Pandas sent by China arrive in Qatar ahead of World Cup as a sign of growing influence
The vast majority of the hundreds of thousands of international students who arrive in Qatar each year arrive as part of a state sponsored program designed to expand the country’s pool of talent.
But during the six years the foreign student program has been running one thing has remained consistent; the vast majority of the students are from China, often at the expense of the other international students.
In 2017, just 16% of international students were from other nations despite Qatari authorities’ efforts to recruit and retain more international students, according to the Ministry of Education. The vast majority of this was from China, with around 75% of students arriving from China and around 20% from other countries such as India and the United States.
This disparity between other international students and Chinese students is the most important factor behind Qatar’s record-setting World Cup in 2022, which has raised hopes for a significant boost to the country’s domestic economy.
But as the country’s first World Cup in 40 years, Qatar may not have to worry about the country’s ability to provide the needed skilled workforce for the event.
As it turns out, the biggest challenge facing Qatar is not its ability to attract skilled foreigners, but rather to retain them after they arrive.
This is because the Qatari government has a history of recruiting talented international students, but instead of retaining them after they graduate, has instead used the students’ skills to help boost the country’s economy. This is especially true since the vast majority of these students are from China.
Despite this, Qatar’s World Cup-related achievements have been widely recognized around the world. With more than 2,100 fans turning out in the capital of Doha, Qatar’s first World Cup appearance has had a positive impact on Qatar, according to researchers.
Doha is a city of contrasts. It is a hub for the global oil industry and a city with a vibrant, vibrant nightlife centered around its four major