Al Faisal Without Borders Foundation (ALF) has launched the new Sheikh Faisal Centre for Entrepreneurship in the Middle East at the DePaul University’s Driehaus College of Business in Chicago, US.

The new centre is aimed at fostering entrepreneurship through exchange programmes that will allow DePaul University students to study abroad in Qatar, which giving Qatari students the opportunity to go to Chicago to work with business college faculty and alumni, said a statement.

The long-term collaboration will support entrepreneurship and business development in Qatar and the Middle East, it said.

Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al-Thani, chairman of ALF, who inaugurated the centre, said: “Today’s launch marks a milestone for entrepreneurship for students at DePaul University and students in Qatar. Qatar has launched many initiatives to support enterprise and is investing heavily to enhance opportunities in the private sector in Qatar, providing many first-class educational facilities to support the next generation to become tomorrow’s leaders achieve success.”

Ray Whittington, dean of the Driehaus College of Business, said: “Our faculty and successful alumni entrepreneurs look forward to working with emerging entrepreneurs from Qatar and throughout the Middle East to support their continued development into a thriving, professional class.  The center will also provide a great opportunity for DePaul students to gain real-world experience on an international stage.”

The centre will also hold an annual conference in Chicago that will convene an international audience of business leaders in an effort to expose students to the business world.  

It will serve as a source of professional knowledge for Qatar entrepreneurs and those who do business in the Middle East.  Sheikh Faisal will also host a business competition in Qatar for emerging entrepreneurs.

“Al Faisal Without Borders Foundation is a strong supporter of Qatar’s vision and this agreement will help to accelerate knowledge transfer, which is very important for success in business,” Sheikh Faisal said.

“With a booming economy and excellent educational system we are sure that this center will foster the entrepreneurial spirit and help to fuel Qatar’s thriving economy.”

The Sheikh Faisal Centre will facilitate a Young Entrepreneur Academy that develops new generations of Qatari and US entrepreneurs and business leaders through student exchange programmes, said the statement.

DePaul plans to host a group of Qatari students each summer on its Chicago campus where they will work with business college faculty and alumni entrepreneurs to apply entrepreneurship theory and practice in developing their own business plans, it said.

Additionally, a group of Driehaus College of Business students who are enrolled in programmes related to business development in the Middle East will have the opportunity to participate in a study abroad programme in Qatar, it added. - TradeArabia News Service