Father Amir And Sheikha Moza Attend Celebration Of 30 Years Of Qatar Foundation

Doha, Qatar: Father Amir HH sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation (QF), tonight attended a milestone event marking Qatar Foundation's 30 years of unlocking human potential, contributing to development on a local, regional, and international level.

The Qatar Foundation 30 Years Anniversary Celebration at Education City – held at Al Shaqab, which has special resonance for the founders of QF – was also attended by HE Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, Vice Chairperson and CEO of Qatar Foundation, together with Ministers and dignitaries.

During the event, HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser delivered the following speech:

"Today we celebrate a pivotal moment in the history of the State of Qatar. Indeed, it was a pivotal moment in the history of the Middle East - the moment in 1995 when all the necessary elements converged to catalyze the creation of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development. A foundation that has gone on to perform many roles - beyond what its name suggests.

Allow me to take a trip down memory lane - and to recognize everyone's profound contribution.

Of course, I must start with my profound appreciation for His Highness the Father Amir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who provided me with his boundless support to launch this unprecedented project. It is a fundamental pillar in the development of the modern State of Qatar. And without Sheikh Hamad's support, we would not be celebrating today.

At the founding ceremony, His Highness said:

“Today we are celebrating an occasion whose importance outweighs any industrial or economic project, whatever its size, because this project is actually the basis that guarantees the success of any other future project.”

"Time has proven the truth of his words. Sheikh Hamad is the pioneer of Qatar's modern renaissance. We have demonstrated our success to him and to the world in establishing the framework for his vision for a modern Qatar - one we envisioned together.

And we owe much gratitude to the Amir, His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who believes in the work of the Foundation and has been one of its fervent supporters.

When I speak of the dream of Qatar Foundation, nostalgia washes over me. The Foundation and I are intertwined. We grew and matured together. And now the dream has come true. I was the dreamer and Qatar Foundation the nascent dream."

"Making dreams come true is often difficult. The path to Qatar Foundation was not straightforward. The path to Qatar Foundation was not even paved - in the way that some people think.

Early on, I became gripped with the idea that we needed to reform education to accelerate change. Even at the outset, I faced many difficulties. The greatest challenge was to convince others of the need for reform. I worked on a new model, one that would stir stagnant water and create new mindsets.

At that time, I faced many challenges, including social, bureaucratic and legislative obstacles. I also faced those who could not think outside the box, and those who feared any kind of change. And those who did not see the importance of quality education, scientific research, and keeping pace with progress.

In fact, I was surprised to face the most demoralizing statements from people whom I thought knew better. I will not shy away from saying that demoralization became a contagion that infected the entire team. But they rallied quickly, regaining confidence in the project."

"We began structuring our work, taking care to establish guiding principles that distinguished Qatar Foundation from other NGOs. Fast decision-making, efficient implementation, and financial and administrative independence were made possible thanks to an endowment the Father Amir set up, guaranteeing the sustainability of Qatar Foundation.

From the outset, we strove for excellence, quality and boldness in bringing about change. We did not allow complacency in achieving our goals. But we recognized that there can be no success without mistakes.

The Foundation embarked on a unique journey, unlike any other in the region or beyond. It was inevitable that we would encounter difficulties and challenges. The most glaring was the absence of laws pertaining to establishing NGOs. But the most difficult to overcome was the absence of a culture of scientific research. No true renaissance or transformative development could occur and be sustained without scientific research infrastructure.

A new law had to be issued, making Qatar Foundation directly responsible for bringing about legislative reform."

"After the official establishment of the Foundation in 1995, and the birth of its first child - Qatar Academy - our vision grew to encompass higher education. During negotiations with Western universities, we would encounter the stereotype of the Arab in Western minds, which prematurely and unfairly assessed our students. Also, the novel idea of bringing already established universities to the region was difficult for our partners to fathom. However, through in-depth dialogue, and much time and effort, we succeeded in convincing them to change their misconceptions. Those skeptical of our project became active partners who believed in its important and progressive role. They became its staunchest defenders, not only in Qatar but in their own countries.

Our goal was not just to attract the best universities in the world - which would graduate distinguished students - but to benefit from their academic expertise and research departments. These would localize knowledge, elevating the quality of education and establishing key connections between research and state institutions.

From the outset, Education City embodied a model unprecedented in the world - a model that was able to develop and grow, with the flexibility to respond to the community's disparate needs. We turn challenges into opportunities by fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration and resilience. This has allowed Qatar Foundation to set standards for lasting change.

It's been a trailblazing journey, spanning three decades. A journey in which visionary ideas and programs have developed, branched out and come together, driven by unrelenting determination to arrive at our goal, national and Arab at its heart, and international in its standards.

Qatar Foundation was not set up to nurture only Qataris. Around 10,000 students have graduated from its universities, hailing from 99 countries. The Foundation has provided study opportunities for young people facing challenging circumstances from Yemen, Iraq, Palestine and Syria. At its core, the Foundation is part of the Arab Renaissance Project."

"Some may ask, have we achieved all our goals? Have we reaped the fruits of this project? Have we become a nation of knowledge with a strong culture of scientific research?

To those who ask, we say: It is not possible to list all of QF's achievements and its impact both direct and indirect on the different sectors of our country - on education, higher education, healthcare and legislation. Qatar Foundation has even reshaped our skyline, with architecture inspired by our culture and heritage.

In brief, some of our most seminal international projects include the Qatar Genome Program, which took great strides in gathering Arab genetic information, contributing 96.2 percent of the total published data, globally. The Qatar Biobank is the first and largest biobank of its kind in the Middle East, and is among the earliest and largest in the world. Between the genome project and the biobank, we have achieved one of the most comprehensive genetic and health databases in the world, laying solid scientific foundations for planning Qatar's healthcare."

"Among the most profound transformations brought about by Education City universities, it is worth noting the impact of Weill Cornell Medicine–Qatar, which has galvanized existing medical institutions to become more academic and research focused. Over the years, 750 doctors from Hamad Medical Corporation, Aspetar, Primary Health Care Centers and Sidra Medicine have joined the teaching staff at WCM–Q and some have taught at the home campus in the USA.

The Foundation has always prioritized the Arabic language, and launched the innovative platform, 'Fanar,' which combines the latest developments in artificial intelligence with the Arabic language, regional culture, and Islamic values. Fanar was designed, developed, and implemented entirely at Hamad Bin Khalifa University, with the sponsorship and support of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology. It is the first model of its kind in the world to be created from scratch and fully developed in a university setting.

We consider Hamad Bin Khalifa University as a unique achievement, worthy of appreciation and pride, being a homegrown research university.

There are many initiatives that were conceived, developed, and incubated at Qatar Foundation, and once they matured, they graduated. We are proud of these projects, which include the Qatar National Library, which plays a leading role in archives and culture in the country. In addition, we launched the Qatar Digital Library, the largest digital platform in the world dedicated to historical documents and manuscripts related to the Gulf region and the Arab world, and to the scientific output of Arab and Islamic civilization.

Similarly, the Qatar National Research Fund, established in April 2006, supports the strategy of transforming Qatar into an advanced international research hub. The fund is the first of its kind in the Middle East to finance research and innovation and provide necessary support to universities and institutions. It has allocated $1.5 billion for research and funded local, regional, and global research projects, in line with Qatar's strategy for policy and research. According to the 2015 Research World Report, Qatar was classified as an 'attractive destination' for research and development.

Year after year, we have accumulated experiences, achievements and aspirations. And we have learned, as we have travelled this path, not only to have faith in our abilities, but also to channel that faith to achieve our dreams.

Our dream was the birth of a new generation, balanced and modern while rooted in their culture heritage. We do not want our citizens to be torn between two cultures; rather, they should be authentic and proud of their own heritage, but able to engage and keep pace with important global change. This generation must be qualified to lead in their lifetime, and to set the foundations for the future. Everything we have done - and are doing - is built on this principle of investing in human development. This is the most important investment there is, and the essence of our dream.

All great human achievements have started simply with a dream. Today we celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of a dream becoming reality."

"I congratulate Qatar Foundation on reaching this vibrant milestone, surpassing all expectations, overcoming challenges and achieving unparalleled heights. Qatar Foundation today sets the standards for innovation in education, scientific research, community development, culture and health. These standards equip new generations, capable of charting Qatar's future course.

Ideas and successes have taken root in the form of 50 multifaceted entities under the umbrella of QF, placing it at the vanguard of sustainable human development and ensuring we advance towards our desired goals. A closer look at these entities, which work tirelessly, meeting global standards, will provide a panoramic impression of the breadth and diversity the Foundation's operations.

We must always remember that institutions exist to serve the community, not to become rigid structures, dominating society with bureaucracy. They grow, innovate, and dedicate themselves to achieving a common goal that everyone contributes to and benefits from. Qatar Foundation was never an entity that served itself. It was established neither to compete nor to stand alone. Instead, to stir stagnant waters and to set standards - invigorating, encouraging and supporting state institutions.

I wish to acknowledge all the partners and individuals who contributed to the formation of QF so that it has arrived where it is today.

It is a great honor for me to stand before you today representing QF on its milestone anniversary. It is my fervent desire that Qatar Foundation continues to be a hub for ideas and innovation for future generations for another thirty years and many more – that it remains a foundational pillar of the future of the State of Qatar.

We do not wait for the future. We make it happen."

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