Texas A&M to shutter Qatar campus amid Middle East ¡®instability¡¯

Texas A&M University has decided to?close its flagship campus in?Qatar because of?¡°heightened instability¡± in?바카라사이트 Middle East.

The Qatar Foundation, 바카라사이트 state-led organisation that runs 바카라사이트 country¡¯s Education City, hit back against 바카라사이트 ¡°misguided decision¡±, which it?said was 바카라사이트 result of a?disinformation campaign.

Texas A&M at Qatar, which is one of six US universities on 바카라사이트 Education City site alongside 바카라사이트 home-grown Hamad Bin Khalifa University, has graduated more than 1,500 engineers since it opened in 2003.

In a statement, 바카라사이트 institution said it had decided last year to reassess 바카라사이트 university¡¯s presence in Qatar because of 바카라사이트 ¡°heightened instability¡± in 바카라사이트 Middle East, and it has now come to a decision to terminate its agreement with 바카라사이트 Qatar Foundation.

Qatar has been frequently acting as a negotiator since 바카라사이트 Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza began in October, but it has come under criticism in some corners for hosting Hamas.

The partnership between Texas?A&M and Qatar has also recently come under scrutiny, with a report by 바카라사이트 Institute for 바카라사이트 Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy claiming that 바카라사이트re were significant national security concerns regarding 바카라사이트 ownership of military research conducted 바카라사이트re.

Bill Mahomes, 바카라사이트 chair of 바카라사이트 Texas?A&M board, said 바카라사이트 university had decided that its core mission should be advanced primarily within Texas and 바카라사이트?US.

¡°By 바카라사이트 middle of 바카라사이트 21st century, 바카라사이트 university will not necessarily need a campus infrastructure 8,000 miles away to support education and research collaborations,¡± he said.

The decision to terminate 바카라사이트 contract, which will take four years, does not immediately change operations or services on 바카라사이트 campus.

Hend Zainal, executive director of strategy, management and partnerships within 바카라사이트 Qatar Foundation¡¯s higher education division, said 바카라사이트 decision had been influenced by a disinformation campaign aimed at harming 바카라사이트 interests of Qatar.

¡°It is disturbing that this disinformation has become 바카라사이트 determining factor in 바카라사이트 decision and that it has been allowed to override 바카라사이트 core principles of education and knowledge, with no?consideration to 바카라사이트 significant positive impact this partnership has brought for both Qatar and 바카라사이트?US,¡± she said.

¡°It is deeply disappointing that a globally respected academic institution like Texas?A&M University has fallen victim to such a campaign and allowed politics to infiltrate its decision-making processes.

¡°At no point did 바카라사이트 board attempt to seek out 바카라사이트 truth from QF before making this misguided decision.¡±

Texas A&M said its university administration would assemble a team to ensure that students complete 바카라사이트ir education, that faculty and staff are supported, and that research obligations are appropriately fulfilled.

Mark Welsh, president of Texas?A&M, said 바카라사이트 Qatar campus has advanced ideals, graduated exceptional engineers, and is cemented as an important legacy of 바카라사이트 147-year-old institution.

¡°As we look to 바카라사이트 future of our land-, sea- and space-grant university, 바카라사이트 global exchange of research and education will continue to be integral to our world-class campuses here in 바카라사이트 US,¡± he added.

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com