NU-Q Partners with World Internet Project to Extend Research into Arab world

Doha, February 04 (QNA) - Northwestern University in Qatar and the World Internet Project - a major international endeavor that has spanned more than a decade in its quest to track the social, political and economic impact of the Internet on people s lives have partnered to extend the research project in the Middle East a region previously understudied by WIP. The agreement provides a global platform for a survey research project undertaken by NU-Q that explores media consumption in eight MENA countries this year: Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Tunisia, Jordan, Lebanon, and the United Arab Emirates. Findings from the NU-Q study will be shared with WIP, which has compiled research from 37 countries to date, and be made publicly available. The initiative makes Qatar an important player in the ground-breaking research related to new media, according to NU-Q dean and CEO Everette Dennis. WIP partner countries serve as a base via local universities and research institutes for conducting detailed research, generating a wealth of publications and holding annual conferences that examine the impact of new technologies. Results of the survey are expected in April, Dr. Dennis said, and will offer insight on how the use of the Internet is changing people s lives in the Arab world, from media use to governance and business. "The WIP is an important survey in the media field, and we are happy to be contributing to the understanding of media in Qatar, the region, and the world," said Dean Dennis. "It has been a great experience for our faculty and staff who have been involved in our work so far. This is a particularly important step for NU-Q, as we expand our research program and consolidate efforts with other institutions in Qatar to meet the goals of Qatar s National Research Strategy." The partnership was announced Monday night by Dr. Dennis and Dr. Jeffrey Cole, the founder of WIP, who has continued his unique tracking project on Internet use for the past 25 years, resulting in annual reports and briefings for industry, government and academic institutions, NGOs and other stakeholders.(QNA)