Diplomats of the future

A prestigious American university targeting aspiring diplomats has opened its first Gulf campus in Qatar.

Georgetown's renowned Edmund A Walsh School of Foreign Service (SFS) is looking for aspiring diplomats among Qatari and other Gulf students.

The Qatar Foundation and Georgetown University, based in Washington, D.C., signed an agreement in New York on May 17 to establish the SFS campus in Qatar.

It offers a four-year undergraduate degree in Foreign Service, with a major in international politics.

"Approximately 25 students per year will be admitted to the campus that will expand to include at least 100 students over four years as new classes are admitted."

The SFS-Qatar Campus will function in the Liberal Arts and Science building at the Education City until a permanent campus is built.

Professor Jim Reardon Anderson, Dean of the SFS-Qatar Campus, said his priority is to recruit talented men and women from the Gulf.

"Our 75-year-old undergraduate programme aims at preparing men and women to lead in all fields of international affairs, not only in diplomacy but also a wide range of careers in business, international organisations and non-governmental organisations," said Anderson.

Secondary school graduates, who have passed a TOEFL or SAT, are eligible to apply for the undergraduate programme.

Georgetown University is the latest international institution to join the Qatar Foundation's Education City.

Other universities already present are Carnegie Mellon University, Virginia Commonwealth University, Weill Cornell Medical College and Texas A&M University.