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In 2003, the State of Qatar engaged the RAND-Qatar Policy Institute to assist Qatar University, the nation's first and only public higher education institution, with reform of its major administrative and academic structures, policies, and practices. This monograph summarizes that reform effort, which formally lasted from October 2003 through January 2007. The authors recount the motivation for reform, describe the design of the reform agenda, and detail the early stages of the implementation effort. They conclude with a reflection on the reform strategy, including the key elements that made the reform possible, the difficult choices that reform leaders had to make, and the challenges that lie ahead for the reformed Qatar University. Five appendices are included: (1) Senior Reform Committee Members; (2) Qatar University's Vision and Mission Statements; (3) Conceptual Framework for the Qatar University Reform Project; (4) An Exercise in Decentralized Planning and Decisionmaking: Developing a University-Wide Academic Plan; and (5) Improving Faculty Development and Accountability: The Faculty Performance Appraisal System. (Contains 7 figures, 6 tables and 33 footnotes.) [This report was written with Mohammed Al Hamadi and Sheikha Jabor Al Thani.]

Although Qatar has improved its post-secondary educational opportunities, the country's efforts have not undergone a broad strategic review. This study analyzed the extent to which the current offerings can meet the country's future needs and identified priorities for developing further educational options. Researchers found that Qataris' current educational and employment choices do not fully align with labor demand and that the current educational options do not cover all needed skills. They recommend several options to address the gaps in Qatar's post-secondary educational offerings. [This research brief describes work documented in "Post-Secondary Education in Qatar: Employer Demand, Student Choice, and Options for Policy," by Cathleen Stasz, Eric R. Eide, and Francisco Martorell, 2007 (ED501591).]