The United States is exploring programmes in which it can work together with Qatar in the sectors of science and technology, health and education, among others, the US ambassador to Qatar said yesterday. The US government “is thinking of ways to partner with Qatar and Qatar’s institutions in the future… and are already exploring programmes that we can do … like with Qatar Foundation and the Qatar Science and Technology Park,” Ambassador Joseph LeBaron said during a lecture at Qatar University, in which he discussed US President Barack Obama’s address to the Muslim world, made in Cairo on June 4. LeBaron described Obama’s speech as a speech for a new beginning. “I would like you to think of the president’s speech as a declaration of intent … laying down of specific plans, programmes … policies and strategies … Policy must be transferred into strategy and strategy into plans and plans into programmes … and then it is communicated … it never really ends.” The lecture, which was organised by QU’s Department of English Literature and Linguistics as part of a study visit programme with the American University of Cairo, was attended by QU President Prof Sheikha Abdulla Al Misnad, students, faculty and staff. “It is critically important for me to be here to listen to what the students have to say. They are the future,” said LeBaron. Twenty-one students participated in the programme this year: Three from QU, six from AUC and 12 from the University of California at Berkeley, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Syracuse University, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Washington State University, University of Maryland, University of Missouri, Arizona State University, Columbia University, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and the University of Texas in Austin. During the 10-day visit, the students participated in lectures by the QU faculty on Education Reform in Qatar, Consumerism and the City in Contemporary Qatar, Women, Islam and Qatari Society, and Oil, Technology and Conflict. They also attended a lecture on Gulf-Iranian relations at Georgetown University School of Foreign Service Qatar. http://thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=Local_News&subsection=Qatar+News&month=June2009&file=Local_News2009061164119.xml

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