Qatar provides full support to its students in US: cultural attaché

Cultural Attaché at the Embassy of the State of Qatar to the United States, Nasser Mohammed al-Nuaimi, affirmed that the State of Qatar offers comprehensive support to its students studying in the US, noting that the Cultural Office oversees academic and research affairs between the two countries, along with matters related to the professional and academic development of both students and professionals.Al-Nuaimi highlighted the significance of the multifaceted educational, cultural, and healthcare co-operation between Qatar and the US, emphasizing the ongoing efforts to enhance collaboration in these areas.Speaking in an interview with Qatar News Agency (QNA), he said that the Cultural Office serves as Qatar's representative in the US under the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, coordinating directly with the ministry and other government entities interested in cultural or educational activities in the US.He revealed that the number of Qatari students sponsored by the Ministry of Education and Qatar University currently stands at 180, with an additional eight students joining this year from QatarEnergy, affirming intentions to increase the number of Qatari students studying in the US. He said that as for the Ministries of Defense and Interior, they were in charge of handling the affairs of their students.Al-Nuaimi pointed out that the Cultural Office has a protocol to maintain regular contact with students, with academic advisors checking in biweekly to ensure their academic progress and well-being. He explained that students often face challenges during their initial adjustment period in the US, especially younger students, and the office provides necessary support to help them acclimate, build a good relationship with them, and help them overcome any academic difficulties, adding that the students of the State of Qatar are good students and have great awareness.He further noted that Qatari students are primarily concentrated in states like Washington DC, Virginia, New York, and Maryland, with a focus on enrolling them in high-quality universities. In the context of educational co-operation between the two countries, al-Nuaimi mentioned the existence of various collaborations, including a US Department of State program that sponsors the recruitment of an academic lecturer from Qatar, covering the expenses for them to pursue advanced degrees at one of the participating universities in the program, and if the individual is in an advanced academic stage, they may also teach at the university.He stressed that this programme is one of the aspects of educational co-operation between the two countries, in addition to the existence of special co-operation between universities in Qatar, including Qatar University, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Lusail University and Doha University of Science and Technology.In this context, he pointed out the co-operation between the Ministry of Education and Harvard University to train teachers who take a one-year course in a specific field with a 15-day training period during which participants benefit and acquire new expertise. Regarding the academic specializations of Qatari students in the US, al-Nuaimi stated that the Ministry of Education launched a new scholarship plan and strategy in January of this year.The new approach is based on academic tracks rather than specific universities. The internal tracks include the Science, Engineering, and Technology; the Healthcare and Medical Sciences; the Education and Pedagogical Sciences; the Social and Human Sciences; the Creative Economy; the Professional Sports Track; and the Graduate Studies.Al-Nuaimi pointed out the Creative Economy Track, one of the newly established pathways, includes fields such as tourism and hospitality management, hotel management, exhibitions and conferences, event management, restoration, museum studies, film and television, archaeology, animation restoration, and entrepreneurship. On the healthcare front, he highlighted ongoing communication with Hamad Medical Corporation to increase medical collaboration. He emphasised that during global health crises, the world turns its attention to American research centers, whether hospital-affiliated or independent and governmental research institutions.In this context, al-Nuaimi said that work is underway to establish co-operation in the field of cardiology between Hamad Medical Corporation and one of the top American universities and its associated medical centre. This initiative aims to train doctors and secure fellowship programs. Global hospitals often engage in co-operation through formal agreements. Additionally, an agreement has been reached with Qatar University to provide training for top medical students in their fourth or fifth year at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, which is the second-largest hospital in the United States.The students will undergo a residency period with the doctors in the hospital, following patient care practices for four to eight weeks. This experience will greatly benefit students when applying for fellowship programs in the future, given that they would have already completed a clinical residency under the supervision of a hospital doctor during their studies.He also noted the co-ordination and communication with GCC member states' cultural attache offices to exchange expertise regarding office structure, given the extensive efforts required to manage academic files and support students abroad. This effort is part of a broader initiative to enhance cooperation in cultural and educational fields.Regarding cultural co-operation between Qatar and the United States, al-Nuaimi explained that the entities responsible for cultural exchange are the Ministry of Culture and Qatar Museums, adding that the museums have a distinguished program for artist exchanges.On the sports front, Cultural Attache at the Embassy of the State of Qatar to the United States, Nasser Mohammed al-Nuaimi, confirmed that there is collaboration between both sides to exchange expertise in event organization, especially as the next FIFA World Cup will be hosted by the United States. He noted that Qatar is sharing its expertise from the successful organization of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.