Georgetown joins Qatar National Day celebrations with a focus on fun and learning at Darb al Saai

Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q) staff and volunteers welcomed visitors to the Qatar Foundation’s educational tent as part of the official Qatar National Day celebrations at Darb El Saai fairgrounds from December 8 to the 20th, 2015.

Visitors can meet with members of the Georgetown community to ask questions and learn about university life, and the degree and certificate programs offered.  Prospective students and their parents can find out about the ways in which their graduates help to diversify Qatar's economy by watching a short video highlighting Georgetown’s top Qatari alumni achievers. For the youngest visitors, there are temporary tattoos to help everyone get into the festive spirit of the celebration, as well as gifts and prizes. And visitors of all ages can test their international affairs acumen by naming the countries represented on the flags game board.

This year’s QF tent is bigger than last year’s, with more participating organizations sharing what they do with the local community. Visitors to the tent will be able to learn about what the university has to offer students in Qatar through their Doha campus, including the diversity of career opportunities that an international affairs program provides. 

"We have made it a priority to invite the local community to our campus through frequent public events that allow us to share our educational resources and expertise” said the dean of GU-Q, Dr. Gerd Nonneman. “But we are also keen to go and engage with people outside Education City. So we're delighted to take part in this year's National Day celebrations at Darb El Saai, in the big QF tent. It is a great way for for us to interact with both children and adults who otherwise might not come across us. We want them to see the real, live, caring people behind the 'brand'. We're showing them how we are helping to achieve Qatar's national development goals, and the great things young Qataris are already achieving with a Georgetown degree. We also show that international affairs can be fun as well as interesting."

The official National Day holiday is on December 18, but the Darb El Saai exhibition runs from Dec 8^th through December 20. It is a popular way for visitors to learn more about Qatar’s past, with cultural exhibits, food and other items on display and for sale. Also on display are symbols of Qatar’s present and future, from businesses and government agencies across Qatar. This is the second time Qatar Foundation has hosted a tent at the Darb El Saai fairgrounds, and the second time GU-Q has participated in the event.