Ailyn Agonia
Doha
EDUCATION City's distinctive set up and continuous developments have offered a unique and enriching experience to students and the wider community in Qatar.
Being home to branch campuses of some of the world's best universities and two Qatari universities, Education City has benefitted from the string of developments, ambitious plans and innovation taking place within its premises in furthering the legacy of the more than two-decade-old powerhouse campus and its reputation in international education.
Talking to Qatar Tribune recently, some students described the progress in Education City as important part of their journey of learning and university days. This includes not just the prestigious universities but other facilities that have opened in the vicinity.
"The continuous developments within Education City including construction of new facilities and a new rail service offer more opportunities for students. I was lucky to stay for one semester on the new campus of NU-Q. The building is one of the recent developments in Education City and I can see that Qatar Foundation (QF) is putting so much effort in trying to expand the facilities and opportunities for students," said Mashal, a Qatari national and recent graduate of Northwestern University in Qatar (NU-Q).
"I am happy with the new NU-Q building and other facilities in Education City. I encourage other people to make the most of these improvements," Mashal added.
The new NU-Q building featuring a fully automated newsroom among others was inaugurated in May. The infrastructure is one of the much-awaited buildings to rise from the ground following a groundbreaking ceremony held at the site in 2011.
Last year, the public witnessed the opening of the 130,000 sqm Oxygen Park and the Al Shaqab Hotel. An aerial view of the entire Education City will further reveal the busy vicinity with road and building constructions here and there.
According to an article of QF Telegraph published last year, the projects to watch out for also include the Qatar International Golf Club.
But for Joy, an alumna of Georgetown University in Qatar, what she is eager to witness is the opening of the Qatar National Library."I am a Palestinian-American and I am glad to enjoy an interesting experience here in Education City. I have met a diverse group of people which I think if I went to the US I would not be able to experience. There have been a lot of developments since I came here four years ago. The library is almost done and like most students I am eager to see it officially opening its doors to the public," she said.
Hamad, a graduate of electrical engineering from Texas A&M University in Qatar, particularly lauded the improvements in the student dorms as well as other facilities on their campus."Everything is perfect in Education City. I am proud of the progress they made here and as a Qatari youth I am proud of the developments across my country," he said.
Echoing many others, Amal, an information systems' major from Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar, added that the rapid improvements across the Education City attract more Qatari youth and encourage them to be more involved as active participants in the country's development.