Georgetown and the National Committee for the Prohibition of Weapons sign an MOU

MOU Signing

Georgetown students in Education City will soon be taking an increasingly active role in raising awareness about the international conventions prohibiting nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons, with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between The National Committee for the Prohibition of Weapons (NCPW) in the Qatari Ministry of Defense, and Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q).

Signed recently, this collaboration seeks to involve university students in NCPW activities and events related to the prohibition of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) through an NCPW internship for up to two students, and through a series of other joint programs between the two organizations.

The dean of GU-Q, Dr. Gerd Nonneman, explained the rationale behind the partnership, saying: “Both Georgetown University and the NCPW are in full agreement that WMDs pose a security risk locally, regionally, and globally. We also agree that awareness about WMDs is crucial, and through this MOU, we are committing to the responsibility of raising this awareness in our community.”  

Focusing on the impact of the MOU on students, the dean continued, saying: “The study of international affairs and global security, which provides the necessary backdrop to understanding the key issues surrounding these risks, are central to the curriculum we offer students here at GU-Q. This newly signed MOU provides for a wide array of joint activities and programming we hope will further impact our students’ awareness of the effort to reduce proliferation and to lessen these risks. I am very proud of this partnership, and I look forward to the positive outcomes of this cooperative effort.”

 “The MOU between The National Committee for the Prohibition of Weapons and GU-Q is an advanced step towards equipping and enhancing awareness among universities students on the dangers of weapons of mass destruction by involving them in Doha Regional Training Center activities related to weapons agreements,” said Brigadier (Air) Hassan Saleh Al-Nesf, Deputy, Chairman of the NCPW. He continued, saying: “Students are also encouraged to conduct research and theoretical studies while NCAE provides them with expertise in such a way that both parties complement each other to cover different aspects of the agreement. The aim is to contribute to strengthening the role of Qatar in its ongoing quest to promote international peace and security.”

Georgetown has previously hosted the first and fourth NCPW Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Awareness Workshop on their campus, and through the MOU, will continue to host the Workshop for university students on a biyearly basis. 

Beyond the student internship and hosting the workshop, the agreement also includes encouraging student research projects related to WMD Conventions, and extending access of the GU-Q Library and other resources to NCPW staff.

In turn, NCPW agrees to extend invitations to GU-Q students and faculty to visit their headquarters for workshops, lectures, and meeting with experts to learn about the practical aspects of international conventions. The initial period of time for the agreement is three years, after which there is an option for renewal of the agreement.