SHEIKHA MOZAH SUPPORTS IDEA OF CONGRESSIONAL FIELD

UNCLAS DOHA 000130

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

H PLEASE PASS TO CONGRESSMAN HINOJOSA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL OEXC SCUL KPAO QA
SUBJECT: SHEIKHA MOZAH SUPPORTS IDEA OF CONGRESSIONAL FIELD
HEARING AT EDUCATION CITY

--------------
(SBU) KEY POINTS
--------------

-- Sheikha Mozah, wife of the Amir and head of the Qatar
Foundation, told Ambassador on February 9 that she supported
the idea of a congressional field hearing at Education City
to highlight the role that the six U.S. universities there
play "not only for us, but for America."

-- She noted that most American visitors to Qatar "know more
about the military base than the 'education base,' whereas of
the two, this is the base that is more important to your
future."

-- The Sheikha, in an apparent reference to educational
endeavors in the United Arab Emirates, warned Ambassador that
"some" were seeking to turn American education into a
commodity for sale, but American education must preserve the
"noble quality" that Education City was seeking to promote.

--------------
(SBU) COMMENTS
--------------

-- Embassy strongly supports more congressional interaction
with Education City, not only to learn more
about this massive, multi-billion dollar investment in the
region's future, but also to help identify and guide
opportunities for more branch campuses of U.S. educational
and scientific institutions in Doha.

-- We think the idea of a field hearing, first proposed by a
CODEL led by Rep. Ruben Hinojosa in November, 2008, which
focused on Education City, is a good one: bold and novel.

-- Embassy is sending a letter to Congressman Hinojosa
informing him of Sheikha's Mozah,s support, expressing
Embassy support for the concept, and asking him if he, as
Chairman of the Sub-Committee on Higher Education, is still
interested in conducting in Doha an overseas field hearing on
Education City.

END KEY POINTS AND COMMENTS



1. (SBU) Following up on the November visit of a
congressional delegation led by Congressman Ruben Hinojosa,
which focused on the six U.S. university branch campuses at
Education City, Ambassador called February 9 on Sheikha Mozah
bint Nasser al-Misned, wife of the Amir and Chairperson of
Qatar Foundation, the organization that oversees Education
City. Ambassador raised the Congressman's idea of exploring
the possibilites of conducting a congressional field hearing
at Education City to highlight for Congress and the American
public the massive undertaking of these universities.


2. (SBU) Sheikha Mozah said it was a good idea that would
also allow the Qataris to share their experiences in
launching this endeavor. "We were the first," she explained,
"and many thought we were crazy for making such a huge
investment." A congressional hearing would be an excellent
way for Qatar "to convey certain messages to Americans."
Most visitors to Qatar, she lamented, "know more about the
military base than the 'education base,' whereas of the two,
this is the base that is most important" to America's future.



3. (SBU) One message that she would like to get across is
that "American education is noble, and needs to be kept
noble, not turned into a commodity for sale." Universities
are not "shopping malls," she said, but "we are very worried
by what we see happening around us as people rush to try
doing something similar. We want to brag about Education
City because what we are doing here is unique."


4. (SBU) Sheikha Mozah explained that Education City was
also undertaking exciting initiatives "that you don't even
see in America," such as creating a consortium among all six
universities, and offering a university/business platform
with strong support at the Qatar Science and Technology Park.
Discussions about bringing in an American community college
were also underway, the Sheikha said, and that she would
update the Ambassador as soon as these were finalized.
LeBaron