Dr. Amir Dhia
A university scholarship is often described as an opportunity to study. But for an underserved student, it can mean something much bigger: the chance to build confidence, advance in society, and imagine a future that once seemed out of reach.
Across the world, millions of young people remain excluded from higher education due to poverty, displacement, conflict or social disadvantage. When young people who might otherwise experience exclusion are given the opportunity to learn, education becomes an investment not only in individuals, but in more inclusive and resilient societies. That is also how education can become a foundation for global citizenship, social cohesion and peace.
Tuition and financial support are only one part of the equation. Even when financial barriers are removed, access alone does not guarantee success. Students may still face challenges related to belonging, wellbeing, academic preparedness and employment. This is why the conversation around inclusive higher education must go beyond scholarships. The real impact of a scholarship is not the moment a student gains access or receives a degree. It is what happens after achievement and graduation.
The economic value of opportunity
While inclusive education is rightly often discussed in moral terms, it is equally an investment in human capital with a compelling economic argument. Every US$1 spent on a person’s education yields US$10 to 15 in economic growth over that person’s working lifetime.
The value is demonstrated through the graduates’ skills across business, technology, engineering, healthcare, science, arts and other fields. They support economic growth and institutional development, while their involvement in community service and civic engagement strengthens the wider social fabric. Thus, when talented young people are excluded from education, economies lose potential.
For universities, inclusive scholarships can serve as catalysts for innovation while strengthening institutional outcomes and advancing global priorities such as the Sustainable Development Goals. A more diverse student representation can generate greater demand for inclusive pedagogies, market-responsive academic programmes, accessible technologies, and support services that address evolving societal needs and emerging workforce trends.
Qatar as a model of inclusion and opportunity
Qatar provides a meaningful environment for this work. The country’s higher education landscape brings together universities, industries, international communities and ambitious national development priorities. Within this environment, scholarship recipients are not merely beneficiaries. They are active participants in the country’s social and economic life.
The Education Above All (EAA) Foundation, through its Qatar Scholarship in Qatar (QSQ) programme, has helped create pathways for youth to pursue inclusive and quality higher education in Qatar. Today, scholarship recipients are studying in eighteen higher education institutions in the country, pursuing fields central to Qatar’s needs and future, including Business, Information Technology, Engineering, Medicine and Paramedicine, General Sciences and Arts.
The scholars themselves reflect Qatar’s diversity, representing more than thirty-five nationalities, bringing different experiences, languages, cultures and perspectives into the country’s ecosystem. That diversity is an asset; when students from different backgrounds learn together, they broaden one another’s perspectives and develop the intercultural understanding increasingly valued in global societies and workplaces.
The culture of giving back
Perhaps one of the most important outcomes among the graduates is the development of a culture of ‘giving back.’ Scholarship recipients increasingly understand their opportunity not simply as a pathway to personal advancement, but as a responsibility to others. They support fellow students, share their knowledge and experiences, participate in community initiatives and become role models for other youth.
In a recent survey, nearly 90% of the EAA QSQ alumni expressed their willingness to volunteer and ‘give back’ to society in one form or another. This enthusiasm creates an encouraging virtuous cycle. One scholarship recipient can help another navigate university, enter a profession, volunteer in the community or advocate for education. Over time, this impact multiplies.
Their experience demonstrates that inclusion and achievement reinforce one another. When students from underserved backgrounds are given the right student support services and opportunities, they can succeed academically, integrate culturally and make meaningful contributions to the societies where they live and work.
From supporters to partners
The public, private and community sectors can all have a role to support underserved students. Companies and institutions can support funding scholarships and initiatives, as well as provide internships and jobs. Professional bodies can contribute through research and training, along with networking opportunities that connect students with mentors and industries.
These contributions should not be perceived as simply acts of charity, but rather investments with mutual benefit. An internship gives a scholarship recipient practical experience, and in return, an employer gains access to emerging talent. A researcher gains new perspectives, and a university accordingly strengthens its connection with society. A community gains an engaged citizen; and a scholarship recipient gains the confidence and experience needed to turn education into a sustainable career.
The experience of EAA’s Qatar Scholarship in Qatar programme shows what becomes possible when inclusive scholarships, academic achievement, career development and community engagement come together. When young people are given the opportunity to succeed, and are encouraged to give back, the return on education extends far beyond the individual.
The real promise of higher education is not simply to change a life, but to empower that life to transform others and to contribute to society with a valued purpose. This is what it means to move from access to success to impact.
— Dr. Amir Dhia is the Higher Education Manager at the Education Above All (EAA) Foundation. He is actively engaged in the higher education scholarship programmes and alumni of 13,000+ underserved youth of 40+ nationalities in 85+ leading higher education institutions across 14+ countries.
Dr. Amir Dhia is the Higher Education Manager at the Education Above All (EAA) Foundation. He is actively engaged in the higher education scholarship programmes and alumni of 13,000+ underserved youth of 40+ nationalities in 85+ leading higher education institutions across 14+ countries.
