Former US president Bush and texas governor rick perry among dignitaries to attend multi-billion engineering facility inauguration
Doha - Former US president George H W Bush will be among the dignitaries attending the opening of the new engineering building of the Texas A&M University at Qatar (Tamuq) at the Education City this evening.
H H Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al Missnad, Chairperson of the Qatar Foundation, will open the facility at a ceremony which will also be attended by H E Abdullah bin Hamad Al Attiyah, Qatar's Second Deputy Premier and Minister of Energy and Industry, Texas Governor Rick Perry, Texas A&M University Interim President Eddie J Davis, among others.
The multi-million dollar engineering building complex becomes yet another jewel in the crown of the Education City with its unique architectural style and world-class educational and research facilities. It is believed to be among the largest and most technologically-advanced facilities of its kind in the world.
Construction of the building was carried out with the technical and administrative support of the Qatar Petroleum. Tamuq's neighbour institutions in Education City are Virginia Commonwealth University, Weill Cornell Medical College, Carnegie Mellon University and Georgetown University.
The 55,000 square-metre facility was designed by world-famous architect Ricardo Legorreta of Mexico. Yesterday, he attended a press conference at the new engineering building premises, along with senior officials from the Qatar Foundation, Tamuq and the main campus of Texas A&M University in the US.
Talking to The Peninsula later, Legoretta said he had tried to integrate some unique features of Islamic architecture into the building design.
" I was deeply influenced by Islamic architecture. Water and sun light are the two major themes from Islamic architecture, that I have used in this building," he said, while explaining the idea behind the fountains and pools as well as the open areas, he had profusely used in the design. The Arabic calligraphy inscribed on the ancient-looking walls of the building also adds to its traditional ambience.
The purpose-built facility provides classrooms and research laboratories that will be equipped with the finest tools and technologies available, rivaling the top education and industry facilities currently operating worldwide. Tamuq will become the first university in Education City to offer a graduate degree and engineering research programme next year. Major initiatives at the complex's interdisciplinary research center will address the needs of importance to Qatar and the Gulf Region, said Dr Mark Weichold, Dean and CEO of Tamuq.
"One unique feature of all institutions at the Education City is that they combine both teaching and research. Another common thing is that they seek partnership with the industry and business sectors in Qatar," said Mohamed Fathy Saoud, board member of Qatar Foundation and its Higher Education Advisor.
He added that the engineering programmes at Tamuq have been designed to meet the demands of the oil and gas industry in Qatar as well as the local job market.
Eddie J Davis said, "This facility will further advance our partnership goals of educating some of Qatar's future leaders while enhancing Texas A&M's reputation by contributing to better cross cultural understanding within the Gulf region and throughout the world."
Texas A&M, recognised as having one of the premier engineering programs in the world, has offered accredited undergraduate degrees in chemical, electrical, mechanical and petroleum engineering in temporary quarters at its Qatar campus since 2003. In addition to engineering courses, Tamuq provides supporting classes in science, mathematics, liberal arts and the humanities.
The Qatar Campus currently has 185 students, 55 per cent of them Qataris and 40 per cent expatriates. The remaining are from the Middle East and other parts of the world. The campus is expected to enroll 500 to 600 students in four years, said Mark.
Dr David Prior, Executive Vice President and Provost, Texas A&M University and Dr G Kemble Bennett, Vice-Chancellor and Dean of Engineering, Tamuq, were also present at the press conference.
© The Peninsula 2007
