The Education City, headquartered in 10 million square meters on the outskirts of Doha, is one of the most important education development projects in Qatar. It hosts branch campuses of some of the world's leading universities, as well as numerous other educational and research institutions. Moreover, Education City is envisioned as a hub for the generation of new knowledge -- a place that provides researchers with world-class facilities, a pool of well-trained graduates, the chance to collaborate with likeminded people and the opportunity to transfer ideas into real-world applications. This is a pioneering project aimed at the qualification of cadres and investment in human resources with a view to promote future thinking and creative solutions.
- Institutions and institutes affiliated to Qatar Foundation for Education, science and community Development include the following:
- Texas A & M University-Qatar (TAMUQ)
Texas A&M University-Qatar (TAMUQ) was officially opened on 11 October 2003 and offers university degree programs in oil engineering, chemical engineering, electrical engineering and mechanical engineering. Thirty male and female students in various specializations, 90% of whom were Qataris, joined the university in its first year. The courses offered are the same as those offered by the university in Texas and are taught by excellent professors. The students are awarded the same certificate which is academically and professionally accredited in the US. Conditions for admission include passing a number of tests such as TOEFL and SAT.
- Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar (WCMC-Q)
It celebrated the official inauguration of its permanent building on 12 October 2003. WCMC-Q started the preparatory class in 2002. The number of students has risen to 34, a 36% increase of the number of Qatari students. The first batch is to graduate in 2008. WCMC-Q offers American medical and pre-medical courses in Qatar. It offers a 2-year non-degree pre-medical program focusing on the sciences basic to medicine and an MD degree.
- Carnegie-Mellon University
Carnegie-Mellon University will offer its highly ranked undergraduate programs in computer science and business at a branch campus in the Qatar Foundation's Education City. The new campus will be called Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar and will offer programs leading to Carnegie Mellon degrees based on the same admission standards and world-renowned curricula its main campus in Pittsburgh, PA."
- George Town University School of Foreign Service
Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service is a branch of Georgetown University, the newest in the Education City, which has opened its doors in August 2005 to offer a 4-year program of Bachelor of Science degree in Foreign Service as its Washington, DC main campus. The university provides advanced educational opportunities for Arabs and Americans living in the Middle East as well as the students coming from the Far East. In 2006 the university had 65 students.
- Virginia Commonwealth University - College of Design in Qatar
VCU-Q was founded in 1997 as a branch of Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia. Its courses lead to B.A. in design and communication arts, fashion design and interior design.
- Rand-Qatar Policy Institute
The agreement to set up Rand-Qatar Policy Institute was signed on 28 April 2003. It is the most recent initiative by Qatar Foundation and will be an integral part of the Education City as a regional center of excellence in learning, research and technical development. There will be scientific links with the medical, engineering and designing programs as well as educational programs at the Education City. The Institute will train policy analysts in the region in research methods to help leaders to take sound political decisions based on a sound database.
Rand-Qatar Policy Institute will support Qatar' position as a center of analysis and research in the Middle East and assist in the building of national and regional personnel capable of analyzing policies now that Qatar has become a pioneering Middle East country as regards accurate and objective analysis. It provides specific and strategic consultation to society inside Qatar and abroad in most human sectors and activities and works out plans to develop education.
The Qatar Leadership Academy started operating its first semester in September 2005. The Academy provides internationally accepted, comprehensive, challenging, English medium programmes, Arabic and Islamic Studies and unique leadership Programme to graduation at age 18, in order to develop future leaders who will prepare our young men for further, higher education study either locally or overseas.
- Qatar Science and Technology Park
Qatar Science and Technology Park is considered a venue place for technology companies from around the world. It also oversees upcoming technology projects. The Park provides offices and laboratories that are well-equipped with the necessary means and programmes of support required for accelerating trade transactions. The Park serves as a "free zone" which manages to attract international technology companies to operate in Qatar.
It was founded in 1996 to promote critical thinking, desire for learning and sense of responsibility by its students. It prepares them to join the best universities and institutes.
It was founded in 1996 to provide children with opportunities enabling them to utilize their resources and learn how to learn independently.
Academic Bridge Program was established in 2001 in cooperation with TIEC in Texas to qualify a group of secondary school graduates in Qatar and the Gulf region to enroll in English-based university courses at the Qatar Foundation, Education City or others at excellent universities in the world