Qatar Foundation, University College London (UCL) and Qatar Museums Authority have signed a partnership enabling UCL to offer its master's degrees in the areas of museum studies, conservation and archaeology at Education City in Doha.

UCL joins the ranks of seven hand-selected international universities at Education City offering their top programmes to the region's youth.

"University College London has consistently been ranked among the world's greatest universities, and its achievements in the fields of archaeology and museum studies have been particularly striking,” said Dr Abdulla bin Ali Al Thani, vice president for education of Qatar Foundation.

“I know UCL will add greatly to the intellectual and cultural life of Qatar.  It is a significant milestone in the history of Qatar Foundation that a British university is to establish a campus at Education City,” he added.

UCL Qatar will provide professional training courses beginning in spring 2011 for the staff of Qatar Museums Authority, a statement said.

Two-year master's programmes in museums and conservation practice and in Arab and Islamic Archeology will be on offer starting 2012. Courses include research projects based on early iron in Sudan and Bronze Age Egyptian glass.

These will be two of the many class options available to students.  In the next five years, the goal is to have 145 local and international students matriculating on campus, the statement said.

David Willets, UK Secretary of State for Universities and Science, said: "I know that as Qatar develops its exciting plans for further new museums, UCL will, through professional training, partnerships with local universities and schools, research programmes and an archaeological fieldwork unit provide a ready source of expertise and experience to help make these projects globally renowned.”

Sheikha Al Mayassa Bint Hamad Al Thani, chairperson of Qatar Museums Authority, said: "Our agreement among University College London and Qatar Foundation today is an important milestone in our mission to develop cultural institutions of excellence in Qatar.”

“Through locally administered training programmes, our researchers, conservators and museum professionals will be able continuously to enhance their skills and remain up-to-date in their practice.  We also look forward to benefit from the new graduate programs in museum studies, conservation and archaeology which will feed our future projects with qualified specialists,” she added.

"We are delighted to be able to confirm the opening of our new campus in Doha for 2011," said Professor Michael Worton, UCL vice-provost (academic and international).

"UCL has strong values, and we are thrilled to be starting work with our tremendous partners, Qatar Foundation and Qatar Museums Authority, with their shared commitment to community development through education, training and research,” he added. – TradeArabia News Service