History

The Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development was founded in 1995 by decree of His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar. Indeed, the creation of Qatar Foundation was among the Emir's early initiatives, a testament to the importance of the Foundation's mission both to him and to its chair, Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al-Missned.

From the beginning the mission of the Qatar Foundation has been to provide educational opportunities and to improve quality of life for the people of Qatar and the region. Our first projects included the Qatar Diabetes Association and the Social Development Center, founded in 1995 and 1996 respectively. In 1996, the Learning Center began working with students facing academic challenges. Qatar Academy opened its doors the same year. In 1998, Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar opened its design school, and the far-reaching vision for an entire Education City began to coalesce.

The Academic Bridge Program began its college preparatory courses in 2001. Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar began offering its medical programs in 2002. Texas A&M University at Qatar and the RAND-Qatar Policy Institute followed in 2003. Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar started teaching its first classes in 2004. The newest edition to Education City, Georgetown University, will start its programs in August 2005.

The branch campus concept -- world-class universities bringing their best-regarded programs to Qatar as full-fledged partners with Qatar Foundation -- is unique in the history of education. Education City is, in essence, a university of universities, a community of educational and research institutions that serve the whole citizen, from early childhood education to post-graduate study.

Construction on Education City's 2,500 acres continues apace. Projects currently in the planning or building phases include Qatar Science and Technology Park, an all-digital Specialty Teaching Hospital and a state-of-the-art conference and convention center.