Qatari involvement in higher education in the United States

In the 21st century, Qatar and other authoritarian countries have increased financial involvement in a wide scope of institutions of higher education in the United States, through the granting of significant financial donations amounting to billions of dollars.

In recent years, following the publication of reports on the subject of antisemitism in the United States, critics have argued that this financial involvement has strengthened antisemitism in higher education institutions in the US. The discourse regarding funding from authoritarian governments also includes claims that they compromise academic ethics and contribute to the erosion of democratic and liberal norms with respect to freedom of expression and academic freedom on campuses in the United States.

Influence
In 2022, a report by the Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI) identified Qatar as the most significant foreign donor to American universities. The research revealed that from 2001 to 2021, US higher education institutions received US$13 billion in funding from foreign sources, with Qatar contributing donations totaling $4.7 billion to universities in the United States. According to the report, the institutions did not disclose these donations as required by law.

The report raised the possibility that universities, indifferent to the nature of their major donors, may also demonstrate indifference to the growing issues of antisemitism on campus.

The report found that, in addition to Qatar's involvement in universities, it invested millions of dollars in public relations campaigns and engaged in lobbying in the United States. However, Francisco Marmolejo, QF’s president of higher education said, “Qatar Foundation is not in the business of buying, or attempting to buy, influence in U.S. higher education institutions.” He further mentioned that all six U.S. universities at Education City, including NU-Q, have individual contracts specifying the funding arrangements for their respective campuses.

According to a study published by the National Association of Scholars (NAS), a conservative education advocacy organization that opposes multiculturalism, Qatari donations are given systematically, and the universities receiving these donations are selected methodically. Often, these universities have branches in Qatar itself. Northwestern University's Education Department reported receiving over $600 million from Qatar after establishing its branch in the country (NU-Q) in 2007. Funding from the Qatari government began with donations to the university, continued with support and funding for American scholarships, and extended to funding research programs and hospital projects.

Northwestern is one of six American universities that established branches in Qatar, with each university specializing in a different field. In addition to NU-Q, which is primarily engaged in communication studies, universities that established branches in Qatar include Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar focusing on medical education and Georgetown University in Qatar specializing in government and politics. Beyond financial support, the branches of universities located in Qatar allow them access to Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF) grants, in accordance to Qatar Foundation's Qatar Research, Development, and Innovation Council (QRDI) policy.

According to an article published in 2014, unrecorded funds from sources such as the tobacco industry, oil and gas, and pharmaceutical companies were identified as contributors to universities in the United States. The report specifically highlighted Qatari funds, which according to the report have been used in order to shape political and societal narratives in the Western world. An article published by the Oxford University Press noted that the development of relationships with universities in the United States was presented as a form of "soft power."

Impact on democratic and liberal norms in the United States
The impact of Qatari involvement has led to speculation that the funding has led to the compromising of academic independence of recipient institutions. Media outlets have asserted that several prestigious academic institutions in the United States were opaque about their funding from Qatar, raising concerns about the potential influence of a nation defined as "ultra-conservative" on esteemed academic institutions. Apart from academic institutions, Qatar's influence extends to international organizations, publishing companies, including Audience Partners Worldwide, and the public relations and lobbying company BlueFront Strategies. Critics speculate regarding the depth and breadth of Qatar's influence on various aspects of academic and research institutions.

The NCRI investigation found a correlation between educational institutions receiving illicit funding and organized efforts or campaigns aimed at imposing sanctions on academic researchers. These campaigns include various means, such as scrutinizing the activities of researchers, attempting to undermine their work, proposing their removal from their positions, or even suspension or termination of their employment.

The Lawfare Project also examined Qatar's involvement in the American education system through the Qatar Foundation International (QFI) and expressed concerns regarding the biased presentation of content related to the Middle East. This biased approach highlights positive aspects of Islam while sidelining balanced discussions about other religions, particularly Judaism. Another survey by the project indicates that when the United States is exposed to details of foreign funding for higher education institutions, concerns are raised about Qatar's influence in shaping classroom content and discussions on campuses.

Approximately 200 colleges and universities in the United States concealed information regarding about $13 billion in unreported donations from foreign countries, much of which originating from Qatar.

Antisemitism in the United States
Reports on antisemitism in the United States indicated that between 2015 and 2020, institutions receiving funding from Middle Eastern donors experienced, on average, a 300% higher incidence of antisemitic incidents compared to those that did not. During the same period, institutions receiving undisclosed funds from Qatari donors had, on average, 250% more anti-Semitic incidents than those that did not.

A national survey conducted with 1748 students found that unreported money correlates with an increased perception of heightened anti-Semitism on campus. Another study identified a positive connection between anti-Semitic incidents on campus and anti-Semitic incidents in the country, based on a higher usage of the hashtag #Israeliapartheid on Twitter and anti-Semitic incidents in educational institutions that received unreported funding compared to those that did not.

In January 2024, President of Texas A&M University, Mark A. Welsh III, rectified misinformation regarding US universities and shared precise details. In May 2024, the president of Northwestern University, during a congressional hearing addressing queries on foreign funding sources, mentioned the ongoing review of a contract with Qatar. Additionally, Ali Al-Ansari, a spokesperson for the Qatari embassy in Washington, expressed Qatar's pride in collaborating with prominent US universities to offer educational opportunities to students in Qatar and the surrounding region.

US government
In 2023, The Committee on Education and Workforce approved the Defending Education Transparency and Ending Rogue Regimes Engaging in Nefarious Transactions (DETERRENT) Act, which according to the committee aimed to address foreign influence by lowering the threshold for reporting foreign gifts and closing reporting loopholes. The committee said the Act is intended to hold institutions accountable and imposes repercussions for non-compliance, such as fines and potential loss of federal funding.

Cultural response
The Israel satirical show, Eretz Nehederet, in December 2023 did a Harry Potter themed sketch criticizing US university presidents response over the question of genocide of Jews being harassment or bullying. In the sketch, the Hogwarts heads of houses are in a hearing chaired by Dumbledore, there they say the genocide is context dependent and when asked by Dumbledore they explain they were influenced by Qatari money.