The futuristic glass and steel buildings sprawling in the Doha desert reflect the magnitude of Qatar’s wealth and ambition. This multi-billion dollar Education City project houses a Science and Technology Park, as well miniature campuses linked with US colleges, including Weill Cornell Medical College, Georgetown School of Foreign Service and Texas A&M engineering school. These educational outposts are part of a long-term vision to transform gas-rich Qatar into a diversified, knowledge-based economy by 2030.
“The emir decided the country needed a major education boost and so he set up a parallel scheme,” says Tidu Maini, chairman of Qatar Science and Technology Park, referring to the emirate’s ruler, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani. “Research-focused universities are the way to go.” Before Qatar launched the science park, he went on, it needed a research programme in parallel with the industry, adding value to the oil and gas sectors.
