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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The Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (Arabic: مؤسسة قطر) is a non-profit group in Qatar. It was started in 1995 by the former leader of Qatar, Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, and his wife, Moza bint Nasser Al-Missned.
The Qatar Foundation works to improve education, science, and community life. It has invited many international universities to open campuses in Qatar. The foundation also works with other groups on different projects.
Contents
Learning and Discovery
The Qatar Foundation helps people learn from a young age all the way through university. It has opened several schools and supports many research projects.
Schools and Universities
The Qatar Foundation has created five Qatar Academy schools. It also runs the Awsaj Academy, which helps children who learn in different ways. The Academic Bridge Program helps students get ready for university.
The foundation has brought many well-known international universities to Qatar. These universities have opened special campuses there:
- 1998 – Virginia Commonwealth University
- 2002 – Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar
- 2003 – Texas A&M University at Qatar
- 2004 – Carnegie Mellon University Qatar
- 2005 – Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar
- 2008 – Northwestern University in Qatar
- 2010 – Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), a university from Qatar, opened.
- 2011 – HEC Paris in Qatar started the first business master's program in the country.
- 2011 – University College London Qatar was open until October 2020.
The foundation also supports the World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE). This event has been held in Doha every year since 2009.
Supporting New Ideas
Many universities on the Qatar Foundation campus have their own research programs. They often work with the foundation's own research centers. The Qatar Foundation also partners with groups like the Royal Society.
Stars of Science is a TV show that started in 2009. It helps find "young Arab innovators" and supports their new ideas.
Since 2006, the Qatar Foundation has managed the Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF). It also runs the Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP) since 2009. This park is a special area where new businesses and research can grow.
The foundation has also started several important research centers:
- Qatar Computing Research Institute (QCRI) in 2010.
- Qatar Green Building Council in 2009, which focuses on environmentally friendly buildings.
- Qatar Environmental & Energy Research Institute (QEERI).
- Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI).
- Sidra Medical and Research Center, a large hospital and research center.
The Qatar Diabetes Association, which helps people with diabetes, joined the Qatar Foundation in 1999.
Arts and Community
The Qatar Foundation supports many cultural and community projects. These projects help people learn, enjoy art, and connect with each other.
Libraries and Museums
Al Shaqab, a center for Arabian horses, and the Al Jazeera Children's Channel (JCC) are part of the Qatar Foundation. In 2012, plans were announced for a new national library, the Qatar National Library, in Education City. This library has a special section with old books, maps, and tools from the 15th century.
A large online collection of historical records about the Persian Gulf countries was put online in 2014. This was part of a partnership between the Qatar Foundation, Qatar National Library, and the British Library. This online collection is called the Qatar Digital Library (QDL).
The Qatar Foundation also opened the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra in 2007. In 2010, it opened the Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art. This museum has one of the biggest collections of art by Arab artists in the world.
Helping the Community Grow
Msheireb Properties, a company linked to the Qatar Foundation, started a big building project in Doha in 2010. This project, now 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 in 1996.
- Reach Out To Asia (ROTA) in 2005, which helps people in need across Asia.
- The Doha International Family Institute (DIFI) in 2006, which supports families.
- The QatarDebate Center in 2007, which helps young people learn debating skills.
- The Qatar National Convention Centre in 2011, a large place for events and meetings.
Working Together for the Future
The Qatar Foundation works with global partners on many projects. These partnerships help Qatar grow into a country known for knowledge and new ideas. Any money made from these projects goes back into the foundation's main activities.
New Technologies and Publishing
Vodafone partnered with the Qatar Foundation to launch Vodafone Qatar in 2009. This made Vodafone the second mobile phone company in the country.
The foundation also launched MEEZA in 2008, which provides technology services. In 2010, it started Qatar Solar Technologies (QSTec), which focuses on solar energy.
In 2008, the foundation launched Bloomsbury Qatar Foundation Publishing (BQFP). This group published books in both Arabic and English. In 2015, all its books became part of the new HBKU Press, which is also part of the Qatar Foundation.
Sponsorships
On December 10, 2010, the famous football team FC Barcelona announced a sponsorship deal. This deal put the Qatar Foundation's name on the front of the team's shirts. Later, in 2013, Qatar Airways took over as the main sponsor.
In October 2011, the Wikimedia Foundation (the group behind Wikipedia) announced a plan to work with the Qatar Foundation. They wanted to help the Arabic Wikipedia grow. The Qatar Foundation said in 2015 that this partnership helped create over 6,000 articles on the Arabic Wikipedia.
See also
In Spanish: Qatar Foundation para niños
