Ask Maryam Abdulaziz al-Thani what it was like to share a global stage with diplomats, scholars, and world leaders as part of her impressive experiential learning experiences at QF partner Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q), and she’ll offer a humble and grounded reply: “It allowed me to serve my community.”
The president of the GU-Q Ambassador Society is also a devoted student, majoring in Culture and Politics with multiple ongoing research projects focused on issues affecting women’s lives in Qatar. “It is incredibly important to have local women discuss and be a part of scholarly research that affects them,” she explains, “because there are some nuances that are only experienced and observed when you live through the social fabric of a society.”
Maryam is one of 105 students who will be recognised at GU-Q’s upcoming commencement ceremony for the Class of 2023 to be held at Qatar National Convention Centre. They will soon join more than 215,000 Georgetown University alumni working in diverse fields across the region and beyond. With their strong foundation in global affairs, cultural fluency, and a passion for social impact, these individuals embody the university’s mission of fostering global citizenship and are poised to become the future leaders, change-makers, and ambassadors of positive change in a rapidly evolving world.
Waqar Basit Butt, who majored in International Economics, said: “GU-Q provides the perfect environment for students to learn about regional, as well as international, issues under the guidance of brilliant professors.".
He also enriched his education by taking advantage of the study abroad programme, and enrolled in courses at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). His academic journey has earned him a place on the Dean's Honors List and recognition through prestigious awards and induction into the honor societies.
“One thing that I am really proud of achieving at GU-Q is starting the Mental Health Society in my first year,” said Waqar. The club played a crucial role during the challenging times of the pandemic by providing a platform for students to discuss important topics and promote mental well-being.
Zain Assaf has also spent her time at GU-Q devoted to both her studies and her community. Her personal background has ignited her interest in understanding how power operates within the context of the Palestinian cause. Zain also pursued a Certificate in Media and Politics, jointly offered by GU-Q and Northwestern University in Qatar. Her exceptional work in the programme was recognized with the Best Certificate Thesis award.
Zain currently works as a part-time Assistant Engagement Producer at Al Jazeera English. Her writings have also been published by Palestine Square and Doha News.
Also an ambitious student with a passion for learning, Ahmad Majid Al Kuwari’s journey at Georgetown has been driven by a desire to explore the world through the lens of academia, with a particular interest in Qatar’s foreign policy and defence strategies. “My love and passion for the field of international affairs and diplomacy is one of the main reasons why I joined Georgetown,” he said.
Ahmad also actively engaged in a host of extracurricular activities. He shared his experiences and insights with prospective students at admissions events and Model United Nations conferences, fostered cultural exchange through the Al Liwan Qatari Student Association, and participated in Georgetown University’s Doyle Faculty Fellows Program, which supports full-time faculty in designing or redesigning an undergraduate-level course in order to engage aspects of difference, equity, and inclusion within the classroom setting.
GU-Q’s Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service (BSFS) stresses multidisciplinary studies in a global context. It is the same program and curriculum offered at the Georgetown University Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service in Washington D.C. The BSFS degree is offered in one of four majors: International Economics, International Politics, Culture and Politics, and International History.
