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HE Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim al-Thani with al-Yafei, Donoghue, El Sayed, Mare and another official at the launch of the Sheikh Faisal Centre for Entrepreneurship in the Middle East at DePaul University in Chicago.
The new Sheikh Faisal Centre for Entrepreneurship in the Middle East at DePaul University’s Driehaus College of Business in Chicago has been inaugurated by HE Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim al-Thani on behalf of Al Faisal Without Borders Foundation (ALF). |
The new centre aims to foster entrepreneurship through exchange programmes that will allow DePaul University students to study in Qatar, while giving Qatari students the opportunity to go to Chicago to work with business college faculty and alumni. The long-term collaboration supports entrepreneurship and business development in Qatar and the Middle East.
Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim al-Thani, chairman, ALF, said the launch marks a milestone for entrepreneurship for students at DePaul University and students in Qatar.
He said that Qatar has launched many initiatives to support enterprise and is investing heavily to enhance opportunities in the private sector, providing many first-class educational facilities to support the next generation to become tomorrow’s leaders achieve
success.
Ray Whittington, dean of the Driehaus College of Business, said: “Our faculty and successful alumni entrepreneurs look forward to working with emerging entrepreneurs from Qatar and throughout the Middle East to support their continued development into a thriving, professional class. The centre will also provide a great opportunity for DePaul students to gain real-world experience on an
international stage.”
The newly-formed centre will also hold an annual conference in Chicago that convenes an international audience of business leaders in an effort to expose students to the business world. It will serve as a source of professional knowledge for Qatar entrepreneurs and those who do business in the Middle East. Sheikh Faisal will also host a business competition in Qatar for emerging entrepreneurs.
Both parties believe that this initiative will strengthen the entrepreneurial spirit at both DePaul and in Qatar. “Al Faisal Without Borders Foundation is a strong supporter of Qatar’s vision and this agreement will help to accelerate knowledge transfer, which is very important for success in business,” Sheikh Faisal observed.
“With a booming economy and excellent educational system we are sure that this centre will foster the entrepreneurial spirit and help to fuel Qatar’s thriving economy.”
The Sheikh Faisal Centre will facilitate a Young Entrepreneur Academy that develops new generations of Qatari and US entrepreneurs and business leaders through student exchange
programmes.
DePaul plans to host a group of Qatari students each summer on its Chicago campus where they will work with the business college faculty and alumni entrepreneurs to apply entrepreneurship theory and practice in developing their own business plans.
Additionally, a group of Driehaus College of Business students who are enrolled in programmes related to business development in the Middle East will have the opportunity to participate in a study abroad
programme in Qatar.
DePaul University is a private university in Chicago, Illinois, founded in 1898, and serving nearly 25,000 students. The Driehaus College of Business is one of the oldest business schools in the US.
The launch of The Sheikh Faisal Centre was also attended by Abdullatif al-Yafei (ALF general manager), Patricia Donoghue (interim president of DePaul University, Chicago), Tarek El Sayed (group chief financial officer, Al Faisal Holding and managing director of Aamal QSC), and Ali Mare (executive director, ALF).
Based in Qatar, ALF is a charitable foundation that promotes sustainable development and improved quality of life for people around the world. Aiming at managing development programmes and providing humanitarian and relief aid, the philanthropic not-for-profit organisation partners with governments, charities and other NGOs around the world.
