Scholarship system meets Qatar's human resource requirements

Doha, Qatar (October 10, 2006)Supreme Education Council’s Higher Education Institute Director, Dr Jehan Al Meer, told students in a television phone-in program that the scholarship system of sending students abroad will continue as it helps in serving the development. She confirmed that the system will help meet the country's requirements for human resources, scientific, and technological specializations.

In response to inquiries about the number of universities serving the program, Dr. Al Meer confirmed that at present there are 300 foreign universities which serve Qataris on scholarships and the number will rise to 400 in December by including to the list 100 universities, most of which are in the UK.

On the other hand, Dr. Al Meer said that as of last April, students sponsored by the Ministry of Education to study abroad had their scholarship amounts raised to the same levels as those going abroad with the financial backing of the Higher Education Institute.

In response to inquiries of why universities in Arab countries are not on the approved list, Dr. Al Meer said, “Qatari students can only attend Arab universities for post graduate studies - Master's degree or a PhD - in certain fields like Islamic Studies, Sharia Law, and the Arabic language." She said, the countries involved in these studies are Egypt and Jordan. Dr. Al Meer also confirmed that Qatar recognizes the certificates of students studying in the Arab countries’ universities at their own expenses.

In the TV program broadcasted last Sunday, Dr. Al Meer confirmed that selection of universities where students are sent has come after a thorough study to identify the institutions which suit the country’s needs for education. She added that the selection of secondary graduates entitled to scholarships is subject to obtaining 80% in the school general certificate exit exam and 530 in the TOEFL.

Jehan went on to add that there are hundreds of scholarships available for students who wish to join technical and industrial fields but students are not interested in these fields. She confirmed that students have the rights to choose the scholarship that suits their interests either from the SEC's Higher Education Institute or any other granting organization.