Fatema Al-Mutawa
Doha, Qatar: With a new academic year under way, students and faculty members who have, in the past weeks, entered Qatar Foundation’s education ecosystem are experiencing the energy and excitement of new beginnings and new possibilities.
And as the early stages of their journey at Education City continue to unfold, they are sharing their experiences – and explaining how this is not just a next step in studying or a career, but a launchpad from which they can reach toward higher horizons.
After eight years in the same industry, Fatema Al-Mutawa, a new student in QF member Hamad Bin Khalifa University’s (HBKU) College of Science and Engineering, felt her sector had become saturated. She chose HBKU because of the “dynamic” learning environment of QF, and a range of networking opportunities that couldn’t be found anywhere else.
“As I’ve joined HBKU, I have felt a mix of excitement, inspiration, and nerves,” she says. “Beginning a new journey is thrilling because it opens the door to more powerful potential.
“A moment that stayed with me was when my instructor remembered me from my admissions interview. It made me feel I had already left a mark and gave me a quiet sense of belonging.”
For Fatema, new beginnings are not about starting over but about opening a new chapter in a continuing story of growth. “I see it as planting seeds now, while I have the chance, so that one day I can give back and create an impact when life becomes even busier,” she says.
Nathalie Mrad
The diversity and commitment to academic excellence that are hallmarks of the QF education landscape made Nathalie Mrad, a Laboratory Instructor at HBKU’s College of Science and Engineering, feel that Education City is the right place for her next chapter.
“What excites me most is the opportunity to inspire students at such a pivotal stage in their academic journey,” she explains. “I feel privileged to teach young engineers who may lead groundbreaking discoveries and solutions to global challenges.”
Reflecting on her first days at QF, she says: “I was struck by how welcoming and vibrant the community is. From the students to my colleagues, there is a real sense of purpose here. You can immediately feel the energy and the passion for learning and innovation.”
Mrad hopes to build a supportive and engaging lab environment where students feel confident applying theory to practice. One of the first things that stood out for her was the level of curiosity and eagerness to learn that the students in her lab displayed.
