H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser yesterday met the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, at City Hall in the British capital and discussed collaboration in science, technology and education. Two memorandums of understanding were signed between Qatar Foundation and leading organisations and government departments in the UK. A R AlBaker
London: H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation met with the Mayor of London Boris Johnson and Minister of Culture, Ed Vaizey, in London yesterday to discuss Qatar and the UK’s mutual interest in developing areas of collaboration in science, technology and education.
During the meeting Sheikha Moza shared the importance of promoting Arabic language, culture and civilisation and recognised the Mayor’s serious interest in the pursuit of education and research initiatives in the Arabic language as part of the Qatar-UK Year of Culture.
The meeting marks the latest in a number of initiatives planned during the Qatar UK 2013 Year of Culture.
Sheikha Moza, the Mayor of London, and the Minister of Culture also gathered at City Hall to witness two Memorandum of Understandings (MoU) being signed by Qatar Foundation with leading organisations and departments in the UK.
The first MoU was signed between Qatar Foundation; the UK Department for Business, Innovation and Skills; the UK Higher Education International Unit and the British Council to establish a bilateral forum focusing on research and education.
Dr Saoud, the President Qatar Foundation said: “There is a desire to develop the creative potential of young people as well as to support their interests in a wide range of fields. This is at the very heart of Qatar Foundation’s mission and by working with leading UK institutions to encourage greater cooperation in arts and culture, our mission can be further advanced.”
The second MoU was signed to support teaching and learning of Arabic language and culture across UK schools.
Dr Saoud said that the projects aim to significantly increase the number of students learning Arabic, increase the number of those teaching Arabic, and improve understanding of the Arab world across the UK. Qatar Foundation supports a large number of projects in collaboration with UK institutions and universities, which also serve Qatar’s needs in developing human capacity and earning recognition as an important generator of knowledge across the world.
The latest was last week with the inauguration of University College London Qatar.
Dr Saoud also mentioned the long strategic partnership with Imperial College London in research, robotic surgery, Biobank, and the Qatar Cardiovascular Research Center.
A landmark project with the British Library will digitise over 500,000 pages of historical material relating to the Gulf region from the India Office Records and medieval Arabic manuscripts and will be made accessible online for the first time.
The Peninsula
