Qatari Cultural Attache to UK and Ireland to QNA: More than 3,000 Qatari Students Study in British Universities

London, September 4 (QNA) - Qatar's Cultural Attache to the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, Fahad bin Mohammed Al Kuwari, has revealed that the number of Qatari students studying in British universities exceeds 3000 students, noting the endeavor to increase this number in the coming years, both in the UK and Irland, and in the rest of the European countries.
Al Kuwari noted that Spain, Portugal and Italy also falls within the scope of the Cultural Attache, especially in the specializations required by the labor market and the scholarship plan, such as medicine, engineering and cybersecurity.
In an interview with Qatar News Agency (QNA), Al Kuwari said that more than 50 Qatari students are studying medicine in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, while the students studying engineering and cybersecurity make up 62% of the total number of scholarship students in the United Kingdom, and the postgraduate students make up about 7%.
Al Kuwari highlighted the ambition to increase the number of Qatari students in the universities on the Amiri list, which currently include four universities - Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College London and University College London - noting that the number of students studying in these universities has increased by 12% over the past five years.
He noted that the allocations and benefits for students studying in those universities are higher than the other, stressing the need to ensure university accreditation from the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, and to obtain prior approval in accordance with the law for non-scholarship students.
Al Kuwari indicated that the Ministry has identified the best 300 universities for scholarships, including 55 accredited universities in Britain and Ireland.
He said that the United Kingdom is one of the most prominent global destinations for international students, and hosts more than 630,000 students from all over the world. This cultural diversity contributes to creating a rich educational environment and opportunities for exchanging ideas and experiences, thus enhancing students' critical thinking and innovation skills.
Meanwhile, Al Kuwari urged students to complete their university studies in Qatar, especially at Qatar University and the Education City universities which provide a unique educational experience. He believed that if the required specialization is not available in Qatar, or if there is a desire to study a specialization in universities on the Amir list, students can head to the United Kingdom.
He noted that the Cultural Attache supports students wishing to study in the United Kingdom or Ireland, adding that the experience of studying abroad contributes to developing their academic and personal skills, and opens up distinctive professional opportunities for them.
He called on students to explore educational opportunities in other countries which fall within the scope of the Cultural Attache, namely Italy, Spain and Portugal, to learn new languages and get to know different cultures, which enhances their competitiveness in the labor market. 

Regarding ensuring the quality of the output for Qatari students studying at their own expense in the United Kingdom, Qatari Cultural Attache to the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, Fahad bin Mohammed Al Kuwari, stressed the need for students to obtain prior approval from the Ministry of Education and Higher Education before starting their studies. Students can easily apply for this approval via the website: https://eduservices.edu.gov.qa/. This step is necessary to ensure that the specializations and universities they choose are in line with the Ministry's standards, he said.
    Al Kuwari shed light on the most important activities held by the Cultural Attache for students throughout the academic year, including cultural, artistic and sports activities. He indicated that more than 1,500 Qatari students have participated in these activities over the past five years.
He pointed to the Attache's constant keenness to encourage Qatari students to participate in the activities in order to become ambassadors for their country abroad, and to excel in various scientific, practical, cultural and athletic areas by developing their academic and practical capabilities, and developing their life skills and experiences.
On the training programs announced by the Qatari Cultural Attache in the United Kingdom for students, Al Kuwari explained that the Attache has organized more than 50 professional training opportunities during the summer vacation for Qatari students in the United Kingdom over the past three years, in cooperation with Qatari entities such as Qatar National Bank, beIN Media, Qatar Islamic Bank, Al Diar Real Estate Company, and the Embassy of the State of Qatar in London.
    Al Kuwari also touched on the role of the Cultural Attache in supporting Qatari student clubs in various British universities - 15 clubs, in addition to the guidance and introductory meetings it holds for high school students in Qatar in coordination with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education to enroll in British universities, in addition to organizing a variety of qualitative events to provide more information about new specializations such as cybersecurity and modern engineering, and other events to enable new students to benefit from the experiences of graduate students.
    Regarding the extent of academic cooperation between Qatari and British universities, the Qatari Cultural Attache to the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland noted that there are five British universities operating in Qatar: Northumbria University in cooperation with the Qatar Finance and Business Academy; the University of Central Lancashire with Ras Laffan Emergency and Safety College; the University of Aberdeen with AFG College; the University of Ulster with City University College; and Liverpool John Moores University with Oryx International College.
    They all offer more than 44 study programs in specializations such as business administration, international relations, public health, and engineering, he noted, indicating that the Attache seeks to establish a student exchange program between British and Qatari universities, which allows British students the opportunity to study in Qatar for a year and gain a new experience.
He pointed to the remarkable development in the academic cooperation between Qatari and British universities, in light of the joint initiatives and research projects in various fields such as science, technology and engineering, indicating that one of the most prominent fruits of this cooperation is the establishment of the Qatari-British Joint Technical Committee to promote mutual growth and recognition of Qatari qualifications in the United Kingdom.
     At the end of his interview with QNA, Qatari Cultural Attache to the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, Fahad bin Mohammed Al Kuwari, underlined that the State of Qatar invests heavily in human resources development and strives to enhance human development to achieve Qatar National Vision 2030. "We are working to prepare our students for the labor market, and to be qualified and equipped with skills and knowledge. This is achieved through internal and external scholarship opportunities provided by the Ministry of Education and Higher Education that are compatible with the requirements of the labor market, in coordination with various government departments," he said. (QNA)