News Article

Representatives from the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and College of the North Atlantic (CNA) are in Qatar this week to take part in 10^th anniversary celebrations of the college campus and participate in 2013 graduation ceremonies. The decade-long successful relationship between Newfoundland and Labrador and the State of Qatar marks an historic milestone in the delivery of quality post-secondary education on a global scale.
 
“The College of the North Atlantic-Qatar campus is a world-class facility and I am pleased to represent the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador during this special celebration in the 10-year history of the campus,” said the Honourable Felix Collins, Minister for Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs, who will be speaking at the graduation ceremonies. “There is a lot to celebrate – the Qatar campus is marking 10 successful years of preparing students to seek out global career opportunities. Today, it is Canada’s largest post-secondary campus located outside our borders.”
 
The celebrations provide an opportunity to recognize the success of this historic partnership between Newfoundland and Labrador and the State of Qatar. Valued at nearly $1 billion, College of the North Atlantic-Qatar (CNA-Q) is the largest post-secondary international contract ever awarded to an institution in North America. CNA receives more than $10 million annually from the Qatar operations and reinvests this revenue in programs and services throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. All 17 CNA campuses throughout the province have benefitted from this contract.
 
The college continues to plan for the future needs of the booming oil and gas industry. Significant training opportunities are also on the horizon as the State of Qatar unfolds Qatar Vision 2030 and prepares to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
 
“Our 10-year relationship with the State of Qatar has seen College of the North Atlantic grow in prominence on a global scale, while our employees and their families have had the opportunity to work in an international setting in one of the fastest-developing countries in the world, bringing the value of this experience back to Newfoundland and Labrador,” said Anne Marie Vaughan, President of College of the North Atlantic. “We have a wonderful project happening there and we look forward to working with our Qatari partners toward the continued growth of the institution to the benefit of all of Qatar and indeed the entire Middle East region.”
 
The growth and success of CNA-Q in the past decade has exceeded all expectations. CNA-Q began with 300 students and 11 programs. Today, the campus is educating more than 2,500 students in 37 programs. In 2013, thousands of CNA-Q alumni, along with numerous industries, governments and other groups and organizations, are reaping the benefits of the extraordinary relationship forged between Newfoundland and Labrador and the State of Qatar.