Qatar Foundation (QF) has taken a significant step in strengthening its global community by officially launching its UK Alumni Chapter in London. This is an exciting development for the QF alumni network. Notably, this brings together 137 accomplished graduates who are currently making their mark across British institutions and industries.
The prestigious launch event, attended by QF Vice Chairperson Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al-Thani, clearly demonstrates the foundation’s ongoing commitment to maintaining lifelong connections with its alumni. Importantly, this follows the successful establishment of QF’s North America chapter in 2024. It further highlights the growing international reach of Education City graduates.
Francisco Marmolejo, QF’s President of Higher Education, emphasized the importance of this development. He stated: “Our QF alumni network represents the living legacy of our educational mission. Specifically, these graduates are applying their Education City experience to drive innovation from London to Doha and beyond.”
The UK chapter particularly serves alumni working in diverse sectors including:
- Artificial Intelligence research and development
- Healthcare and medical sciences
- Sustainable development initiatives
- Policy and diplomatic services
- Humanitarian and social enterprises
Similarly, Sheikha Alanoud Al-Thani, a QF graduate and Economic Counselor at Qatar’s UK Embassy, highlighted the chapter’s strategic value: “This creates dynamic people-to-people connections. These complement the strong educational ties between Qatar and the UK.”
For instance, notable alumni like Dr. Basil Mahfouz perfectly exemplify the chapter’s potential. The Georgetown University in Qatar graduate now leads AI projects at University College London. He simultaneously maintains research collaborations with QF institutions. Likewise, Carnegie Mellon Qatar alumnus Ulan Seitkaliyev effectively applies his QF-honed skills as a software engineer at Bloomberg’s London offices.
Moving forward, the chapter will offer:
- Quarterly networking receptions
- Professional development workshops
- Mentorship programs pairing established and recent graduates
- Research collaboration opportunities
- Cultural exchange initiatives
Asmaa Alkuwari, QF’s Alumni Engagement Manager, explained: “This isn’t just about reunions – rather, we’re building an active professional community that creates value. This benefits both alumni and QF’s ongoing mission.”
Furthermore, the launch coincides with growing numbers of QF graduates pursuing advanced studies at Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College, and other leading UK universities. With plans already underway for additional international chapters, QF continues to strategically transform its alumni network. It becomes a powerful global force for education and innovation.
