The following is part of a series of reflections from a recent Pacific Council Country Dialogue to the Arabian Peninsula.
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In a recent meeting with H.E. Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, CEO of the Qatar Foundation (QF), Pacific Council delegates learned about Qatar's education institutes, science and research centers, and community development initiatives.

QF’s flagship project, Education City, aims to serve as a hub of academic excellence in Qatar. Education City includes seven QF schools (Qatar Academy-Al Wakra, Qatar Academy-Msheireb, Qatar Academy-Al Khor, Qatar Academy-Sidra, Qatar Leadership Academy, Al Awsaj Academy, and the Academic Bridge Program), Hamad bin Khalifa University, and partners schools like Georgetown University, Carnegie Mellon, and others. 

"Our priority has always been to develop human capital and to invest in Qatar’s future," she said. "We emphasize the importance of innovation in science and research at every stage of education."

QF's research institutes are open to citizens from all over the world: over 90 nationalities are represented in universities based in Qatar. All partner universities have physical facilities in Qatar. There are roughly 2,500 students across all universities with about 700 graduates per year, and all universities are open to men and women.

"Our priority has always been to develop human capital and to invest in Qatar’s future."

H.E. Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani

Sheikha Hind also said that more women are taking on management roles in Qatari civil society, and she credits QF universities with the shift: more women are graduating from QF universities each year. "Women are beginning to feel like they have equal opportunities in the workforce," she said.
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Read more reflections from our Country Dialogue to the Arabian Peninsula.