The American University, Texas A&M, has decided to shut down its branch in Qatar and terminate its partnership with the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science, and Community Development, which funds the branch. This move has been criticized by the Qatari Foundation, labeling it as driven by a misleading campaign aimed at harming its interests.
The Board of Regents of the Texas state-affiliated university, considered the fourth-largest university in the United States, voted to end the contract with the Qatar branch established in 2003, effectively concluding the 20-year academic program.
The university’s statement on the closure of the Qatar branch this fall cited “increasing instability in the Middle East” as the reason for the decision. The chairman of the Board of Regents, Bill Mahomes, stated that the primary mission of Texas A&M University “should be fundamentally developed within Texas and the United States,” adding that “by the mid-21st century, the university may not necessarily need an infrastructure of the campus 8,000 miles away to support educational and research cooperation.”
Erroneous Decision
In response, the Qatar Foundation described the decision to terminate the partnership and close as disappointing and influenced by a misleading campaign aimed at damaging the foundation’s interests.
The foundation expressed concern that the disseminated misinformation was the decisive factor in making this decision, surpassing the fundamental principles of education and knowledge, without any regard for the positive impact this partnership had on both Qatar and the United States.
The Qatari Foundation expressed disappointment that an academic institution of global standing like Texas A&M University became a victim of such a campaign and allowed politics to infiltrate its decision-making process.
Furthermore, the foundation stated that the Board of Regents of the university did not bother to communicate with the Qatar Foundation at any time to ascertain the truth before making this decision, which was based on erroneous grounds.
The Qatar Foundation affirmed its long-term vision to build a globally renowned system of education, research, and social development. It has established partnerships with high-ranking international educational institutions to create branches in the Education City in Doha, offering university education and postgraduate studies “alongside our local university,” Hamad Bin Khalifa University.
The Qatari Foundation’s management emphasized that decisions based on any considerations that ignore the students’ interests and their pursuit of knowledge “will not affect our vision for higher education at the Qatar Foundation or our strategy to achieve this vision. We have always strongly believed that education transcends personal interests and harmful influences, and we will remain committed to this.”
