Georgetown University Introduces Community Classes for the Public in Arabic and English

2 March 2015

Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q) is offering the inaugural evening community classes at the Georgetown Building on a wide range of topics in English and Arabic. The six week course runs in the evenings from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm once a week starting March 15 on topics such as comparative religious perspectives; contemporary issues in Gulf studies; Arab politics; innovations in digital learning, using online learning; how to appreciate Arabic poetry; great philosophers and contemporary world events; Islam and contemporary issues; the history of the Middle East; and Sports Education. This initiative provides Qataris and residents of Qatar an opportunity to make learning a part of their busy lives. GU-Q hopes to provide the knowledge and resources for working professionals and members of the wider community to meet their educational goals.

Dr. Amira Sonbol, professor of history and chairperson of the GU-Q Faculty Council helped to develop the community class curriculum, explained who would benefit from enrolling in these courses: “There are many busy working professionals in Qatar who would love to pursue a stimulating evening course and advance their education. At Georgetown, we believe we have a duty to reach out to Qatari society and offer what we do best here to the wider community.”

Dr. Khalid W. Bibi, Associate Dean for Academic Programs, Georgetown-Josoor Initiative, will be teaching a special course entitled “Sports Education and Exercise Science: Contemporary Issues & Relevance to Qatar.” Dr. Bibi stated: “Qatar has made tremendous investments in the sports sector, and in the process, created many opportunities for employment and growth that will endure well into the future. My class will teach how this sector is shaping Qatar’s future and how to contextualize these newly emerging professions in a manner that meets the nation’s religious and cultural priorities as well as its strategic goals.”

Dr. Joshua Mitchell professor of political theory, who will be teaching a community education course titled “Great Philosophers and Contemporary World Events,” remarked, “one of the many tasks of a university is to reach out to the community of which it is a part and, where possible, offer classes that help its members rise to the challenges they face–as citizens, as employers and employees, as family members, and as individuals.” Remarking on the prospect of teaching a completely new type of student at Georgetown in Qatar, he added: “While I thoroughly enjoy teaching college-age students, I really look forward to teaching those whose college years are behind them, but who have not forgotten that the important issues of the day require a deeper sort of inquiry that universities provide.”

The registration is now open online at: https://www.qatar.georgetown.edu/cc