Computing and the
Middle East
John Impagliazzo
Qatar University
MENA Countries
Algeria
Bahrain
Djibouti
Egypt
Iraq
Iran
Israel
Jordan
Kuwait
Lebanon
Libya
Malta
Mauritania*
Morocco*
Oman
Palestine
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
Sudan*
Syria
Tunisia
Turkey*
UAE
Yemen
Qatar University
National (public) university, established in 1973
Student population = 7245 in 2008
Bipartite campus: Percent Female/Male = 60/40 approx
Note: Qatar population = 3.12 males for every female
Graduates Total: Over 30,000
Graduates 2008: 1,182 total; 891 females, 75% females
Seven colleges:
Education, Arts and Sciences, Sharia and Islamic Studies,
Engineering, Law, Business and Economics, and Pharmacy
Computing undergraduate programs
Engineering (CS, CE) and Business (MIS)
College of Engineering (2008)
Programs
Architecture [F]
Chemical [F& M]
Civil [M]
Students
1061 Total
316 Freshmen
417 Foundation
Computer Engineering [F]
Computer Science [F & M]
Electrical [F & M]
Industrial [F]
Mechanical [M]
Staff
66 Faculty
19 Academic support
21 Non-academic support
Computing Programs in COE
Computer Engineering (128 ch)
Computer Science (120 ch)
COE Courses (20 ch)
Math and Science (30 ch)
Compulsory Courses (12 ch)
Math (18 ch)
COE Elective Courses (8 ch)
Science (12 ch)
College Requirements (45 ch)
Computer Science (53 ch)
Basic Science (24 ch)
Core (19)
Basic Engineering Courses (21 ch)
Advanced compulsory (16)
Dept Requirements (63 ch)
Compulsory Courses (54 ch)
Elective Courses (9 ch)
Electives (18)
University requirements (32 ch)
Free Electives (5 ch)
More Qatar Universities
Education City
Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar (VCUQ) [1998]
BFA degree in communication design, fashion design or interior design
Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar (WCMC-Q) [2001]
Two-year pre-medical program + four-year medical program leads to Doctor of Medicine degree
Texas A&M University at Qatar (TAMU-Q) [2003]
Undergraduate degrees in chemical, electrical, mechanical and petroleum engineering.
Masters programs in engineering and science [2007]
Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar (CMU-Q) [2004]
Undergraduate degrees in business, computer science programs; information systems [2007]
Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar (SFS-Q) [2005]
Four-year program leading to a bachelor's degree in foreign service
Northwestern University in Qatar (NU-Q) [2008]
Degree programs in journalism and communication
Other Universities
College of the North Atlantic, University of Calgary, Stenden University
United Arab Emirates
(UAE)
Federation of Seven Emirates
Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman
Umm al-Quwain, Ras al-Khaimah, Fujairah
UAE University, College of Information Technology
B.S. in IT (Computer Systems Design)
B.S. in IT (Electronic Commerce)
B.S. in IT (Enterprise Systems)
B.S. in IT (Intelligent Systems)
B.S. in IT (Information Security)
B.S. in IT (Networking)
B.S. in IT (Software Development)
UAE has approximately eighty universities
Abu Dhabi Universities
Abu Dhabi University BSc, MSc, BA, MA, MBA
Al Hosn University MBA, MEng, BEng, MEd, BEd, BBA
Khalifa University of Science PhD, BE, MSc
Masdar Institute of Science and Technology MSc, ME, MEng, PhD
New York Institute of Technology Abu Dhabi MBA, Master, BA, BS
New York University Abu Dhabi BA, BSc
Paris Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi LMD, ECTS, Masters, Bachelors
Strathclyde Abu Dhabi MBA, MSc
Zayed University Abu Dhabi BA, BEd, BSc, MA, MSc, MEd, MBA
Dubai Universities
Al Ghurair University BBA, BSc, BA
Manipal University Dubai BA, BBA, BE, BSc, MBA, MSc
American University Dubai BArch, BBA, BFA, BIT, BSc, MBA
Michigan State University Dubai BSc, MSc, MA
Boston University Dental School Dubai Postgraduate
Middlesex University Dubai BA, BSc, MA, MSc, MBA
British University in Dubai MSc, MEd, PhD, PGDE
Murdoch University Dubai MBA, Bachelor degrees
Canadian University of Dubai BSc, MBA
Pune University Dubai MBA, MSc, BBA, BCA, BBT, BE, BSc
Cass Business School Dubai Executive MBA
RCSI Dubai MSc
Centennial University of Dubai
Rochester Institute of Technology Dubai MSc, Certificates
Dubai Polytechnic
Russian University Dubai Bachelor, Master's degree
Dubai University College
St Joseph University Dubai Arabic / Lebanese LLB
Duke University Dubai Masters, MBA, EMBA
Strathclyde Dubai MBA, MSc
European University College Brussels Dubai
Szabist Dubai BBA, BIT, BS, MBA, MSc
French Fashion University Dubai BA,
UAE University Knowledge Village
Fuqua School of Business Dubai
University of Atlanta Dubai online only
Hamdan eTQM University BA, MA, MSc
University of Dubai
Harvard Medical School Dubai Postgraduate
University of Jazeera BBA, BSc
Heriot Watt Univ Dubai BA, BBA, BSc, BEng, MA, MSc, PhD
University of New Brunswick Dubai BISc, MBA
Hult Dubai MBA
University of Phoenix Dubai Bachelors, Masters, MBA
Islamic Azad University BSc, MSc, MBA, PhD
University of Sunderland PGCE PGCE
London Business School Dubai Executive MBA
University of Waterloo Dubai BE, BEng, CFA, PRM
Mahatma Gandhi University Dubai MBA, BBA, BCom, BSc
University of Wollongong Dubai BBA, BCom, BIT, MBA
Manchester Business School Dubai MBA, DBA
Zayed International College BSc
Zayed University Academic City BA, BEd, BSc, MA, MSc, MEd, MBA
Gender Issues
Mixed throughout the MENA region
Generally not a major consideration
Efforts underway to engage more women in ICT, business, and entrepreneurial activities
World Bank Report
“Information and Communication Technologies for Women’s Socio-economic Empowerment ”
(2009 June 30)
◦ Gender differences are not apparent in all countries in all areas of ICTs; it is important to
look at different contexts to tease out where barriers may exist (such as education, income
levels, culture, human rights, etc.)
◦ When discussing gender digital divide, we refer to several divides: in access, in usage, in
content‘s availability, in content‘s utility, in IT labor markets, in contribution to IT industry,
and in access to ICT education at all levels; from primary to higher education, with focus on
access to sciences and technology fields.
Final Thoughts
Datum point:
2009 entry CS class at QU
# Females = 25 # Males = 9
Few real CS jobs in Qatar and beyond
CS graduates go to related fields
Hardware and software development minimal
Accreditation
Generally ABET oriented
However, …
Affinities
Sincere respect for ACM/IEEE/AIS curricula recommendations
Western countries could learn from computing educational activities in the MENA region