Most CMU students know that the university has a campus in Doha, Qatar, but few know much about it. During spring break, a group of CMU students from various majors travelled to the Qatar campus to sit in on classes, attend events, meet students and faculty, and explore the city of Doha. The purpose of the trip was to strengthen the ties between the two campuses. Qatar students spent the previous week at the Pittsburgh campus. The students will now act as ambassadors for the campus in Doha. They are currently working to get the word out to Pittsburgh students about the opportunities to visit and study abroad in Doha by sharing their stories and experiences. The program was organized by IMPAQT (Initiating Meaningful Pittsburgh and Qatar Ties) Freshman Global Studies major Julia Constantine was one of the seven students on the trip. Julia is also working to complete the Arabic Language Certification Program. She has been studying Arabic for three years and was excited that CMU offered an opportunity to study in the Middle East.
The group became very close during the nine day trip. Julia said, “One of the most rewarding parts of the program was how close our group became. Though we came from different majors and were different ages, we grew close throughout our week together. We spent the week traveling and rooming together, growing individually and as a team. This program gives you the opportunity to form strong connections with individuals outside of your major and dormitory.” The trip allowed the students to make connections and learn things they never could in a classroom. Describing another favorite memory of eating dinner at the home of a Qatari family, Julia said, “The family opened their home and hearts to us, displaying an amazing amount of hospitality. We stayed well into the evening, sharing stories and laughter. It was our interaction with the individuals both on and off campus that taught us the most about the culture and people in Doha. Through the IMPAQT trip I was able to gain a level of understanding about the city and people of Doha that no class or book could ever provide.” In addition to attending classes and meeting with people, the students also visited Al Jazeera, drove through sand dunes in the desert, and explored the local souk at night.
Julia has wanted to visit the Qatar campus since she applied to CMU. “I had learned about the CMU campus in Qatar when I was applying to Carnegie Mellon,” said Julia, “and the CMUQ campus was a major factor for me in deciding to enroll at CMU. Even more importantly, however, CMU’s commitment to the Qatar campus told me that I would be part of a community with a global perspective, one that placed a high value on fostering intercultural connections. What interested me most about CMU’s Qatar campus is the opportunity to be part of a global community. When I visited the campus, I was not disappointed. Every day I was on campus I would end up deep in conversation with students from all over the world, discussing things such as the Arab Spring or veto power in the U.N.”
Julia said that she hopes as many students as possible can have the experience she had at the Qatar campus. There are currently five majors offered, and students can also take classes from other universities. “It may sound clichéd,” said Julia, “but I really do believe that my generation needs to be part of the global community, to be true global citizens. The CMU Qatar campus seems to me to be a place where this is starting; students from diverse backgrounds can come together at this campus to start making this vision a reality. It is a place where intercultural understanding can truly be fostered. I hope that every CMU student gets a chance to contribute to this community and help cultivate the intercultural connections and visions being formed.”