Articles
University heralds change
The US-based Northwestern University will establish a branch campus at the Education City on the outskirts of Doha offering undergraduate degrees in communication and journalism.
- By Hind Al Sulaiti, Staff Writer
- Published: 00:36 December 23, 2007
- Image Credit: Supplied Picture
- Northwestern's Medill School of Journalism will offer a programme in journalism, media and integrated marketing communication.
Top journalism school opens doors in Qatar to bring western education to the region. Hind Al Sulaiti reports
A new journalism school, one of the first of its kind in the Gulf region, is opening in Qatar in September 2008. The US-based Northwestern University will establish a branch campus at the Education City on the outskirts of Doha offering undergraduate degrees in communication and journalism.
Northwestern's Medill School of Journalism will offer a programme in journalism, media and integrated marketing communication, while the university's School of Communication will offer a programme in media industries and technologies.
In addition, Northwestern plans to offer a pre-college preparatory programme.
Leading the region
The opening of the university takes Qatar further in its efforts to support the freedom of press in the country.
Censorship was lifted from the local press in 1995 and in 1996 Al Jazeera satellite TV started broadcasting from Qatar, becoming the beacon of freedom of speech in the region.
In addition the abolishment of the Ministry of Information in 1998 gave way to an open environment in which opinions are shared more freely than in the past.
Changing perceptions
However, very few Qatari nationals work in this field due to the misleading perception of the role and importance of the media and the lack of benefits.
"Qatari nationals are not used to jobs that require a lot of effort or movement," said Qatari writer Norah Al Khater.
She strongly emphasises the importance of an open society for reserved. She feels that Qatari society is still closed, making sources very limited.
"A journalist has limited sources in a closed society. He or she will not be able to knock on doors, enter the homes of citizens, or interview people freely to write a story," she said.
Al Khater added that the efforts the Qatari government is making are an invitation to nationals to increase their numbers in the field and thereby change this image.
More universities
Northwestern University will join five top American universities with branch campuses in the Education City, including the Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts, Weill Cornell Medical College, Texas A&M University, Carnegie Mellon University Qatar and Georgetown University School of Foreign Service.
Admissions criteria
Admission requirements to the Doha campus are the same as those for the parent institution and some 40 students are expected to enrol in the first year.
The degree will be identical to that of the main campus. It is the first time the university has offered courses away from its main campus in Illinois, United States.
"Northwestern's reputation for excellence made it a prime candidate to deliver journalism and communication programmes at the Education City," said Shaikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al Messnad, wife of the Emir of Qatar and chairperson of the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, a non-profit organisation fostering education and scientific research.
"During the negotiations we became convinced that they understood and endorsed our vision for the development of the Education City and its contribution to Qatar and the region.
"Effective media and communication are a vital element of the dynamic, participative society we are promoting," said Shaikha Mozah.
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