Higher education in Qatar Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 6250 words

Higher education in Qatar - Research Paper Example Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa took over his father’s leadership in 1995 and since then, reforms have been instituted such as the suffrage of women and the establishment of a constitution with democratic elements. The dynamism of the Sheikh brought into the country Al-Jazeera, a renowned Arabic-language news network which is considered to be the biggest change brought about by the new leadership. This development was not looked upon with favour of the region’s autocratic states because it allowed foreign workers to outnumber native workers in the country (The Chronicle of Higher Education, 2012). In his wisdom, the new emir created the Qatar Foundation in 1995 as he recognized the challenges of the country’s reliance on its oil and natural gas resources, and he realized the need for more specialized professionals to help his countrymen (Qatar Foundation, 2010). The primary mission of the Qatar Foundation is to build human capital through the programs and services it wi ll offer in education, community development and scientific research. The Qatar Foundation claims to bring world-class education, work experience and career opportunities to Qatar in the pursuit of a modern knowledge-based economy. Currently, the foundation has an extensive campus equipped with the latest state-of-the-art facilities serving nearly 4,000 students including multicultural students representing around 90 different nationalities, enrolled from preschool to university levels. It is a university which embraces cultural diversity that supports students’ professional and personal development (Qatar Foundation, 2012). Qatar’s Supreme Education Council (SEC) has appointed a Higher Education Institute (HEI) to supervise deserving youth in pursuing higher education to equip them with the necessary knowledge and skills that will help them in a competitive and rapidly changing global world. Various scholarship programs are provided by the HEI to help the youth be pre pared for the challenges they will be undertaking in top colleges and universities worldwide so they get to achieve their own dreams as well as address the needs of the country’s labour market (SEC, 2012). The main objectives of the HEI are as follows: Provide opportunities to further develop the students’ language, critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Provide opportunities for students to have more awareness and understanding of other cultures Provide opportunities for high achieving students to prepare themselves for future leadership roles. Meet workforce needs. Offer flexibility to outstanding Qatari students by allowing them to pursue interests in fields that directly benefit the society and economy. (SEC, 2012, para. 4) Among the guiding principles of the HEI is the promotion of the highest quality of education to help students become self-learners in institutions with the highest international standards. Another is flexibility for students to choose the ir preferred universities and course that suits their own abilities and interests to help them pursue a lucrative career after their schooling. The HEI also aims to develop accountability and competency in their students as they learn to be self-reliant in their learning, confident that they will be supported in their endeavours so they can concentrate on being better students. HEI gives students the assurance