In the context of educational cooperation between the two countries, Nuaimi mentioned the existence of various collaborations, including a US Department of State programme that sponsors the recruitment of an academic lecturer from Qatar, covering the expenses for them to pursue advanced degrees at one of the participating universities in the programme, and if the individual is in an advanced academic stage, they may also teach at the university.
He stressed that this programme is one of the aspects of educational cooperation between the two countries, in addition to the existence of special cooperation between universities in Qatar, including Qatar University, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Lusail University and Doha University of Science and Technology.
He pointed out the cooperation between the Ministry of Education (MoE) and Harvard University to train teachers who take a one-year course in a specific field with a 15-day training period during which participants benefit and acquire new expertise.
Regarding the academic specialisations of Qatari students in the US, Nuaimi stated that the Ministry of Education launched a new scholarship plan and strategy in January of this year. The new approach is based on academic tracks rather than specific universities. The internal tracks include the Science, Engineering, and Technology; the Healthcare and Medical Sciences; the Education and Pedagogical Sciences; the Social and Human Sciences; the Creative Economy; the Professional Sports Track; and the Graduate Studies.
Nuaimi pointed out the Creative Economy Track, one of the newly established pathways, includes fields such as tourism and hospitality management, hotel management, exhibitions and conferences, event management, restoration, museum studies, film and television, archaeology, animation restoration, and entrepreneurship.
On the healthcare front, he highlighted ongoing communication with Hamad Medical Corporation to increase medical collaboration.
He emphasised that during global health crises, the world turns its attention to American research centres, whether hospital-affiliated or independent and governmental research institutions.
Nuaimi said that work is under way to establish cooperation in the field of cardiology between Hamad Medical Corporation and one of the top American universities and its associated medical centre. This initiative aims to train doctors and secure fellowship programmes. Global hospitals often engage in cooperation through formal agreements.
Additionally, an agreement has been reached with Qatar University to provide training for top medical students in their fourth or fifth year at Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre in Los Angeles, which is the second-largest hospital in the United States.
The students will undergo a residency period with the doctors in the hospital, following patient care practices for four to eight weeks. This experience will greatly benefit students when applying for fellowship programmes in the future, given that they would have already completed a clinical residency under the supervision of a hospital doctor during their studies.
He also noted the coordination and communication with GCC member states’ cultural attache offices to exchange expertise regarding office structure, given the extensive efforts required to manage academic files and support students abroad. This effort is part of a broader initiative to enhance cooperation in cultural and educational fields.
Regarding cultural cooperation between Qatar and the US, Nuaimi explained that the entities responsible for cultural exchange are the Ministry of Culture and Qatar Museums, adding that the museums have a distinguished programme for artist exchanges.
On the sports front, he confirmed that there is collaboration between both sides to exchange expertise in event organisation, especially as the next FIFA World Cup will be hosted by the United States.
He noted that Qatar is sharing its expertise from the successful organisation of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
