Nada Tamer Mohamed Reda Abdo, from Egypt, is graduating in Interior Design from QF international partner university Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar
With a highly diverse international student body and a uniquely collaborative academic ecosystem, Qatar Foundation is redefining education diplomacy
Doha, Qatar: Qatar Foundation has positioned itself as a powerful hub for education diplomacy, where international students are not just learners but active participants in a global exchange of ideas, cultures, and perspectives.
With 59 percent of its Class of 2026 made up of international students, representing nearly 80 nationalities, Qatar Foundation’s (QF) ecosystem offers a rare environment in which cross-cultural engagement is embedded into everyday academic life – an opportunity inaccessible to many students worldwide.
QF’s unique model brings together branch campuses of leading international universities, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and exposing students to different educational philosophies, cultural norms, and problem-solving approaches. This unique ecosystem enables students from diverse backgrounds to interact meaningfully, challenging assumptions and broadening worldviews through shared experiences – skills that are increasingly vital in an interconnected world.
Nada Tamer Mohamed Reda Abdo
Nada Tamer Mohamed Reda Abdo, from Egypt, is graduating in Interior Design from QF international partner university Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar, and (VCUarts Qatar). She said: “While I am an Interior Design student, I was able to collaborate across institutions, take film courses at Northwestern University in Qatar [also a QF international partner university], participate in international workshops, and travel abroad for academic programs.
“That interdisciplinary freedom allowed me to grow in ways that a single-discipline education may not have offered.”
Education City provides a unique environment where global perspectives exist within a local context, and she explained that her exposure to visiting designers, international festivals, cross-campus collaboration, and cultural institutions strengthened both her academic development and personal confidence.
“Overall, my time here has helped me grow not only as a designer, but as a more confident, globally aware individual. It taught me how to take initiative, represent my community, and pursue opportunities beyond expectations. I leave with gratitude for the environment that allowed me to experiment, lead, and evolve.”
Musab Masri Hamid
Musab Masri Hamid, from Sudan, is an Audiovisual Translation graduate from QF member Hamad bin Khalifa University’s (HBKU) College of Humanities and Social Sciences. He explains that, during his time at QF, he valued the uniquely diverse environment that brought together students, scholars, and institutions from around the world, creating opportunities for meaningful dialogue and cultural exchange. He also served as a mediator between students and the Dean’s office, advocating for clearer communication, improved support systems, and greater inclusivity – particularly for international students.
Hamid says his involvement in campus events and university-wide initiatives reinforced his belief that leadership is most effective when grounded in service and collaboration, and that he hopes to take these values with him. “As I move forward, I carry with me the lessons learned here – the importance of collaboration, inclusion, and responsible global citizenship,” he said.
“I hope to continue applying these values beyond the university by contributing to more accessible media, fostering cross-cultural understanding, and working toward initiatives that create meaningful and lasting impact for diverse communities.”
Malika Assanseitova
Malika Assanseitova, from Kazakhstan, is graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Communication at Northwestern University in Qatar. “I’d never heard of Qatar until I was accepted,” she said. “But studying in Qatar has changed my life in ways I couldn’t have imagined. I’ve built a home and a community here.
“The friends I’ve met in Qatar have helped me discover new cultures and new ways of thinking, and my professors have supported me both academically and professionally. As I graduate, I’m thinking about global citizenship less as a label and more as a responsibility, one that shows up in the choices I make, the work I contribute to, and the way I treat the communities I’m part of.
“Studying in Qatar taught me what it means to live inside a truly international environment, where perspectives, languages, and lived experiences constantly challenge your assumptions. That experience comes with an obligation – to stay curious, to listen before speaking, and to use my education to serve more than my own success.”
QF’s Convocation ceremony is held annually to celebrate students graduating from its higher education ecosystem, which includes HBKU and its seven international partner universities: Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar, Georgetown University in Qatar, HEC Paris, Doha, Northwestern University in Qatar, Texas A&M University at Qatar, VCUarts Qatar, and Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar. This year’s Convocation will take place at Qatar National Convention Centre on May 6.
