Education City

Basic education

Other educational centers located at Education City include:

• Qatar Academy (QA) Doha was established in 1995, as Qatar Foundation's first school. It is an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School, accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, and the Council of International Schools. There are five Qataraadi Academy schools in different locations throughout Qatar, including QA Al Khor, QA Al Wakra QA Msheireb, and QA Sidra.
• Academic Bridge Program (ABP) was established in 2001 and is a rigorous, two-semester general studies program that focuses on English, math, science, and computer skills. Studies in these four areas help ensure students make a successful transition from high school to university.
• Awsaj Academy was established in 1996 and is a K-12 specialized school that addresses the needs of students with mild to moderate learning challenges.
• Renad Academy - was launched in 2016, helping children who have been diagnosed with mild to moderate Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
• Qatar Leadership Academy (QLA), opened in 2005. QLA follows a US curriculum model, with a full high school program in grades 8–12.

Research

Several centers based at Education City focus on science and research. These include:

• Qatar Science & Technology Park, a facility comprising 45,000 square meters of office and laboratory space. It provides incubation, funding, training, mentorship, and connection to the regional and global tech innovation ecosystem.
• Qatar National Research Fund provides financial support and guidance for original, competitively selected research.
• Sidra Medical and Research Center, a hospital and biomedical research center.^[12]

Other centers

• Al Shaqab is an equine center.
• Doha Debates, a public forum for dialogue which hosts international level debate events in its own unique "majlis" style.
• Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, houses the ‘Mathaf Collection’, co-owned by Qatar Museums and Qatar Foundation, which is the world's largest specialized collection of its kind. Oxygen Park is a landscaped open space that incorporates sports, recreation, and heritage in a relatively cool environment. The 130,000-square-metre park was commissioned by Qatar Foundation to be an outdoor oasis for its community and the general public.
• QatarDebate, the national debating organization for Qatar.
• Qatar National Convention Centre
• Education City Mosque, with the capacity to host 1,800 worshippers in its main prayer hall and another 1,000 in its exterior courtyard, it also serves as a community mosque for the surrounding Al Rayyan area.
• Premier Inn Doha Education City is a 219 bedroom hotel located in Doha Education City. It is part of the UK based Premier Inn Hotels group which has over 800 hotels in the UK. The hotel has a Costa Coffee shop, an all day dining restaurant, pool and gym and other facilities. The hotel is seamlessly connected to the tram and metro network in Education City and Doha, and also runs a free shuttle bus to Mall of Qatar and within Education City for its guests.

Academic freedom

In Qatar, the monarchy has absolute authority over all aspects of life; as such, the nation adheres to a strict interpretation of Islamic sharia.^[18] Despite the country itself stating that educational and research institutions have total academic and intellectual freedom.

In 2014, Love Comes Later, a book by Mohanalakshmi Rajakumar, English professor for Georgetown University in Qatar, Northwestern University in Qatar, and Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar, was banned by the State of Qatar with no explanation.^[19] Rajakumar has stated that she wrote the book with the Qatari “sensibilities of the public culture” in mind, meaning that the book did not include the main three objections: sex, atheism, and politics.^[20] Some art that has been displayed at VCUarts Qatar has had to be taken down as some Qatari students found it to be disrespectful to their culture, an issue that reflects the differences in conservatism and social practices that are present at the Qatari campus.^[21]

In an article by The Washington Post, Susan Dun, an assistant professor of communication at NU-Q said that some professors do exercise caution with statements, written work, or speeches that may reach a wider audience than just the Education City community.^[22]

Everette Dennis, the dean of NU-Q, led a six-nation survey in 2015 that was financed by the Qatar National Research Fund and asked questions such as if people think their country is “headed in the right direction”. While the UAE, Egypt, Tunisia, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia all had answers to the question, there was no data from Qatar as the government blocked the question from being asked to survey participants.^[21]

Globalization and National Identity

A study titled Globalization and National Identity in Qatar: Does Exposure to Globalization Lead to Changes in National Identity Across Different Generations of Qatari Citizens? by Shaikha Al Thani^[23] explores the intricate relationship between globalization and national identity in Qatar. The research highlights that globalization, particularly cultural globalization, poses challenges to the preservation of Qatar’s cultural traditions while also offering opportunities for modernization and engagement with the global community. especially how younger generations are more receptive to global influences compared to older generations. Given that Education City hosts several international universities, the exposure of Qatari students to diverse cultural values within this globalized academic environment raises concerns about the influence on their sense of national identity,  raising concerns about shifts in national identity. Given Education City's role as a hub for international universities, this academic environment fosters exposure to diverse cultural values, creating tensions between the desire for global integration and the preservation of Qatari cultural values. The study reflects the broader challenges faced by Qatar as it seeks to balance the influences of globalization with its commitment to fostering a cohesive and distinct national identity in line with its Qatar National Vision 2030.^[23]

Liberal Education and Cultural Tensions

Source:^[24]

Education City, as a hub of American branch campuses, plays a significant role in shaping Qatar’s identity in an era of globalization. Neha Vora's Teach for Arabia: American Universities, Liberalism, and Transnational Qatar examines the complex intersection of liberal education values and Qatar’s cultural and political landscape. The establishment of these campuses is part of Qatar’s effort to transition into a knowledge-based economy, aligned with the Qatar National Vision 2030. However, this vision is accompanied by tensions that highlight contradictions between global and local priorities.

The liberal educational ethos of American universities, which emphasizes critical thinking, inclusivity, and academic freedom, often clashes with Qatar’s conservative cultural norms and Qatarization policies. Qatarization, a national policy aimed at prioritizing Qatari citizens in education and employment, underscores the country’s commitment to fostering a workforce primarily composed of its own nationals. This raises questions about the inclusivity of Education City's mission—whether it truly accommodates the multicultural population within Qatar or primarily serves national interests.

Additionally, Vora’s work explores the cultural impact of these academic institutions, which create a unique space where Qatari students are exposed to global values while navigating their traditional heritage. For many, this exposure fosters a sense of cosmopolitanism and critical engagement with the world, but it also introduces challenges in preserving cultural identity. The question of whether Education City promotes genuine intercultural dialogue or primarily operates as a tool for nation branding remains a key point of debate.

Vora also critiques the broader implications of transplanting liberal education into the Gulf. She argues that the narratives surrounding liberalism and illiberalism are deeply intertwined with colonial histories and power dynamics. The branch campuses in Education City, while appearing to champion global ideals, are not immune to these complexities. They operate within a framework shaped by Qatar’s modernization efforts, which selectively incorporate aspects of globalization while maintaining control over cultural and political discourse. This duality contributes to ongoing debates about the role of higher education in balancing global engagement with the preservation of local traditions

Economic and Cultural Concerns

Some Qataris have objected to Western-style colleges, co-ed classes, and large financial outlays in Education City. Discontent about supposed elitism and the differences in funding between Education City institutions and Qatar University (QU), where most nationals study, has grown. For example, QU students have voiced dissatisfaction about the extravagant graduation ceremonies held in Education City in comparison to their small festivities.

Qatar Foundation set aside around $225 million in 2014 to help various Education City campuses run. Recent years have experienced financial constraints, meanwhile, which have limited university financing, resulted in employment freezes, and scaled-down activities. Some experts, such King's College London lecturer David Roberts, who sees the project as elitistic and suggests that these changes reflect less government excitement for Education City under Qatar's new leadership,

Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation, is upbeat about the future of Education City in spite of these difficulties. Speaking with The Washington Post, she underlined the objective of the project—a knowledge-based society—as well as its importance as pillar of Qatar's growth and development. She still supports financial sustainability and the long-term effects of the initiative since she understood the importance of multiple income sources.^[25]