DOHA: When Qatar Foundation’s mission began 30 years ago, it began with education – and the greatest embodiments of the impact of this mission are the thousands of students who have learned, explored, innovated, and grown within a globally unique ecosystem of learning.
Across Qatar Foundation’s (QF) schools, its homegrown Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), and its international partner universities, students gain a world-class education that is rooted in values, offers real-world learning experiences, and opens up countless opportunities for entrepreneurship, interaction, and service to society.
QF alumni – of whom there are now around 17,500 – have gone on to become leaders and change-makers in fields such as medicine, engineering, research, and diplomacy, launch pioneering technology ventures, and become active contributors to their societies – strengthening Qatar’s workforce and community, while also making their mark across the region and throughout the world.
And at the Qatar Foundation 30 Years Anniversary Celebration at Education City, just some of the impactful projects created and driven forward by current QF students alongside their studies were showcased, as an illustration of what education – and a QF education – inspires, and what it makes possible. Among them was an eco-friendly performing arts school designed to help preserve Arab cultural heritage, created by Doaa Abu Zaid, a Master’s student in Islamic Architecture at HBKU, who said: “The design is inspired by the movement of the human body in contemporary dance, with a central courtyard connecting all the studios, enhancing ventilation while also reflecting Arabic cultural values.
“I aim to see my idea brought to life – and at QF, I discovered I have many ideas. QF inspired me to become a leader, to be innovative while maintaining a strong connection with the community, and to explore more.”
Meanwhile, Asita Anwar – who is pursuing a PhD in Sustainable Environment at HBKU – and fellow students have embarked on a project focused on water security and food waste management. “This method combines hydroponic farming with advanced techniques such as electrodialysis to efficiently use wastewater and desalination brine for growing plants,” said Anwar, “providing an eco-friendly way of producing food while managing waste.
“At QF, there is a strong focus on sustainability, and this is what inspired me to enter this field and pursue a project focused on food waste management. It aligns with the principles of sustainability and Qatar’s vision.” Also displayed at the celebratory event was Hazaya, a project born at Qatar Academy Al Khor (QAK) – part of QF’s Pre-University Education - that nurtures students’ comic-writing skills, helping them express their thoughts and emotions through stories that reflect values and identity.
“I discovered many of our students had a talent for writing, so I encouraged them to write, collected their stories, and published them on Hazaya, which is a platform for students from primary to secondary school,” said QAK teacher Shaikha Al Rawahi.
“QF’s focus on cultivating life skills has empowered students to showcase their talents, and our aim is for Hazaya to be a significant platform for interactive reading.”
Meanwhile, a wearable cooling and heating device called Brisa – developed by students at QF partner university Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar, designed for use in both extreme hot and cold conditions, and intended to soon enter the production and commercialization phase – was showcased, with guests learning how it allows users to control their body temperature both indoors and outdoors.
And Fatima Jassim Al-Mohammed, a student at QF partner university Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, explained how she and her peers have advanced another showcased project, studying how the protein known as STING can tackle obesity inflammation and the development of fat cells.
“Obesity is caused by a metabolic disorder, and we found this disorder is what most causes insulin resistance due to obesity,” she said. “We created STING ‘knockout’ models that showed signs of improved insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism, and the findings suggest STING could be a promising way of treating conditions like type 2 diabetes and obesity, offering new opportunities for healthcare solutions.”
