The Qatar National Library (QNL) has opened applications for the third cohort of its Research Fellowship Programme, building on the momentum generated by its first two editions. The initiative aims to provide scholars and academics with access to the library’s specialised and rare collections, fostering advanced research on Qatar and the broader region.
The upcoming fellowship term will run from October 1 to March 30, and the QNL is inviting Qatar citizens and residents to submit project proposals by July 30. Proposals must be no longer than 2,000 words and focus on one of three key themes: social history, economic history, or natural resources management. Successful applicants are expected to dedicate at least 20 hours per week in person at the library, where they will have access to curated collections and a designated research workspace.
Participants are also required to deliver a public presentation on their findings and submit a research paper of at least 6,000 words within one month after the programme concludes. The fellowship programme is designed to deepen understanding of Qatar’s heritage and encourage scholarly study on diverse aspects of the country’s history and development.
During a recent event hosted by the QNL, Dr. Mustafa Aqeel, professor of Modern and Contemporary History and director of the Centre for Documentation and Humanities Studies at Qatar University, delivered a lecture titled “Historical Writing: A Critical Perspective.” QNL’s director of National Collections and Special Initiatives, Abeer al-Kuwari, highlighted the programme’s growing reputation, calling it a prominent hub for academic research in the region. She noted that the earlier cohorts underscored the library’s ongoing commitment to supporting rigorous scholarship on Qatar’s history.
Dr. Eiman Saleh al-Shamari, manager of QNL’s National Collections, remarked that prior research projects had explored topics such as Qatar’s aviation diplomacy and the effects of monetary transitions, benefiting from guided access to specialised archives. She added that the third edition is expected to open new avenues of inquiry, particularly relating to social and economic heritage.
The impact of the fellowship programme is reflected in the diverse scholarly pursuits it has attracted. Among the current researchers, Hessa al-Mohannadi, director of legal affairs at Qatar Tourism and a PhD holder in Gulf Studies, is investigating the influence of Qtel on Qatar during the 1980s. Conservator and doctoral candidate Jarmila Kodric is studying Qatar’s shift from manuscript culture to printed publications through a heritage lens. Meanwhile, media researcher Kaoutar Chatioui is analyzing how monetary changes affected commerce and everyday life in Qatar between 1959 and 1973.
By opening the latest round of applications, the QNL aims to continue fostering scholarship that enriches knowledge of Qatar’s historical and cultural identity.