A Q&A With UCL
Brett Kershaw is the Marketing Officer for UCL Qatar,
Why did the UCL decide to set up a campus in Qatar?
University College London in Qatar What: Museum studies,
conservation and archeology Best for: Indiana Jones wannabes Tell me more: This partnership between UCL, one of the UK’s leading multidisciplinary universities, Qatar Foundation and Qatar Museums Authority has brought the first British University to Qatar. The institution offers a number of postgraduate programmes, including Master of Arts and MPhil/PhD, in Archeology, Conservation, Cultural Heritage and Museum Studies. To further support your studies, UCL staff and students will have a presence at Qatari museums, archaeological sites and conservation facilities. Apply: www.ucl.ac.uk/qatar
Save sort out your finances, no student likes to be in debt from day 1!
june Issue qatar.indd 21
We came to Qatar at the invitation of Qatar Foundation and Qatar Museums Authority. Both organisations recognise the importance of cultural heritage studies. Prior to now, very little in the way of archaeology, conservation and museum studies teaching has been offered in the Gulf. By providing these subjects in Qatar, it helps educate a new generation in the protection of cultural heritage and the management of museums and galleries. UCL Qatar will not only act as a centre of teaching, but also a centre of research. UCL’s Institute of Archaeology is Europe’s largest and one of its most prestigious. From there alone we have relocated a number of research projects of great significance to Qatar.
What are the main areas of study that the UCL Qatar will initially offer?
Our overall specialism is cultural heritage studies. We have three subjects that we will be teaching: archaeology, conservation and museum studies, all Master’s and PhD degrees. The programmes are also quite unique in that they have been tailored to have a specific focus on Qatar, the Gulf and the region. So they are new and innovative programmes that have been carefully pieced together, rather than being replicas of existing programmes that are taught back in London.
How has it been working with the Qatar Foundation and Qatar Museums Authority to establish a campus in Qatar?
Working with QMA has been a delight. We’ve delivered our first series of short courses to QMA staff, focusing on issues as diverse as
ceramic repair and organising an international art exhibition. A number of QMA staff have even applied to study on our degree programmes and we very much look forward to their arrival. And Qatar Foundation have given us the tools and support to make this operation a success, not least supporting us in developing phenomenal laboratories and teaching facilities on the second floor of the Georgetown Building, where we are housed.
How has initial interest in courses at UCL Qatar been?
Very positive. The Museum and Gallery Practice MA is our most popular. There really is a lot of interest in museums and galleries as a potential career path amongst the local population, and in particular from female students. The Conservation Studies MSc is doing very well too in terms of the number of high quality applications it has attracted. Archaeology is probably seen as the least glamorous of the three, but interestingly we have attracted a number of excellent applications from overseas for this course.
What are the future for UCL Qatar?
We’re concentrating on establishing our Master’s programmes for the time being. We also look forward to expanding our research portfolio and welcoming PhD students. We welcome our first intake of students in September 2012. It’s a very hectic time as we prepare for this, but we are very excited to get our degree programmes up and running. One of the next things on our horizon is the launch of our new website, which again will be a great vehicle in helping to attract future students to come and study with us. We are very proud to be flying the flag as the first British university in Qatar! FACT QATAR JUNE
21 31/05/2012 16:38