating tower cranes working on new, ever taller buildings.Economic growth in Qatar currently stands at 30 percent a year in nominal terms. However, inflation is also relatively high, at 14 percent a year. A lack of real estate is forcing rent rates up, which in turn fuels inflation.The Qatar authorities are determined to diversify the economy, and as part of the development program, Qatar is creating an international education center entitled Education City. It will be followed by several research centers, which should attract talent from abroad and foster human capital inside the country.Education City and the research centers will cooperate with Qatar Science & Technology Park, which is to start operating in the near future.The strategic focus of these activities will be on bringing cutting-edge technology to the country. The industries set for development include energy intensive production technologies, the solar power industry, business incubation services, gene therapy, neurogenetic studies, embryonic stem cell biology and vaccine development.Qatar spends 2.8 percent of its GDP ($1.5 billion) a year on research purposes. “We believe that Education City and the Qatar Foundation are the best investment for the future. Our partners came here not only to offer their diplomas, but to improve and upgrade many things in this country,” said Dr. Mohammed Fathy Saoud, president of the Qatar Foundation.Best practicestransplantedAt the moment six universities operate campuses in Qatar Education City — Weill Cornell Medical College, Carnegie Mellon University, Texas A&M University, Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts, Georgetown University School of Foreign Service and Northwestern University.The American universities were keen to open branches in Qatar, because since the terrorist attacks in New York on September 11, 2001, their Arab students have faced difficulties in getting visas, said Dr. Abdullah Al Thani, vice president of the Qatar Foundation.A faculty of Islamic studies was also opened recently in Education City.Last week Qatar celebrated the graduation of the first classes from Weill Cornell Medical College, Texas A&M University and Carnegie Mellon University, as well as the seventh graduation ceremony of students from Virginia Commonwealth University.All the campuses based in Qatar issue diplomas identical to those issued by their parent universities. The admission requirements, exams, education program and fees are also identical.One year of study at Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar costs $38,000 for the premedical course and $45,000 for the medical program — the same as students pay in New York.The Weill Cornell campus employs about 60 teachers, though the first class to graduate comprised just 15 students.The college plans to increase the number of its students. Michael Vertigans, director of public affairs at Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, said that every year 60 students are admitted to the premedical course, and 50 students onto the medical program. The facilities can accommodate up to 100 students per class.About 60 percent of students come from the Middle East. The first class to graduate consisted of students of seven different nationalities — nine female students and six male students. Several students from Russia now study at the college.“Admission is offered regardless of everything except learning performance. The Qatar Foundation does not interfere in the selection of students and appointment of professors,” said Dr. Saoud of the Qatar Foundation.“When we decided to open a campus here, there were worries about reputation risks. Six years later these risks have been dispelled,” said Daniel Alonso, dean of Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar.Alonso was positive about the education reforms taking place in Qatar. The reforms aim to replace traditional learning practices, which focus on memorizing information, with a western approach based on the application of knowledge, problem solving and critical thinking.To prepare students for their university studies, the Qatar Foundation founded a special education course entitled the Academic Bridge Program. Once students from the Middle East have completed that and an English language course, they are just as ready to study as their western counterparts, Alonso said.This year’s graduates have been awarded residencies in leading medical institutions, including John Hopkins Hospital and other renowned American clinics.Incentives for expatsQatar aims to retain the most talented of its residents. During the last two years the population of Qatar has increased by 50 percent and now stands at over one million. However, only about 220,000 people are Qatari by origin.“We want to increase the participation of Qatari in the labor force and provide all the opportunities for them. But whatever we do, we have to rely on large numbers of expatriates. They should be selected, and their rights should be protected,” Dr. Ibrahim said.Education expenses for Qatari are sponsored by the state. Foreigners can apply to the Qatar Foundation for a loan, and those who agree to work for Qatari companies for 3-4 years after graduation do not have to repay the loans.Qatar authorities expect Education City to become a “regional hub for excellence.” In addition to expatriating Arab scholars, they plan to retain the best graduates of Education City.“Most of my colleagues expressed a desire to return to Qatar and take part in the rise of our medical school. This desire wasn’t limited to Qatari students, but also applied to students from Syria, Bosnia, India and even the U.S.,” said Jehan Al Rayahi, a graduate of Weill Cornell Medical College.Student voices“An opportunity to study in a culture different from my own is a great chance to open my mind. I don’t think that in the U.S. I could experience something like I experienced here,” said Sharon King, a graduate of Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar who comes from the United States.The atmosphere in Education City is very democratic. Students and teachers respect each other’s cultures, said Jehan Al Rayahi, Qatari by origin, who had never studied in a co-educational institution before. She said that she felt comfortable, and her parents fully supported her enthusiasm and willingness to study.Graduates of Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar, which offers diplomas in business administration, general management and computer science, go on to achieve success in various spheres including business and social projects.Mohamed Al-Mahmeed said he is considering several job offers from large corporations, including Shell.Noor AlAthirah from Jordan said she would work for a Qatari company to pay off her student loan. “I’m very interested in charity. Our mission is to change the world, as the Carnegie Mellon motto says. I want to help students. I think if we mange to organize them in groups, it would be easier to help them on a collective basis,” AlAthirah said.Another female graduate said she was planning to start an online bookstore to sell books in Arabic to Arabs in other countries.Cradle of science and innovationIn summer 2008, Qatar Science and Technology Park will start operating. The 600,000 square meter complex will be fully completed by 2010.As well as the traditional benefits of a free trade zone, tenants are offered low rent rates. Exact figures are not available to the public, but Ben Figgis, marketing manager at Qatar Science & Technology Park, said that the institution has so far operated virtually as a non-profit organization.So far 15 companies have signed up to become members, including transnational corporations and Qatari companies.The Innovation and Technology Transfer Center offers 24,000 square meters to large companies. Each tenant will be offered an area of 500-6,000 square meters, and according to the center’s managers, 85 percent of the space has already been reserved. Microsoft, Shell, Exxon Mobil and Total are among the companies to have signed up.Shell moved into its office last month. The company will invest about $100 million over the next 10 years into its activities in Qatar Science & Technology Park, mainly in research and study.Andrew Brown, general manager of Shell in Qatar, said that about 30 people have already been employed, and by the end of the year the staff will increase to 50 people. Half of the employees come from the Middle East, and about 20 percent are Qatari.One of the local tenants is iHorizons, a Qatari software company that operates offices throughout the region, specializing in the development of e-business applications and content management solutions.Another Qatari tenant is SMARD (Scientific Medical Applied Research & Development) — the first biotechnology and medical research company in the country and a subsidiary of the German companies KMG and iSIMA.Other tenants who are not in the oil production business include Rolls-Royce and Gartner Lee, a Canada-based environmental services and consulting firm.Companies renting areas of over 6,000 square meters will be offered separate buildings. General Electric has signed up to occupy the first such building, which will cover 13,000 square meters.In proximity to these premises a business incubator will operate, housing start-ups and small companies that could supply their products to larger tenants. Venture capital and support programs will be offered to start-ups.“We will use platform technologies that are expensive to establish for any single university. We will foster interaction between tenants and branches of Education City,” said Tidu Maini, chairman of Qatar Science & Technology Park.He listed energy technologies, health care and environment protection as the strategic focus for research.