Qatar Foundation facts for kids
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| Formation | 1995 |
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| Type | Non-profit organization |
| Headquarters | Education City, Doha, Qatar |
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Key people
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The Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (Arabic: مؤسسة قطر) is a special organization in Qatar. It is a non-profit organization, meaning it uses its money to help people, not to make a profit. It was started in 1995 by the former ruler of Qatar, Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, and his wife, Sheikha Moza bint Nasser.
The main goals of the Qatar Foundation are to improve education, support scientific research, and help the community grow. It has invited many international universities to open campuses in Qatar. This helps bring new ideas and learning opportunities to the country.
Contents
Discovering Qatar Foundation
What is Qatar Foundation?
The Qatar Foundation is like a big helper for Qatar. It works to make the country a leader in education and science. It also aims to build a strong and healthy community. The foundation believes that learning and new discoveries are key to a bright future.
Learning and Research Opportunities
The Qatar Foundation offers many ways for people to learn and explore. It supports students from a young age all the way through university. It also helps scientists and researchers make important discoveries.
Schools and Programs for Young Learners
The Qatar Foundation has created several schools for children. These include five Qatar Academy schools. There is also the Awsaj Academy, which helps children who learn in different ways. For students finishing high school, the Academic Bridge Program prepares them for university.
Universities in Education City
The foundation has brought many famous universities to Qatar. These universities have opened special campuses in an area called Education City, just outside Doha. This means students in Qatar can get a world-class education close to home.
- In 1998, Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar opened. It focuses on art and design.
- Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar opened in 2002. It teaches students to become doctors.
- Texas A&M University at Qatar started in 2003. It offers engineering programs.
- In 2004, Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar opened. It teaches computer science and business.
- Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar opened in 2005. It focuses on international affairs.
- In 2008, Northwestern University in Qatar opened. It teaches journalism and communication.
- Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) opened in 2010. This is a university from Qatar itself.
- HEC Paris in Qatar launched its first business program in 2011. It helps people learn about business leadership.
- University College London Qatar was open from 2011 until October 2020.
The Qatar Foundation also sponsors the World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE). This event has been held in Doha every year since 2009. It brings together experts to talk about new ideas in education.
Advancing Science and Innovation
Many universities in Education City have their own research projects. They often work with the Qatar Foundation's research centers. The foundation also partners with groups like the Royal Society to support science.
A TV show called Stars of Science started in 2009. It helps find and support talented young Arab inventors.
The Qatar Foundation has also created important research centers:
- The Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF) started in 2006. It provides money for research projects.
- The Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP) opened in 2009. It is a special area for science and technology companies.
- The Qatar Computing Research Institute (QCRI) was launched in 2010. It focuses on computer science research.
- The Qatar Green Building Council started in 2009. It promotes eco-friendly building.
- The Qatar Environmental & Energy Research Institute (QEERI) studies the environment and energy.
- The Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI) focuses on health research.
- The Sidra Medical and Research Center is a large hospital and research center.
- The Qatar Diabetes Association, founded in 1995, joined the Qatar Foundation in 1999. It helps people with diabetes.
Celebrating Culture and Arts
The Qatar Foundation also supports culture and the arts. It helps people learn about history, music, and art.
Libraries and Museums
Al Shaqab is a center for Arabian horses and part of the foundation. The Al Jazeera Children's Channel (JCC) is also a member. In 2012, plans were announced for a new national library, the Qatar National Library. It is located in Education City. This library has a special section with old books, maps, and scientific tools from the 15th century.
In 2014, a huge online collection of historical records about the Persian Gulf was made available. This was part of a partnership between the Qatar Foundation, Qatar National Library, and the British Library. It is called the Qatar Digital Library (QDL).
The Qatar Foundation opened the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra in 2007. It also opened the Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art in 2010. This museum has one of the world's largest collections of art by Arab artists. It also has an online encyclopedia about these artists.
Community Projects
Msheireb Properties, a company linked to the foundation, started a big building project in Doha in 2010. This project, called "Msheireb Downtown Doha", is creating a new downtown area.
The foundation has also set up several centers to help the community:
- The Social Development Center was established in 1996.
- Reach Out To Asia (ROTA) started in 2005. It helps communities in need.
- The Doha International Family Institute (DIFI) began in 2006. It supports families.
- The QatarDebate Center opened in 2007. It teaches young people how to debate.
- The Qatar National Convention Centre opened in 2011. It hosts large events.
Working Together for a Better Future
The Qatar Foundation works with global partners on many projects. These partnerships help Qatar move from an economy based on oil to one based on knowledge. This is part of the Qatar National Vision 2030. Any money made from these partnerships goes back into the foundation's non-profit activities.
- Vodafone partnered with the Qatar Foundation to launch Vodafone Qatar in 2009. This brought new phone services to the country.
- The foundation launched MEEZA in 2008, a company that provides IT services.
- Qatar Solar Technologies (QSTec) was launched in 2010. It works on solar energy. In 2011, QSTec announced plans to build a factory for making solar materials. In 2017, QSTec became part of a new company called SolarWorld Industries.
- In 2008, Bloomsbury Qatar Foundation Publishing (BQFP) started publishing books in Arabic and English. This company closed in 2015. All its books are now part of HBKU Press, which is also part of the Qatar Foundation. Bloomsbury Qatar Foundation Journals (BQFJ), started in 2010, also joined HBKU Press.
Supporting Sports and Knowledge
The Qatar Foundation has also supported sports and the sharing of knowledge.
In 2010, FC Barcelona, a famous football team, announced a sponsorship deal. The Qatar Foundation's name was placed on the team's shirts. Later, in 2013, Qatar Airways took over as the main sponsor.
In 2011, the Wikimedia Foundation and the Qatar Foundation worked together. Their goal was to help the Arabic Wikipedia grow. By 2015, this partnership had helped create over 6,000 new articles on the Arabic Wikipedia.
See also
In Spanish: Qatar Foundation para niños
 | Selma Burke |
 | Pauline Powell Burns |
 | Frederick J. Brown |
 | Robert Blackburn |
