Yemen minister hails Qatar's educational initiatives

Yemen’s Minister of Education Tariq al-Akbari has hailed Qatar for promoting global educational initiatives, describing the State as a country of charity.He made the observation while addressing a celebratory Iftar organised at the Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC) by Education Above All Foundation (EAA) and the General Directorate of Endowments (Awqaf) yesterday.The ceremony was held for beneficiaries of the Qatar Scholarship programme. It welcomed 39 new scholarship recipients, congratulated 18 graduates and celebrated 25 students for their excellence in terms of academic performance for the 2022-2023 academic year.The minister thanked Qatar for enrolling Yemeni students in the Qatar Scholarship Programme. "No doubt that education is the basic focus when it comes to forming communities and shaping future generations. Investment in the human element is the best investment and investment in individuals is investing in the future,” he said, wishing the graduates and students success.Education Above All welcomed a number of dignitaries, including representatives from partner organisations, universities and embassies. They included al-Akbari; Dr Sheikh Khalid bin Mohamed al-Thani, director-general of the General Directorate of Endowments; Fahad al-Sulaiti, EAA’s CEO; and Dr Salem bin Nasser Al- Naemi, president of the University of Doha for Science and Technology.The ceremony was attended by Dr. Sheikh Khalid bin Mohamed al-Thani, the Director-General of the General Directorate of Endowments, Fahad al-Sulaiti, EAA’s CEO, and Dr. Salem bin Nasser al-Naemi, President of the University of Doha for Science and Technology.The event drew more than 200 attendees, including students and their families, faculty of local universities such as Qatar University, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Oryx Universal College in partnership with Liverpool John Moores University, Lusail University, and the Global Studies Institute, as well as representatives from the embassies of Yemen, Palestine, Sudan and Jordan.The Qatar Scholarship Programme in Qatar (QSQ) aims to provide youth aged 17-25 years, who have spent most of their formative years in Qatar, with access to higher education. The QSQ is a needs-based scholarship offered by EAA, through its Al Fakhoora programme, to deserving expatriate youth in Qatar.Recipients are supported to attend distinguished universities in the country, which include existing partnerships with Qatar University, Al Rayyan International University College, University of Doha for Science and Technology and University of Calgary in Qatar. Also, new partnerships have been announced with Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Oryx Universal College in partnership with Liverpool John Moores University, Lusail University and Global Studies Institute, and partner universities of Qatar Foundation (QF).EAA also partners with Silatech to link graduates to employment. The programme is implemented by EAA and made possible with the support of the Endowment Account for Scientific and Cultural Development in the General Department of Endowments - Awqaf.Dr Sheikh Khalid explained in his speech the religious and historical role of the endowment in attracting and supporting scholars, as well as providing educational opportunities for students. The Endowment Bank for Scientific and Cultural Development, in co-operation with EAA Foundation and partner universities, congratulates the Qatar Scholarship beneficiaries. May God grant success to the graduates in their future careers, and bring success to the new enrollees."Talal al-Hothal, director of the programme, said: "EAA supports millions of children and young people worldwide to ensure they have access to safe, quality education. Today’s ceremony underlines this commitment and solidifies the promise our Qatar Scholarship Programme makes to the next generation of leaders and changemakers in Qatar. We thank Awqaf for their support in making this possible, and providing life-changing opportunities to deserving youth to pursue successful and rewarding careers, supporting and strengthening their communities."Since its inception in 2018, the Qatar Scholarship Programme in Qatar has provided more than 160 scholarships for youth in Qatar, and aims to provide a total of 500 scholarships by the 2025-2026 academic year.