Doha,
(QNA) – Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF) marks today three decades since its establishment, reflecting on a legacy full of milestones that have significantly contributed to solidifying Qatar’s stature as a global hub for excellence in education, research, innovation, and sustainable development.
Since its inception in 1995, by virtue of the in-depth vision shared by HH the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani and HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, QF has been striving to build an integrated system that drives positive impact in the life of individuals and societies through advancing education and supporting scientific research, in addition to encouraging entrepreneurship, fostering sustainability and helping next generations internalize essential knowledge to keep up with challenges of the future.
Throughout the past three decades, QF has succeeded in establishing an integrated educational environment that includes all academic stages and established six specialized schools, including three following the International Baccalaureate (IB), alongside institutions catering to gifted students and those with special needs. Its schools enrolled approximately 7,500 students in a supportive academic environment.
In addition, QF has been committed to offering a world-class higher education such as Awsaj and Renad academies which support students in accordance with their special needs, enrolling over 5,700 students at the primary and middle school levels.
Since QF is committed to providing a world-class higher education, it hosted six prestigious universities, alongside Hamad bin Khalifa University (HBKU) positioning itself as a superb hub for higher education and scientific research at home and in the region, with QF graduating over 9,900 students, many of whom either pursued advanced studies, or embarked on distinguished careers across various sectors, offering over 60 academic programs, including bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD degrees, thereby enriching academic opportunities for students.
Overall, the QF not only impacted the education sector, but went far beyond to encompass scientific research and innovation by supporting over 3,000 research projects across multiple fields, with women constituting 49 percent of researchers within the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics programs (STEM), thereby underscoring its commitment to supporting diversity and empowerment.
Additionally, QF drew students from over 119 nations worldwide, making the education city a diverse academic environment that fosters cultural exchange.
In terms of health care, QF has played a pivotal role in advancing the precision medicine and contributed to analyzing over 45,000 samples of DNA which optimized health services through figuring out the genetic factors of chronic diseases and strove to enhance primary health care. Furthermore, it participated in leading research projects, including a program to enhance early diagnostic strategies and treatment of diseases such as cancer and diabetes.
Interestingly, over 6,200 individuals have benefited from the QF-supported medical and research services, reflecting its profound impact on improving quality of life.
Regarding AI, QF has developed 38 research projects in 2023 only in areas that ranged between health care, data analysis to education in collaboration with HBKU and think tanks, with QF launching AI specialized training programs and machine learning, with the objective of helping researchers in Qatar develop advanced technological solutions.
By and large, QF fostered its commitment to protecting environment, in terms of sustainability through a multitude of initiatives, culminating in launching “Earthna” research and advocacy center to advance sustainable environmental solutions and applied eco-friendly practices at its all facilities. Additionally, in 2023, QF organized over 1,400 events addressing topics such as circular economy, climate change, and renewable energy, to raise community awareness of environmental issues.
Culturally, QF has been active in preserving the Arab heritage and fostering global dialogue through launching Qatar National Library, a knowledge-based hub that showcases over one million books, along with thousands of rare documents and manuscripts, in addition to organizing cultural events that drew participants from over 75 nations, thereby promoting Qatar’s standing as a center for dialogue and cultural exchange on the global stage.
In addition, QF has been active in promoting physical activities, in terms of sports by establishing state-of-the-art sport facilities, alongside programs that foster the role of women and youth in sport. It engaged in organizing sport activities within the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, during which it offered awareness-raising programs for fans to strengthen the sport notion as a vehicle for cultural communication and social development.
QF primarily gives top priority to empowering women and youth through initiatives that support entrepreneurship, with figures showing that 64 percent of QF’s graduates are women, underscoring its success in enhancing women’s role in academic and occupational fields.
In a more inclusive community, QF offered programs devoted to children and young people with special needs, including initiatives to support individuals with autism, as well as training workshops for caregivers, in addition to initiatives aimed at promoting equal opportunities in education and employment.
Upon entering its fourth decade, QF maintains its leadership in fostering innovation and advancing a sustainable educational and research environment, in sync with Qatar National Vision 2030.
Through investment in minds, nurturing creative ideas, and fostering learning and innovation, QF aims to create an enduring global impact, benefiting future generations and contributing to a brighter future for Qatar and the world. (QNA)
