This thesis has been submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for a postgraduate degree (e.g. PhD, MPhil, DClinPsychol) at the University of Edinburgh. Please note the following terms and conditions of use: This work is protected by copyright and other intellectual property rights, which are retained by the thesis author, unless otherwise stated. A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge. This thesis cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the author. The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the author. When referring to this work, full bibliographic details including the author, title, awarding institution and date of the thesis must be given. International Branch Campuses in Qatar: Qatari Students’ Experience of Campus Life Mohammad S. Alkuwari PhD University of Edinburgh 2019 1 Table of Contents List of Tables .................................................................................................................... 7 List of Figures ................................................................................................................... 8 Thesis declaration .......................................................................................................... 10 Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................ 11 Abstract ......................................................................................................................... 14 Chapter 1: Rationale and motivation for this study ......................................................... 15 1.1 Background of the researcher ........................................................................................... 15 1.2 Aims of the research ......................................................................................................... 17 1.3 Structure of the study ....................................................................................................... 18 Chapter 2: Research context .................................................................................... 21 2.1 Introducing Qatar ............................................................................................................. 21 2.1.1 Demographics ...................................................................................................................... 23 2.1.2 The labour force in the State of Qatar ................................................................................. 27 2.1.3 ‘Qatarisation’ as policy ......................................................................................................... 29 2.2 History of education in Qatar ............................................................................................ 30 2.3 Current education policy and provision ............................................................................. 31 2.4 Higher education in Qatar ................................................................................................. 33 2.4.1 Home-grown institutions ..................................................................................................... 34 2.4.2 Universities with ties to institutions outside of Qatar ......................................................... 37 2.4.3 Education City ...................................................................................................................... 38 2.5 Chapter summary ............................................................................................................. 46 Chapter 3: Literature survey – branch campuses and student affairs ............................... 48 3.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 48 3.2 Literature review process .................................................................................................. 48 3.3 Results of the literature search ......................................................................................... 49 3.3.1 Internationalisation, globalisation and universities ............................................................. 52 3.3.2 The growth of international branch campuses .................................................................... 53 3.3.3 Types of international branch campuses ............................................................................. 57 3.3.4 Motivation for creating branch campuses ........................................................................... 58 3.3.5 Benefits and drawbacks of hosting branch campuses ......................................................... 59 2 3.3.6 Sustainability of international branch campuses ................................................................. 62 3.3.7 Summary of literature on the benefits and drawbacks of branch campuses ...................... 67 3.4 Student affairs and the student experience in branch campuses ........................................ 69 3.4.1 The US model of student affairs .......................................................................................... 71 3.4.2 Student affairs in the Arabian Gulf ...................................................................................... 73 3.4.3 Emerging issues .................................................................................................................... 76 3.5 Delving deeper – what the literature reveals and does not reveal ...................................... 77 3.5.1 Lack of student voice ........................................................................................................... 78 3.5.2 The use of English ................................................................................................................ 81 3.6 The need for a postcolonial view ....................................................................................... 82 3.7 Chapter summary ............................................................................................................. 83 Chapter 4: Colonial legacy and the postcolonial lens ....................................................... 85 4.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 85 4.2 Key authors informing this chapter ................................................................................... 85 4.3 Overview of postcolonial theory ....................................................................................... 85 4.4 Main theorists and their ideas ........................................................................................... 88 4.5 Chapter summary ........................................................................................................... 100 Chapter 5: Methodology and methods .......................................................................... 101 5.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 101 5.2 Methodology .................................................................................................................. 101 5.2.1 Choice of methodology ...................................................................................................... 102 5.2.2 Case studies and generalisability ....................................................................................... 104 5.2.3 Viewing qualitative data via a paradigmatic lens .............................................................. 105 5.3 Linking of aim, objectives and questions .......................................................................... 106 5.4 Geographical location and time-frame ............................................................................ 109 5.5 Data collection ............................................................................................................... 111 5.5.1 UK ethical approval ............................................................................................................ 111 5.5.2 Preparation for interviews ................................................................................................. 111 5.5.3 Information collected before the interview ...................................................................... 112 5.5.4 Audio recording and note-taking ....................................................................................... 112 5.5.5 Developing the questions .................................................................................................. 112 5.5.6 Qatar ethical approval ....................................................................................................... 115 5.5.7 Access to alumni and staff ................................................................................................. 116 5.5.8 Interview time, location and length ................................................................................... 118 3 5.5.9 Alumni participants ............................................................................................................ 119 5.5.10 Staff participants .............................................................................................................. 121 5.6 Data analysis .................................................................................................................