Education
From The Report: Qatar 2012
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To diversify the economy and move away from a reliance on its hydrocarbons wealth, the government has invested heavily in reforming the education sector. Indeed, more than QR19bn ($5.21bn) of the 2011/12 national budget has been allocated to education, a 12% increase compared to the previous year. Along with providing adequate funding, the government has made significant progress in reforming the sector, overhauling the regulatory and oversight bodies, restructuring the primary education system and developing competitive research institutions. The government is also seeking to expand the role of the private sector in delivering education. Through these efforts, Qatar seeks to develop a knowledge-based economy and a role as a centre for research and academic excellence.

This chapter includes an interview with Sheikha Abdulla Al Misnad, President, Qatar University.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

A stronger foundation: Recently implemented initiatives drive innovation and growth
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Tremendous economic growth has marked Qatar’s trajectory over the past decade, with GDP per capita estimated at $109,881 in 2011, according to the IMF’s World Economic Outlook. Leveraging such vast resources, the government has embarked on a comprehensive drive to diversify the economy and move away from a reliance on its hydrocarbons wealth. Identifying education as a core driver of diversification, the government has invested heavily in reforming the sector and in developing new initiatives,…

Interview

OBG talks to Sheikha Abdulla Al Misnad, President, Qatar University
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Interview: Sheikha Abdulla Al Misnad In what ways is the tertiary education segment developing to accommodate the needs of students? SHEIKHA ABDULLA AL MISNAD: Education in Qatar has been moving forward in strides. With any change of this magnitude, it would be naive to expect a smooth, unwinding and easy road to progress. But when there is sufficient determination, resources and political will such as in Qatar’s case, chances of success are multiplied. The scene in the higher education sector…

Analysis

Private participation: Leveraging the private sector’s involvement in schooling
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The system for kindergarten through 12th grade ( K-12) education in Qatar is built around independent schools, supplemented with private Arabic, international and community institutions. While the majority of the state’s student population is enrolled in the government-funded independent school system, private schools also play an important role in the country’s education development strategy. Of 136 private schools, 103 are international and 33 are private Arabic schools, both of which cater…

Analysis

Going digital: Efforts to train the ICT media workforce are under way
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The affluent population in Qatar presents opportunities for businesses in delivering content and selling services on web-based and mobile platforms. Content distribution is made easier through a very high rate of internet and mobile phone connectivity. World Bank data show there were more than 1.2m internet subscribers and over 2.3m mobile phone subscribers in the country as of 2010. Furthermore, a large portion of the population is increasingly linked into social networks such as Facebook and…

Analysis

Pushing development: A link is evident between policy changes and results
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Reform and investment in the education sector is integral to Qatar’s National Vision 2030 (QNV 2030) goals. QNV 2030 defines long-term outcomes for the country and provides a framework within which national strategies and implementation plans can be developed. The national vision addresses major challenges facing Qatar through four interconnected pillars, with education playing a vital role in all of them. NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY: Providing a blueprint for its long-term targets, Qatar’s…

Analysis

Educating executives: The nation’s shift to a knowledge-based workforce will require more local managers
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The government anticipates that immigration will continue to be an important factor in Qatar’s development strategy, but at the same time, it is also implementing several initiatives to help attract more citizens into key roles within the domestic market. Qatarisation is one of the main elements of the government’s long-term economic vision. Under this agenda, the government seeks to help Qataris rise to positions of leadership, particularly in regulated sectors that depend on public financing…