Houston Community College and Community College of Qatar sign partnership agreement

Houston Community College Chancellor Dr. Mary Spangler, Ed.D., signs the agreement to establish Community College of Qatar.

The Community College of Qatar (CCQ), the Supreme Education Council of Qatar and Houston Community College (HCC) officially signed a partnership agreement Sunday, May 16 in Doha, Qatar. The official signatories of the agreement were Dr. Saad bin Ibrahim al-Mahmoud, the Minister of Education and Higher Education and Secretary General of the Supreme Education Council, and Dr. Mary S. Spangler, HCC Chancellor.

The $45 million, five-year contract calls for HCC to develop the community college model to meet the educational needs of Qatar under the educational reform initiatives of the Qatari government. HCC was chosen from among eight U.S. community colleges to develop a custom curriculum and institute a fully operational community college by the fall of 2010.

“We are honored to participate in the Qatari government’s vision for educating Qatar. HCC and CCQ, and the people of the United States and Qatar share the belief that community colleges play a huge role in the development of our global economy. We recognize the importance of developing a highly trained and globally competitive workforce,” said Dr. Spangler.

HCC Trustees Mary Ann Perez, District III, and Eva Loredo, District VIII, were on hand to witness the creation of the formal partnership. Also attending the ceremony in Doha were Dr. Art Tyler, HCC Deputy Chancellor and COO; William Carter, HCC Vice Chancellor of Information Technology; Gigi Do, HCC Senior Director of International Initiatives; and Dr. Stephen Levey, Associate Vice Chancellor of Instructional Resources & Technology.

HCC will initially provide qualified staff and faculty while the Qatari community college is in development. In addition, HCC and the CCQ will work together to create the operating procedures, student policies and hiring practices for the community college. The partners will develop a curriculum designed specifically for Qatari students.

Students attending the CCQ will have dual enrollment in HCC for Associate in Arts, Associate in Sciences and Associate in Applied Sciences Degrees. Credits at CCQ will transfer to major universities throughout the world.