Under the first agreement, EAA Foundation’s Al Fakhoora Programme is partnering with QF to provide 44 scholarships over the next two years to financially disadvantaged youth in Qatar. These scholarships will enable students to pursue undergraduate degrees at prestigious universities at QF. Beyond funding, EAA Foundation and its partners will support the recipients through the Qatar Connection platform— established to connect Qatar Scholarship beneficiaries with one another and with Qatar through activities, internships, and exchange opportunities provided by Qatari stakeholders. These initiatives empower scholars to develop essential life skills and expand their personal and professional networks.  This partnership is part of the Qatar Scholarship Programme in Qatar (QSQ), which aims to provide youth aged 17 to 25, who have spent most of their formative years in Qatar, with access to higher education. The programme is implemented by EAA and made possible with the support of the Endowment Account for Scientific and Cultural Development in the General Department of Endowments - Awqaf.

Through the second agreement with Al-Quds Bard College and QF, EAA Foundation is offering undergraduate Qatar Scholarship recipients from Al-Quds Bard Program in Arts and the Cultural Economy the opportunity to study for a semester in Qatar. The Study Abroad program combines coursework from Al-Quds Bard College and QF partner university Georgetown University in Qatar, with internships facilitated by Qatar Museums. By integrating academic and professional experiences, the initiative provides Palestinian scholars with cross-cultural exchanges and career-advancing opportunities.  

EAA Foundation will fully fund tuition, housing, and travel costs, offering marginalised youth in Palestine opportunities to engage in cross-cultural exchange and gain valuable professional experience. This collaboration builds on the Qatar Scholarship-Education Above All Program established in 2021 with Bard College in New York and Al-Quds University in Palestine, to provide access to quality higher education for youth from historically underserved communities. 

Speaking on the partnerships, Mr. Talal Al-Hothal, Director of the Al Fakhoora Programme at EAA, said: “These agreements are a testament to our commitment to transforming lives through education. By joining forces with esteemed partners, we are not just offering access to quality education – we are opening doors to professional development and personal empowerment for marginalised youth. These initiatives lay a foundation for the next generation of leaders, equipping them with the education, skills, and opportunities they need to shape a thriving future.”

Francisco Marmolejo, President of Higher Education and Education Advisor, Qatar Foundation, said: “At Qatar Foundation, we are committed to fostering global collaboration and creating pathways for inclusive and transformative education.

“The agreement with Education Above All and Al Quds-Bard College reflects our belief in the power of cross-cultural exchange to enrich academic journeys and broaden horizons. By welcoming students from Palestine to Georgetown University in Qatar and providing them with hands-on experiences at Qatar Museum Authority, we aim to inspire innovation and mutual understanding, while equipping these students with invaluable global perspectives.”

“Our partnership with Education Above All to provide partial financial support to students across our partner universities and Hamad Bin Khalifa University reflects our dedication to making world-class education accessible to talented individuals from all backgrounds – empowering students to overcome financial barriers so they can contribute to Qatar and the world. These agreements underscore our collective commitment to nurturing a generation of leaders equipped to address the challenges of an interconnected world.”

”This agreement will provide life-changing experiences for young Palestinians in outstanding cultural and academic institutions in Qatar,” said Daniel Terris, dean of Al-Quds Bard College.  “Our partnership with Education Above All and the Qatar Foundation creates an avenue of hope and growth at a time of profound crisis for the Palestinian people.” 

EAA Foundation is committed to advancing the right to education in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals - in particular SDG4 which seeks to ensure access to education. To date, the foundation has been able to support more than 19 million children and youth in over 60 countries through a network exceeding 100 partners. Of these, 7 million beneficiaries were directly affected by conflict in high-risk contexts.

For more information, contact EAA Media Specialists.