History... The Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development was founded in 1995 by decree of His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar. Indeed, the creation of Qatar Foundation was among the Emir's early initiatives, a testament to the importance of the Foundation's mission both to him and to its chair, Her Higness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al-Missned. From the beginning the mission of the Qatar Foundation has been to provide educational opportunities and to improve quality of life for the people of Qatar and the region. Our first projects included the Qatar Diabetes Association and the Social Development Center, founded in 1995 and 1996 respectively. In 1996, the Learning Center began working with students facing academic challenges. Qatar Academy opened its doors the same year. In 1998, Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar opened its design school, and the far-reaching vision for an entire Education City began to coalesce. The Academic Bridge Program began its college preparatory courses in 2001. Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar began offering its medical programs in 2002. Texas A&M University at Qatar and the RAND-Qatar Policy Institute followed in 2003. Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar started teaching its first classes in 2004. The newest edition to Education City, Georgetown University, will start its programs in August 2005. The branch campus concept -- world-class universities bringing their best-regarded programs to Qatar as full-fledged partners with Qatar Foundation -- is unique in the history of education. Education City is, in essence, a university of universities, a community of educational and research institutions that serve the whole citizen, from early childhood education to post-graduate study. Construction on Education City's 2,500 acres continues apace. Projects currently in the planning or building phases include Qatar Science and Technology Park, an all-digital Specialty Teaching Hospital and a state-of-the-art conference and convention center.

Education City ... Qatar Foundation is headquartered in a unique Education City, a 2,500-acre campus on the outskirts of Doha which hosts branch campuses of some of the world's leading universities, as well as numerous other educational and research institutions. Supported by abundant residential and recreational facilities, Education City is envisioned as a community of institutions that serve the whole citizen, from early childhood education to post-graduate study. Moreover, Education City is envisioned as a hub for the generation of new knowledge -- a place that provides researchers with world-class facilities, a pool of well-trained graduates, the chance to collaborate with likeminded people and the opportunity to transfer ideas into real-world applications.

Today... Ten years after its founding, Qatar Foundation's mission has never changed. We remain committed to improving quality of life and providing excellent educational opportunities to the people of Qatar and the region. Our vision, on the other hand, has become progressively more far-reaching. As we reach out to new partners, both our capabilities and our ambitions expand. A visit to Education City reveals a burgeoning community of institutions. The master plan, created by renowned Japanese architect Arata Isozaki, is beginning to fill in, as construction on several major facilities -- most recently the College of Engineering and Qatar Science and Technology Park -- gets underway. Most of our students are citizens or residents of Qatar, but many come from other countries in the Gulf and throughout the Middle East. Some come from as far afield as the United States, New Zealand, South Africa and Bosnia. Our faculty and staff are equally diverse. Education City is a place where bridges are being built, between cultures and to a betterfuture.

The future... The next few years will bring remarkable growth in the facilities at Education City. By the end of 2005, new student and staff housing will have been completed, along with a ceremonial court for holding graduation ceremonies and other official functions. By the end of 2006, the first phase of Qatar Science and Technology Park will be open for business and populated with tenants. A massive, state-of-the-art convention center -- another signature piece of architecture by Arata Isozaki -- will be nearing completion. A shopping center at the north end of Education City will serve the growing number of students, staff and faculty living on site. Texas A&M University at Qatar will be ready to occupy its purpose-built facility, designed by the Mexican architects Legorreta & Legorreta. And Qatar Foundation staff will be working in a new headquarters building. By 2007, there will be a central library, a student center, a club for staff and faculty and a ceremonial entrance. Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar will be teaching classes and conducting research in its new building, also designed by Legorreta & Legorreta. Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service will have its own building, too. Further down the road, Education City will welcome a 350-bed, all-digital Specialty Teaching Hospital -- a world-class facility offering general care and specializing in women's and children's health. A golf course and other sports facilties will further enhance Education City's recreational amenities. And, very soon, Education City will be adding new partners and new programs. Qatar Foundation's immediate targets include a school of communications and journalism, as well as an Islamic studies center. All of these will be provided with purpose-built facilities.