Qatar’s Education City empowers women through transformative scholarship program
Success of initiative highlights how Qatar’s investment in education is creating ripple effects across the region
DOHA, Qatar (MNTV) – Qatar is proving to be a catalyst for women pursuing careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) fields, by offering Lebanese scholarships proving not just world-class education but a transformative environment for innovation and growth.
Through a strategic partnership between Qatar Foundation (QF) Higher Education, Education Above All Foundation (EAA), and the American University of Beirut (AUB), ten Lebanese students have been enrolled at QF’s Education City as part of the Study Abroad Programme.
In collaboration with AUB, the Qatar Scholarship Programme specifically supports Lebanese, Palestinian, and Syrian youth in Lebanon.
The initiative falls under EAA’s Al Fakhoora Programme, which provides quality higher education opportunities to marginalized youth globally.
Mona Jamal, one of the scholarship recipients who studied at Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar (CMU-Q) in fall 2024, described her experience as transformative.
“Studying in Education City gave me the opportunity to learn at a renowned institution for computer science and innovation,” Jamal said.
“At QF, I met brilliant women from around the world, each determined to make an impact in technology.”
Despite initial challenges in her rigorous CMU-Q coursework, Jamal remained focused on her goal to challenge gender stereotypes in tech.
Her experience has now inspired her to pursue a Master’s in Cybersecurity at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), another QF member institution.
Fellow scholar Reem El Hadka also highlighted how her semester at CMU-Q reshaped her understanding of technology’s societal role.
“My research on blockchain and digital forensics at QF showed me how computer science impacts economic trust, cybersecurity, and justice,” El Hadka explained.
She emphasized the value of Education City’s multicultural environment.
“Seeing women in leadership roles in research and academia was particularly empowering,” she added.
The program underscores Qatar’s growing role as a regional education hub that bridges academic excellence with real-world impact.
Education City’s unique ecosystem – bringing together branch campuses of world-class universities – provides students with access to cutting-edge research facilities and cross-cultural collaboration opportunities.
With the first cohort of scholars now returning to Lebanon to complete their degrees, the program is poised to expand, offering more young women the chance to experience Qatar’s transformative educational environment.
Have Your Say!
Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? Please share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@soundvision.com.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a Muslim Network TV’s representative. You can also get in touch in the following ways:
Tweet: @MuslimNetworkTV
We must take charge of our narrative. Research indicates that 92% of their Muslim coverage is negative. Help us change that.
