Texas A&M University at Qatar (TAMUQ) is a branch of Texas A&M University located in Education City, Al Rayyan, Qatar. The university offers undergraduate degrees in chemical, electrical, mechanical, and petroleum engineering. A graduate program for chemical engineering (master's degree) commenced in 2011. History Texas A&M University's campus in Qatar was established in 2003. The campus was set up through an agreement between Texas A&M and the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science, and Community Development, a private institution under the laws of the State of Qatar. The Qatar Foundation was started by then-Emir Shiekh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and his wife and mother of the current Emir Sheikha Moza bint Nasser. The campus was opened as part of Qatar's "massive venture to import elite higher education from the United States to Doha using the oil and natural-gas riches of the tiny Persian Gulf nation". Since 2003, there have been over 1,000 graduates. The original agreement was for undergraduate programs in chemical, electrical, mechanical, and petroleum engineering. In 2010, an additional agreement established a graduate-studies program in engineering. In 2011, a third agreement established a research program. The two initial agreements ended in June 2013, and in January 2014, a renewal agreement was signed for a period of 10 years. Academics According to the agreement between Qatar and TAMU, the curriculum at the Doha campus will "duplicate as closely as possible" the curriculum at TAMU's main campus. Questions have arisen over whether schools such as TAMUQ in Education City are truly able to grant students the same freedom of thought, expression, and association as is available to students at the U.S. campuses due to Qatar's much stricter laws that inhibit these freedoms. Administration The 2014 agreement states that TAMU and TAMUQ are responsible for selecting and supervising all faculty and staff, admitting, enrolling, and instructing students, developing plans to ensure the university satisfies the terms of the agreement, and designing and implementing the school's academic curricula and programs. The Qatar Foundation and TAMU established a Joint Advisory Board to oversee TAMUQ. Three members are appointed by each TAMU and the Qatar Foundation, and three members are jointly appointed by both sides. The board provides advice to the Dean of TAMUQ, reviews the budget, and conducts ongoing review and evaluation of the success of TAMUQ. Funding Texas A&M receives more than $76.2 million each year to operate its campus in Qatar.