DOHA, Qatar —
While the United States is largely considered an international leader in higher education, when it comes to access, diversity and affordability, college officials in the U.S. may want to take a closer look at the kinds of bold education reforms that this country of nearly 2.7 million people has implemented.
It’s an effort to reposition the Arab country known for its breathtaking skyscrapers and modern architecture, as a key player in educating its citizens and those from nearby countries. Some of those efforts were on display this week at The Wise Summit, where more than 3,000 educators, policy makers and social activists gathered in the country’s capital—Doha—to exchange ideas, experiences, and perspectives on what quality education is, what it means, and how it must sustain and evolve into the future.
The three-day gathering, founded by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser a decade ago, has emerged as a destination for education reformers, drawing in stakeholders who share a basic belief that a quality education from kindergarten to college should be a necessity for all.
This year’s theme, “UnLearn, ReLearn: What it Means to be Human,” asked participants to share best practices, particularly those focused on innovation in education.
To that end, the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development—a nonprofit organization—touted its Education City, an ecosystem that houses multiple educational and research institutes including nine universities from the United States.
Currently, Georgetown University, Northwestern University, Texas A&M, Virginia Commonwealth University, Carnegie Mellon University and Weill Cornell Medical College all have branch campuses alongside a K-12 school, providing a one-stop campus community for students looking to pursue a world-class education while staying at home.
