Qatar Foundation has partnered with WOQOD to provide financial support to 61 students currently enrolled at two of its higher education institutions, Hamad Bin Khalifa University and Texas A&M University at Qatar.

Established this year, the WOQOD grant aims to ease financial barriers and support students in pursuing their education. Aligning with Qatar Foundation’s (QF) belief in inclusive education, the initiative is intended to help students achieve academic success and personal development.

Francisco Marmolejo, President of Higher Education and Education Advisor, Qatar Foundation, said: “At Qatar Foundation, a key priority is to make sure that every student – regardless of their financial background – has access to the quality and world-class education that is being offered by universities established in Education City. 

“Support from partners like WOQOD plays a vital role in this mission. Their generous grant helps ease the financial burden on many of our students, allowing them to focus on their studies, get involved in campus life, and grow personally and professionally. The support from WOQOD helps benefited students to unlock their human potential and prepares them to be great professionals with a sense of solidarity and appreciation.”

Kholood Darwish, from Lebanon, is a student at QF partner university Texas A&M at Qatar (TAMUQ) and a recipient of the inaugural grant. “This award means a lot to me – not only to me, but to my family, too,” she said.

“I’m really glad to have this opportunity. I believe it will motivate me – I can focus harder on my future, work harder on my courses, and it gives me a greater sense of responsibility.”

Mohammed Mansour, from Egypt, is a fellow grant recipient who is also studying at TAMUQ, and said: “It will encourage me to do better, and become a better version of myself as an engineer and a leader, as this opportunity motivates me to strive for other opportunities in the future when I face the real world and the job market.”

Beshr Alsioufy, a student from Syria at Hamad Bin Khalifa University, shared how the grant will positively impact his academic journey. “This grant eases financial pressure, allowing me to focus more on my studies and participate in extracurricular activities,” he said. 

“It opens doors to research, internships, and networking opportunities I might not have been able to access otherwise. And after university, I plan to work in AI and software development, contributing to tech solutions that make a real impact.”

The selection process for the award included assessing academic merit, financial need, and community involvement, as well as potential recipients’ alignment with the core values of both WOQOD and QF.

Dr. Abdulnassir Tamimi, Executive Director, Student Services, QF, said: “WOQOD’s  commitment to education is truly commendable, especially in its focus on supporting engineering students. Through a dedicated student fund established under a partnership between QF and WOQOD, this grant provides these future innovators – 61 students from Hamad Bin Khalifa University and Texas A&M University at Qatar – with the financial stability needed to excel in their studies and pursue groundbreaking research.

“By easing financial constraints, WOQOD empowers students to immerse themselves fully in their academic journey, engage in hands-on learning, and develop the skills required to drive technological advancements. Their support ensures that talented students, regardless of their background, can thrive and contribute meaningfully to the world as skilled engineers and responsible professionals.”

For more information about QF’s student financial services, please visit: www.qf.org.qa/education/higher-education/financial-aid