Qatar Foundation, HBCUs launch new mobility partnerships
New study-abroad agreements announced at NAFSA 2026 between the Qatar Foundation (QF) and three US historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) offer a glimpse into how patterns of international student mobility may be becoming more geographically diversified.
The agreements, signed with Hampton University, Xavier University of Louisiana and Prairie View A&M University, come amid shifting enrollment trends and efforts to broaden the diversity of US institutional engagement in the Middle East.
The changing tides of global mobility
During his NAFSA address, Dr Francisco Marmolejo, higher education president at the Qatar Foundation, pointed to changing international enrollment patterns that are prompting institutions to look beyond traditional destinations.
“The global student mobility system is shifting from a US-centric model toward a more multipolar landscape characterised by increasingly distributed talent flows,” Marmolejo told University World News.
“In recent years, this transition has become more evident. For example, international student arrivals to the United States declined by 19% in August 2025 compared to the previous year, with particularly sharp decreases among graduate students from Asia, Africa and the Middle East.”
At the same time, institutions in the Gulf are seeing growing demand. Marmolejo noted that applications to universities in Education City for the 2026 to 2027 academic year increased by 24%, while enrolment rose by 12% within a single year.
He also pointed to growing interest among US students in gaining international experience, including at institutions that have historically had less visibility in global higher education, such as HBCUs.
The US perspective: Broadening horizons
For the participating institutions, the agreements are intended to expand international opportunities for students and strengthen institutional engagement abroad.
In statements published by the Qatar Foundation, officials from the participating universities emphasized the value of these new ties. Robert Pompey, senior vice-president for Business Operations and Finance at Hampton University, said the partnership with the QF “reflects a shared commitment to global education, cultural understanding and academic excellence”.
“The agreement enriches and empowers Hampton University students through study abroad and other international opportunities while advancing the Qatar Foundation’s mission to expand and strengthen the educational experiences of HBCU students,” Pompey said. “Together, both institutions benefit through collaboration, innovation and meaningful global engagement.”
Dr Yu Jiang, director of International Education at Xavier University of Louisiana, told University World News that the partnership represents an innovative model.
“Exploring a relationship with the Qatar Foundation and its Education City hub represents an innovative model where multiple world-class institutions coexist,” Jiang said. “This environment could create opportunities for our students to engage with different academic practices, analyse distinct institutional models and learn alongside international peers.”
Jiang emphasized the value of broadening the traditional study-abroad map to observe international approaches in fields such as technology, health and development.
“By participating in this type of academic environment, students might bring back fresh insights and analytical approaches that enrich our own campus conversations in New Orleans,” he added.
At Prairie View A&M University, Dr Godlove Fonjweng, assistant vice-provost for Global Engagement and Partnerships, described the initiative as a catalyst for "transformative global learning opportunities.”
“This collaboration reflects the university’s longstanding commitment to academic excellence, cultural exchange and preparing students to lead and thrive in an interconnected global society,” Fonjweng added, anticipating “meaningful experiences and relationships that will emerge from this partnership.”
A broader ecosystem for HBCUs
This outward-looking approach aligns with a wider movement within the sector to expand global footprints. Julian Thompson, senior director at the UNCF (United Negro College Fund) Institute for Capacity Building, noted that such internationalization is rooted in the very fabric of these institutions.
“HBCUs were never institutions built for one place or one people,” Thompson told University World News. “From their founding, they drew scholars, missionaries and visionaries who understood that the expansion of education was a global project. It is entirely natural, then, that HBCUs today are seeking partnerships that expand access to higher education for communities that have been shut out of it.”
He highlighted that study abroad is central to preparing students for global realities, adding that exposure to regions like the Gulf can be transformative.
“When an HBCU student steps onto a campus in West Africa or the Gulf region, something shifts – in them, in their sense of what is possible, in their understanding of who they are in the world,” Thompson explained. “That experiential grounding cannot be replicated in a classroom.”
Navigating regional tensions
However, the ongoing regional conflict involving the US, Israel and Iran has necessitated logistical adjustments to the new agreements.
Dr Abdulnassir Al-Tamimi, executive director of student services at the Qatar Foundation Higher Education, who led the agreements for the Qatar Foundation, confirmed to University World News that the tensions have directly impacted the timeline.
“Yes, the ongoing tensions have affected the study abroad start dates and we had to make adjustments to the agreements,” he said. “For instance, the one semester study abroad programme was supposed to start this fall 2026 semester but due to the conflict we had to move it to spring 2027.”
He added that contingency plans are in place depending on how the situation develops. “We agreed that should the tensions escalate then we would move the start dates of both the cultural immersion programme (which was supposed to start in the December 2026 winter break) and the one semester study abroad experience to a later date in 2027.”
From the US side, participating institutions are strictly adhering to security protocols. Shifting to the conflict's potential impact, Jiang emphasised that monitoring global conditions remains paramount.
“For Xavier University, the safety and well-being of our students, faculty and staff are our highest priority,” Jiang explained. “The University continuously monitors global safety conditions and does not authorise university-approved study abroad programmes to any countries or territories designated as Level 3 (‘Reconsider Travel’) or Level 4 (‘Do not Travel’) by the US Department of State Travel Advisories at the time of scheduled travel.”
The nuts and bolts: Programme structure
Regarding the structure of the initiative, Al-Tamimi said it features two tracks: a short-term cultural immersion programme and a semester-long academic exchange.
“For the first cultural immersion programme, we expect around 20 students and two faculty members from two universities to participate during the December 2026 semester break,” Al-Tamimi explained.
“The group will spend approximately five to seven days in Qatar, where they will be introduced to the QF and its ecosystem as well as the wider cultural, educational and social landscape of the country.”
The programme will include visits to the QF partner universities, heritage sites and museums. Following this, the semester-long study abroad programme will begin in Spring 2027.
“It is expected to begin with four students from two HBCUs joining the QF partner universities,” Al-Tamimi said. “These students will enroll in courses for one full semester, study alongside students from Qatar and many other countries and become part of the Education City campus community.”
To ensure the initiative’s success when travel resumes, the programme is designed to reduce financial barriers that can limit access to international study opportunities.
“The programme is sponsored by the Embassy of the State of Qatar in Washington, DC, which reflects its commitment to supporting educational and cultural exchange between Qatar and the United States,” Al-Tamimi noted. “The aim is to reduce financial barriers for students and make the opportunity more accessible.”
The multiversity ecosystem
Students participating in the programme will be integrated into Education City, which hosts branch campuses of international universities alongside Qatari institutions.
Dr Amir Dhia, Higher Education Manager at the Education Above All Foundation (EAA), who co-presented with Al-Tamimi at NAFSA on inclusive education and scholarship programmes, highlighted the support systems available to visiting students.
“Hosting HBCU students in Education City allows Qatar to present itself as a center of global education of excellence, intercultural exchange and leadership development,” Dhia stated. “I am fully confident that the HBCU students will take advantage of and most benefit from, the inclusive student support services offered through the unique Multiversity Model in Education City in Doha.”
The model allows students to cross-register for courses across institutions within the same campus.
Reciprocity and long-term soft diplomacy
The QF leaders framed the initiative as a reciprocal partnership benefiting both visiting students and the Education City community.
“The broader goal of the Qatar Foundation’s partnerships with historically black colleges and universities is to create meaningful academic, cultural and stronger people-to-people connections between Qatar and the United States,” Al-Tamimi remarked.
“At the same time, the presence of HBCU students in our classrooms will enrich the learning experience for students at the QF partner universities by bringing new perspectives, histories and experiences into the Education City community.”
Broader strategy of engagement
Clarifying the practical scope of this reciprocity, Al-Tamimi told University World News that the initial phase is focused exclusively on hosting US students in Doha. “It is a one-way mobility which is for HBCU students to come to Qatar,” he said.
However, he noted that while there are currently “no plans so far on reciprocity" regarding Qatar-based students travelling to the US, the Foundation will consider it "once the partnership matures".
Looking ahead, Marmolejo and Al-Tamimi said the initiative is intended as part of a broader strategy to expand engagement with non-traditional US institutions, including additional HBCUs in future years.
“These collaborations can expand the diversity of institutional engagement. By involving HBCUs, Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) and community colleges, we broaden the profile of U.S. institutions active in the Gulf,” Marmolejo explained.
“This not only enriches the Gulf’s academic ecosystem but also internationalises campuses in the United States that have historically had less access to global engagement.”
He added that such partnerships could create opportunities for new forms of experiential learning, including internships and entrepreneurship initiatives linking higher education and economic development.
“Finally, and perhaps most importantly, these collaborations can build enduring people-to-people connections grounded in mutual understanding and respect,” Marmolejo concluded.
“Over time, this contributes to trust, soft diplomacy and long-term institutional alignment – laying the foundation for sustained cooperation that extends well beyond individual programmes. In short, the broader impact we envision at the QF is the emergence of a more reciprocal, inclusive and innovation-driven partnership model.”