The Celebration

On November 11, 2024, CMU-Q welcomed alumni, community partners, faculty and staff to celebrate 20 years of impact in Education City.

Multimedia exhibit

At the celebration, alumni, community partners, honored guests, faculty and staff explored the past, present, and future of CMU-Q in a multimedia exhibit.

Our Story

Academics and Research

Qatar Foundation Partnership

Alumni Impact

Community Partners

Our People

Inspiring the Youth of Qatar

Art and Architecture

Carnegie Mellon celebrates 20 years in Qatar Foundation’s Education City

Her Excellency Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani attends to recognize two decades of impact

Doha, Qatar – November 11, 2024 – More than 300 alumni returned to Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the campus in Education City, and a shared commitment and vision to providing world-class education in Qatar that continues to unite the university and Qatar Foundation.

At the Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar 20 year anniversary celebration, seven graduates shared how their education set them on the path of meaningful careers that are making an impact.

“Qatar Foundation opened its doors to all of us at a very special time, not just for us as individuals, but also for us as a country. As we were growing up within the bounds of these walls, our nation was growing with us and was catapulting onto the world stage. And that meant that within the classroom, we had access to live, real examples in real time. We owe a lot to QF, we owe a lot to CMU, and especially to this partnership between them.”

Nofe Al-Suwaidi
Business Administration, 2011
Acting Director, International Cooperation and Development, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

“In terms of research in my field of genomics and cancer research, all of the coursework in biology and computer science is very relevant. CMU-Q’s interdisciplinary focus and academic rigor is excellent preparation for students who are interested in working in these disciplines. But our professors also encouraged us to become critical thinkers. Now as I teach, I also try to push the students to investigate how and why certain things work the way they do.”

Noora Al-Muftah
Computational Biology, 2016
Assistant Professor, Qatar University

“We’ve seen paradigm changes in language technologies almost every two or three years since I graduated. What CMU does is it teaches you to become a quick learner. Of course we learned algorithms and knowledge in general, but we also learned to quickly take in new knowledge and become an expert at it. And that has been the defining property of my CMU education, and it has made going through all of these paradigm changes so much easier.”

Fahim Dalvi
Computer Science, 2014
Senior Software Engineer, Arabic Language Technologies, QCRI

“For the artistic installations that I create, I draw on the human-centered design that I learned in Carnegie Mellon. One of my latest exhibitions was at the International Day to Protect Education from Attack. At the event, a recent Palestinian evacuee told me that she was very glad that my artwork could help convey her experience to people around the world. It’s fascinating that ideas that started in an information systems class at Carnegie Mellon can be adapted to inspire change in this way.”

Farjana Salududdin
Information Systems, 2017
Chief Operating Officer, STA
Interactive and new media artist

“I think what differentiates a Carnegie Mellon education are the soft skills. The emphasis on leadership and organizational behavior is core to the four year program. The business environment is very dynamic, and change is the only constant, and CMU trains good leaders who can navigate change.”

Mohammed Al-Hardan
Business Administration, Class of 2009
Head of Technology, Media & Telecom Investments (TMT) at Qatar Investment Authority

“The CMU-Q approach starts with this: what can I do to make the world a better place? And education is the first step. At CMU, the education is very interdisciplinary. We learned marketing, we learned sales, and we developed the skills to recruit a team of experts, to agree on a single vision, and to achieve that vision. All of these things are important in shaping a better future.”

Abdulla Al-Khenji
Information Systems, 2015
Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer, Flare Business

“The environment here fosters a sense of curiosity and innovation, encouraging us to think critically and embrace the unknown. Now I find myself applying the skills and knowledge I gained during my time at CMU every single day. Carnegie Mellon didn’t just teach us theories; it equipped us with the practical skills and mindset geared toward problem-solving. We were taught the foundation to navigate the complexities of our interconnected world.”

Abdulrahman Darwish Fakhroo
Business Administration, 2024
Financial analyst, Qatar National Bank