SFS-Q plans new courses, says dean

By Ross JacksonStaff Reporter

Nonneman: new programmes

The Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service - Qatar (SFS-Q) is in advanced stages of discussions with Education City and Qatar Foundation to add new programmes at undergraduate and graduate levels. SFS-Q Dean Gerd Nonneman yesterday confirmed that the university was actively exploring the possibility of providing an Executive Masters in Security Studies, which will go beyond traditional security studies to include issues such as food and energy security. SFS-Q is also considering an undergraduate programme in International History. Nonneman said no such programme is being taught in the region that will compare with the one currently proposed, and it will contribute to the capability of SFS-Q’s students and Qatar’s young leaders. Two minor programmes are also being proposed as part of a collaborative effort with other Education City institutions. These will cover the areas of Media and Politics and Science, Technology and International Affairs. Nonneman said that SFS-Q will increase the size of its student body to around 300 from the current total of 182. The SFS-Q dean said the initial expectations for the university’s student population were around 100-125. SFS-Q took in 72 students in the first year, and is set to grow the student strength further in response to the number of high-quality applications they receive from Qatar and around the world. He said the university wants to maintain the proportion of Qatari students, who currently make up about a third of the student population. SFS-Q students come from 43 countries, with a third of them being Qatar residents and the rest international students. Nonneman is also pushing for the university to increase the institution’s research output, not because it was lacking, but to make it “even more stellar and consistent.” SFS-Q faculty and student papers have been published in a number of top journals, and research is conducted by all faculty members in collaboration with students. “We want to embed research and research skills, and enthusiasm for research within the teaching.” The university’s Centre for International and Regional Studies is at the heart of much of SFS-Q’s research activities, and Nonneman would like to see this flagship institution draw in people from around the world to do their research on the Gulf from Qatar. One key initiative coming up in May is a student-organised international research conference on Middle East affairs that will bring students from top Western universities to Qatar. The students are launching an e-journal and the organisational structure that has been set up will continue to function after graduating students depart, allowing younger members to maintain its activities. Nonneman said that SFS-Q will also soon be hosting a Georgetown Leadership Seminar that will draw in young potential and “emerging leaders from around the Indian Ocean Basin and take them through a brainstorming set of sessions with key inspiring figures from around the world, including from Qatar.” Faculty and students from SFS-Q will participate in the seminar in which Qatar Airways CEO Akbar al-Baker will take part. SFS-Q is seeking to strengthen its links and deepen its roots in Qatar through a number of initiatives including school outreach programmes, research projects and cross-institutional co-operation. The university is finalising an Arabic proficiency programme, in collaboration with Qatar Foundation and other Education City institutions, that particularly targets “Arabic Heritage Learners” who aren’t proficient in the language professionally but have a background in the language. The university also recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Qatar University for research collaboration, mentorship of faculty and staff, and cross registration of students. Georgetown also recently organised a roundtable with Qatar Skills Academy to discuss the types of practical vocational skills that will be of use to Qatar’s youth that are not currently being offered. The institution also offers many lectures, workshops and seminars, and is the host of the Qatar Debates series.