GU Signs Agreement to Open Qatar Campus Next Fall

[hoyahoyasaxa]

Maybe we can build the new convocation center there? Also, 007 needs to start a Hoya Blue chapter over in Doha. ;D

DOHA: The Qatar Foundation and the Georgetown University, based in Washington DC, yesterday signed an agreement to open a campus of Georgetown’s Edmund A Walsh School of Foreign Service (SFS) in the Education City, next fall.

“The need for sound policy and diplomacy, forged from openness and wisdom, is evident,” said Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al Missned.

“In this regard, Georgetown was our best choice to assist in developing the potential of the diplomats of the future. This is fully consistent with our vision at the Qatar Foundation of realising human potential and building bridges between people,” she added.

“Georgetown is excited about the opportunity to extend its international presence to an important region of the world,” said John J DeGioia. “For more than 200 years we have been educating students to be leaders engaged in the world and a campus in Qatar will be another way of enhancing our mission.”

Georgetown University is the latest world-class institution to join the Education City, a cluster of learning and research facilities on the outskirts of Doha. “The opening of Georgetown’s branch campus represents another great stride forward in making Qatar Foundation’s vision for Education City a reality,” said Qatar Foundation President Dr Charles E Young.


www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=Local_News&month=May2005&file=Local_News2005051831839.xml

[SFHoya99]

Pretty darn cool.

[hoyahoyasaxa]

Website for Qatar campus: www3.georgetown.edu/sfs/qatar/

Page with pictures of the Qatar campus building: www3.georgetown.edu/sfs/qatar/academics.html

[HoyaNCCT]

I don't like this move at all. I would love to see Georgetown expand internationally. However, it seems that this Qatar campus is only teaching international relations. There are many American schools each teaching a specialty. However, Georgetown is not about teaching a specialty but about "cura personalis" - care for the whole person. Georgetown is about educating the whole person - not just the interest in international relations...

[RBHoya]

But International Relations/Foreign Service is what Georgetown is known for, wouldn't you say? Of course we like to think of Georgetown as an institute that cultivates well-rounded people and educates the whole person, but really, international relations is what we're known for. Ask the average person what they know about Georgetown, and they'll tell you that we're renowned for our International relations and international politics programs. A very important field in the era of globalization.

I dont know much about this kind of stuff, but this sounds like a really good thing to me, something that ought reflect very well on the University.

[hoyahoyasaxa]

Also, I'm sure Georgetown was invited by the Qatari government specifically to bring the SFS (the Qataris probably foot the bill for everything as well). Essentially, the "Education City," where the SFS campus is, is made up of different international universities who each bring their specialties. Georgetown's speciality is SFS.

Link to "Education City": www.qf.edu.qa/output/page301.asp

[HoyaNCCT]

I realize all of this. However, this "education city" is not about the educating the whole person just teaching people one skill very well. It's just not the point. Georgetown should try to change this education city into something that educates biz school types in philosophy and vice versa...

[StPetersburgHoya (Inactive)]

Couldn't agree more with HoyaNCT in principle, but it is helpful to remember that the Jesuits have always adapted their message to their geo-political circumstances - i.e. Matteo Richi in China - I don't think this is a case of sacraficing Ignatian ideals for another feather in the University's cap.

[Jack]

Given that Georgetown is going to the extraordinary length of sending one of its top young Jesuit administrators to Doha, I think care is being taken to ensure that any school with Georgetown name will always represent something more than simply excellence in International Relations.