Doha, July 28 (QNA) – Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF) has announced that it will embark upon a collaborative project with Harvard Law School s (HLS) Institute for Global Law and Policy (IGLP). The agreement is part of an initiative of Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) to establish a Qatar graduate law school with three integrated pillars: a doctoral programme, a research institute, and a faculty development programme.
Under the terms of the arrangement, Qatar Foundation will support HLS and IGLP initiatives to extend their reach for legal education across the world. As part of the collaboration, IGLP will provide advice and expertise to Qatar Foundation as it seeks to establish a law school in Qatar, a world-class graduate legal institute. IGLP will offer advice in the development of the law school s academic programme, admissions policy, and exchange of academic and administrative know-how.
At present, IGLP runs a yearly workshop at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. This respected project will be replicated in Qatar, allowing young scholars of law and policy from around the world to convene for discussions in Doha on an annual basis.
The first of these workshops will take place from January 4-14, 2013. It will provide opportunities for concentrated collaboration between both faculties and researchers, with a focus on areas of specific interest to the Middle East. The workshops will, it is hoped, improve scholarly networks for participants within the Arab and Islamic worlds by connecting them with their international peers. This ambition represents a key element of Qatar Foundation s mission to broaden the knowledge base of Qatar, the region, and the world.
Commenting on the agreement, Qatar Foundation President Dr Mohammad Fathy Saoud said, “We are delighted to announce this collaboration with one of Harvard Law School s elite institutes. Qatar Foundation s mission to unlock human potential resonates with the stated aims of the Institute for Global Law and Policy to foster innovation and policy dialogue so as to address pressing issues of global policy. I am confident that, by working closely together, both Qatar Foundation and Harvard can achieve their shared vision.
“At the heart of this cooperation is Qatar Foundation’s vision to establish a centre of learning that will help revitalise legal education in the Middle East, and represent Islamic and Arabic legal traditions in the global dialogue on legal and governance issues.”
The collaboration strengthens Qatar Foundation’s growing reputation as a world-leading educational establishment.
“I welcome this valuable partnership with Harvard Law School s Institute for Global Law and Policy. Our mission is to establish a distinguished and world-class law school in Qatar. By working closely with one of Harvard Law School s elite institutes, we are confident that we will achieve our goal and cultivate a strong legal education in Qatar,” said His Excellency Dr Abdulla bin Ali Al-Thani, President of HBKU and Vice President of Education at Qatar Foundation. “We look forward to this collaboration and to offering researchers and academics within Qatar and across the region the opportunity to benefit from Harvard s extensive knowledge and expertise in this field.”
Representatives from Harvard Law School and the Institute for Global Law and Policy expressed their enthusiasm for this new collaboration with the Foundation and look forward to extending and deepening links between Harvard Law School and Qatar as the project advances.
“It is an honour to have been asked to help advise Qatar Foundation as it develops its plans to build a world class law school in Qatar,” said Harvard Law School Professor and IGLP Director, David Kennedy. “Our own faculty development initiative, to be launched this year, will become a strong component in that broader effort and strengthen education in law and policy both in Qatar and the Arab region and beyond. Indeed, we see strong prospects for helping Qatar become a hub for convening young scholars and supporting faculty development and research.”
Professor Kennedy s view was echoed by the Dean of Harvard Law School, Martha Minow. “The law school is proud of the research collaboration and training undertaken at IGLP and we appreciate Qatar Foundation s confidence in our work,” she said. “We hope this will be the start of a rich and broad-ranging collaboration with the Foundation as they strengthen their own contribution to legal education.” (QNA)
