Education Above All, Qatar Fund For Development join hands to offer 1,200 scholarships for disadvantaged youth

AMMAN — Education Above All (EAA) Foundation, with the support of Qatar Fund For Development (QFFD), through Qatar Scholarship Programme, has entered into a cooperation agreement with the American University of Beirut (AUB) and Luminus Technical University College (LTUC) to develop scholarship programmes.

The programme will award scholarships to 1,200 disadvantaged youth over the next four years, according to an EAA statement.

QFFD signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the relevant ministries in Lebanon and Jordan in support of the programme.

The Qatar Scholarship Programme, implemented by EAA’s Al Fakhoora programme, will serve vulnerable Lebanese, Jordanian, Palestinian and Syrian youth and allow them access to quality education, student support services and civic engagement opportunities. 

The programme will also enable students to participate in extramural events, such as conferences and workshops, and opportunities to engage with Qatari educational institutions and organisations.

Additionally, top students from both universities will be selected to study abroad in Qatar at some of the country’s leading universities under the scholarship programme.

At Luminus Technical University College in Jordan, this programme will award 800 scholarships to Syrian and Palestinian refugee youth, as well as vulnerable Jordanian youth. It will allow them to complete their higher education at the diploma, associate degree and bachelor’s degree levels. 

At the American University of Beirut in Lebanon, the programme will support 400 socio-economic disadvantaged Lebanese and refugee youth in pursuit of an undergraduate degree. 

The scholarships at AUB come at a time when Lebanon is facing one of the worst crises in its history, with over half of its residents pushed below the poverty line, the statement said. 

Khalifa Bin Jassim Al Kuwari, the director general of QFFD, said: “At QFFD, the support of quality education is positioned in the forefront of supporting communities around the world. We believe that the support of education results in empowering the youth and therefore they will be able to build a community that nourishes and brings justice and peace. The scholarships offered to refugees through the Qatar Scholarship Programme will enable youth to expand their knowledge and gain expertise to build a bright future for themselves and their communities.”

EAA’s CEO Fahad Al Sulaiti said: “We remain committed to our mission to raise educational opportunities despite the many challenges, particularly for students from vulnerable and marginalised backgrounds. Jordan is facing complex challenges brought about by the economic impacts of COVID-19 and the ongoing refugee crisis, while Lebanon is reeling from the pandemic and is home to the world’s highest number of refugees per capita. Through our new partnerships, we aim to ensure that the next generation of students across the region can continue learning despite all difficulties.”

The Qatar Scholarship Programme is part of a five-year expansion in which EAA commits to awarding 4,000 scholarships throughout the Middle East and North Africa region and beyond.

Ibrahim Safadi, CEO and Founder of Luminus Education Group, said: “Luminus has always been a firm believer in youth, and our goal is to help them enhance their quality of life by equipping them with the tools they need to build a better future, which is why we strive to provide our students with high-quality, demand-driven, technical and practical education that is powered by technology and reinforced with practical experience to facilitate their smooth transition to the job market. Our partnership with EAA’s scholarship programme helps us to reach even more of those who are in dire need of such opportunities.”

AUB Deputy Provost, Lina Choueiri, PhD, said: “We are excited to partner with EAA for the Qatar Scholarship Programme, which will strengthen AUB’s efforts to further extend access to high quality education to disadvantaged youth from across Lebanon, including those from its large refugee population. This agreement could not come at a more critical time, as Lebanon’s economical and financial crises adding a heavy burden on higher education institutions.”

Both Lebanon and Jordan are host approximately 1.5 million and 1.3 million Syrian refugees, respectively, thereby putting additional strains on the two countries’ educational systems and infrastructures. As a result of the deteriorating situation, educational exclusion, particularly among the most disadvantaged youth, is deepening, the statement said.