Georgetown University: School of Foreign Service in Qatar

Doha, Qatar — On Tuesday 17 June, The School of Foreign Service in Qatar (SFS-Qatar) connected to Polycom Japan headquarters where eight resellers had the opportunity to learn more about SFS-Qatar's experience using Telepresence technology. Johnathon Chapman, Chief Information Officer at SFS-Qatar, talked about how the school chose the product and the decision-making process to adopt the Telepresence technology.

John Taylor Hebden, a Student Affairs Officer and Teaching Assistant at SFS-Qatar gave the perspective of students and faculty in using Telepresence technology as a learning tool. "This technology makes you feel as if you are sharing a seminar room,” Hebden said. “You do not get a sense that you are talking to a screen." Hebden hopes to see more schools adopting the same system as it opens more venues for global academic interaction. According to Hebden, connecting to universities from Southeast Asia is also a smart use of time zone differences, as it does not compete with the time zones in the United States. Therefore, SFS-Qatar students can enjoy the benefit of connecting to universities in both regions in the same day.

After the SFS-Qatar presentations, Polycom Japan demonstrated a multipoint call establishing a connection between Polycom in Japan, SFS-Qatar in Doha, and Polycom in Singapore.

The demonstration introduced the Telepresence technology to universities in Japan. Representatives from seven universities viewed the connection from Polycom Japan’s Telepresence system to SFS-Qatar’s system asking questions on the unit’s application and use in the SFS-Qatar curriculum. These universities were University of Tokyo, Kyushu University, Keio University, Kagoshima University, United Nation University, National Museum of Engineering Science and Innovation, and Japan E-learning Association.

In February 2008, the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar launched its Global Classroom to link its campuses in Washington, DC, and Doha, Qatar. The system, which uses RPX™HD technology, is used to deliver undergraduate courses to and from Washington. Since the system makes the technology more transparent, it allows for natural interaction between students and faculty. The system allows students in Qatar to take classes from well-known professors in Washington, DC. At the same time, it allows students in Washington to learn from the world-class faculty that are located in Qatar.

Located in the capital city of Doha, the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar is the first branch campus of the Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown. The program provides a 4-year undergraduate degree in international politics to students from the Middle East and around the world. The Global Classroom initiative is designed to help provide a consistent learning experience between the campuses.