Doha, June 09 (QNA) - Education Above All (EAA) Foundation, a global foundation for education and development, in partnership with the General Directorate of Endowments, celebrated the achievements of students benefiting from the Qatar Scholarships Program, honoring graduates and academically outstanding students, welcoming the eighth cohort of beneficiaries.

HE Minister of Education and Higher Education Lolwah bint Rashid Al Khater, Director General of the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) Fahad bin Hamad Al Sulaiti, Director General of the General Directorate of Endowments Eng. Hassan bin Abdullah Al Marzouqi, along with a number of Their Excellencies the Ambassadors, including HE Ambassador of the State of Palestine to the State of Qatar Faiz Majed Abu Al Rub, HE Ambassador of the Republic of Yemen to the State of Qatar Rajeh Hussein Farhan Badi, HE Ambassador of the Republic of India to the State of Qatar Vipul, in addition to presidents of universities and directors of partner institutions attended the ceremony.

During the event, approximately 45 graduates of the program were honored, and around 55 academically outstanding students were recognized, alongside welcoming the new cohort of beneficiaries.

The evening also highlighted the program's social and educational impact in supporting resident students, ensuring them fair access to higher education and enabling them to continue their academic and professional journeys.

The event marked a significant milestone in the program's journey, as it represented the successful achievement of its strategic target of 500 scholarships.

This reflects The Education Above All Foundation and its partners' commitment to supporting inclusive and sustainable education, and to empowering young people to build a better future through fair and equitable access to higher education.

These efforts come with the generous support of the General Directorate of Endowments.

The event program included official remarks from supporting and partner entities, as well as a video presentation highlighting the program's journey and achievements.

The event also witnessed the recognition of partner educational institutions, in appreciation of their pivotal role in supporting student beneficiaries and enhancing the quality of educational opportunities available to them.

In this context, Chief Executive Officer of EAA Mohammed Saad Al Kubaisi said: "The Qatar Scholarships Program in Qatar Event is an occasion to celebrate the achievements of our students and renew our commitment to empowering young people through quality education.

The Program's achievement of its strategic target of 500 scholarships reflects the strength of the partnership with the General Directorate of Endowments, , in addition to the support of the Program's partner universities: Qatar University; the University of Doha for Science and Technology; Qatar Foundation, including Texas A&M University at Qatar, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Northwestern University in Qatar, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, and Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar; Lusail University; Oryx University in partnership with Liverpool John Moores University; Qatar Finance and Business Academy in partnership with Northumbria University; Al-Rayan International University College in partnership with the University of Derby; the Global Studies Institute in partnership with Arkansas State University; the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies; and City University Qatar in partnership with Ulster University, and reaffirms that investment in education is an investment in people, society, and the future. 

We believe that every student who receives a fair opportunity to access higher education represents a new story of hope and an additional step towards more inclusive and sustainable development."

For his part, Director General of the General Directorate of Endowments Eng. Hassan bin Abdullah Al Marzouqi said: "Education is the cornerstone of societal progress and the most important pathway to empower youth and open new horizons for them.

Guided by this vision, the General Directorate of Endowments works to support educational opportunities for students across various disciplines, reaffirming its mission to promote knowledge and innovation in a way that strengthens investment in human capital.

"He added: “The Qatar Scholarship Program is a practical example of the impact of waqf in supporting education and empowering students. 

The Program has successfully reached the milestone of 500 scholarships in collaboration with Education Above All Foundation and partner universities and institutions.

This achievement embodies the Endowment's guiding principle, 'Waqf is a community partnership,' and reflects its pivotal role in supporting education and advancing community development."

The Qatar Scholarship Program in Qatar, affiliated with EAA Foundation, is one of the leading educational initiatives aimed at supporting non-Qatari resident students from marginalized families through the provision of annual scholarships in partnership with higher education institutions in the country, thereby contributing to their academic and professional empowerment and strengthening their future contribution to their communities.

This event also contributes to advancing the strategic objectives of Education Above All Foundation and the General Directorate of Endowments by raising awareness of the importance of education for less privileged groups, highlighting the impact of strategic partnerships in achieving sustainable educational outcomes. (QNA)