The dynamics of international education in Qatar : exploring the policy drivers behind the development of Education City

Abstract

This paper examines the main driving forces behind the creation of Education City (EC) in Qatar. A methodological triangulation was used and data was analyzed according to the principle of Grounded Theory in order to give a more detailed picture of the City. The findings suggest that five main drivers have been instrumental in the creation of the City: the region-specific tradition to import 'best practice', regional and global competition, local education reform and policies, national liberalization initiatives, and globalization, internationalization of education, and transnational education. These findings have possible implications for policymakers and for researchers of emerging trends in education policy as well as for countries that are planning to develop similar education model or establish themselves as a regional education hub. The analysis laid the foundation for much needed future evaluation studies on the country's education policies and their impacts. The treatment of this subject from a governmental policy angle has not received nearly enough attention among scholars. This paper fills this gap in the literature and highlights important issues specific to a relatively unexplored region undergoing rapid development.