Doha, Qatar, October 18, 2018:   Education Above All (EAA) Foundation, through its programme Al Fakhoora, is excited to announce its partnership with Qatar University for “Dynamic Futures Qatar”, which is acclaimed as the first scholarship programme of its kind in the State of Qatar. The signing ceremony took place at Qatar University on October 15, 2018. 

The “Dynamic Futures Qatar” scholarship programme aims to provide young adults between 17 and 25 years old, who have spent most of their formative years in Qatar, with access to higher education. In addition, this comprehensive programme offers recipients the opportunity to develop their civic engagement skills, as well as benefit from economic empowerment activities.  This holistic scholarship design supports students throughout their studies and prepares them to become productive citizens who are able to contribute to society both in Qatar and abroad.

The programme is sponsored in conjunction with the General Department of Endowments at the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs (Awqaf) and includes four prominent universities and colleges in Qatar. Each institution (Qatar University, College of North Atlantic (CNAQ), Stenden University, and University of Calgary in Qatar) has vetted candidates using their own admissions requirements, and thus eligible beneficiaries for the scholarship programme must have their application approved by these institutions accordingly.  

Additional criteria for eligibility for the Dynamic Futures Qatar scholarship, set by Al Fakhoora, include: applicants must hold valid residents’ permits, be currently under family sponsorship, have completed at least 70% of their education in Qatar, entering freshman level, not receiving other educational support, and be interested in pursuing a degree that aligns with the future labor market needs of Qatar. Candidates for the programme also had to demonstrate significant financial need.  

During the signing ceremony, Dr. Hassan Rashid Al-Derham, President, Qatar University, said:
“Through this partnership, we aim to showcase the importance of education and reflect the need for institutes like us to come forward and help in the holistic growth of the educational ecosystem of Qatar. We truly appreciate the efforts of Education Above All (EAA) Foundation and the Al Fakhoora team in launching this valuable scholarship programme and initiating the movement in association with the General Department of Endowments at the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs (Awqaf). We believe that this partnership will achieve the desired goal of supporting the education of non-Qatari students who do not have the financial means to complete their university studies. By doing so, we will able to contribute towards enhancing their capabilities.”

Qatar University on its part, will float a proposal to EAA on the possibility of sending its students from different majors (engineering, medical, education college students, etc…) to visit EAA projects in order to gain practical insights and learn on-ground about the challenges and barriers, in order to brainstorm and find logical and workable solutions to these concerns, taking into consideration the psychosocial element support to refugees. Such an opportunity is aimed at expanding the scholarship Dynamic programme mandate by involving its students in the EAA volunteering international work including field visits. Additionally, it will also create an opportunity for the QU students specially students with strong communication skills to advocate on educational issues at various platforms where EAA is a part of.