Qatar Foundation and Georgetown University have signed an agreement to renew their partnership for an additional 10 years.
Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q) marked its 20th anniversary as a key part of Education City by renewing its partnership with Qatar Foundation (QF) for another decade on Wednesday.
The celebration, held at the GU-Q campus, was attended by prominent figures, including Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of QF; Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, Vice Chairperson and CEO of QF; and Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Chairperson of Qatar Museums.
Minister of Education and Higher Education, Lolwah Al-Khater, also joined the event, highlighting the significant role that GU-Q has played in Qatar’s educational landscape.
During the ceremony, Safwan Masri, Dean of Georgetown University Qatar, welcomed esteemed guests, ambassadors, alumni, and faculty members. He delivered a speech emphasising the vital role GU-Q has played in pioneering education in Qatar and the region. Masri noted the university’s contributions in providing transformative educational experiences, which have led to significant cultural and academic exchanges between Qatar and the world.
GU-Q’s presence in Doha is part of the broader vision of Education City, which has become a leading hub for higher education. Georgetown’s main campus, founded in 1789 in Washington, D.C., saw its Doha branch launch 216 years later in 2005. This long-standing legacy of excellence in education continues to shape Qatar’s academic and cultural landscape.
The renewed partnership with QF reflects both institutions’ commitment to fostering educational innovation, cultural exchange, and community development in the years to come.
The 10-year partnership agreement was signed by Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, Vice Chairperson and CEO of Qatar Foundation, and Dr Robert Groves, Interim President of Georgetown University. The signing reflects a shared commitment to academic excellence and a continued investment in Qatar’s evolving educational landscape.
Following the formal agreement, the GU-Q student choir performed a powerful rendition of Georgetown’s Alma Mater while wearing black and white Palestinian keffiyehs—a symbolic expression of solidarity that resonated with attendees.
A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Alumni Impact Awards to seven distinguished graduates of GU-Q, in recognition of their outstanding contributions across fields such as academia, entrepreneurship, community service, and leadership.
Among the honourees was Haajerah Khan, a 2010 graduate of the School of Foreign Service, who received the Entrepreneurship Award alongside Amna Mohammed Al Thani. Together, they co-founded Strategy Hub, a Qatari consultancy launched in 2022 that focuses on strategic development and innovation.
“It’s crazy to think it’s been 20 years, and in this short amount of time so much has happened in terms of the number of graduates and the impact they’ve had on their community,” Khan told Doha News.
“I feel so lucky and privileged and blessed to consider myself an alumna—and it feels good to be back.”
The event concluded with a special tribute to Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation, who was awarded the Georgetown University President’s Medal—the highest honour conferred by the university.
Delivering a keynote address, Sheikha Moza reflected on QF’s journey to bring world-class education to Qatar, including the early efforts to establish Georgetown’s presence in Education City.
“I hold an unbreakable belief in the power of education, and at Qatar Foundation, we are committed to balancing faith and education. This commitment to faith and faculty is shared by Georgetown University,” she said.
As GU-Q looks toward the next decade, the anniversary celebration not only marked the achievements of the past 20 years but reaffirmed its ongoing mission to shape global citizens and future leaders from the heart of Doha.
