A home to accelerate an innovation mindset and tech-entrepreneurship in Qatar

The Arab Innovation Academy (AIA) is the first and the most extensive entrepreneurship program in the pan-Arab region, brought to Qatar and the Middle East through a collaboration between Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP) and the European Innovation Academy – the world’s largest entrepreneurship program for students.

This year’s AIA program is a credited online course integration at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU). AIA works closely with the local flagship university – HBKU, to provide the best study outcome for participating students.

Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), a leading research-intensive and innovation-centric graduate university in Qatar partnered with AIA to provide the best study outcome for participating students in the 2021 edition of this innovation course.

The university has opened the course for cross-registration, allowing students from other universities in Qatar to earn HBKU credits.

Through HBKU-AIA Partnership: Innovation Entrepreneurship Leadership II (CSE 786), an international multidisciplinary course is offered at HBKU following successful AIA & EIA programs in other universities.

This multidisciplinary course entitled, ‘Innovation Entrepreneurship Leadership II (CSE 786)”,  will be delivered as an HBKU course in partnership with the AIA 2021 program.

This course will be open to all HBKU students and even those studying in other universities in Qatar. Undergraduate students must be in their third (junior) or fourth year (senior), and graduate students must be under 35 years to be eligible to register.

HBKU students can take the course (CSE 786) as an elective for credits that will count towards the completion of their degrees.

Non-HBKU students can earn course credits if they complete their registration through HBKU channels. For more information, visit:

https://www.hbku.edu.qa/en/academics/registrars-office  https://www.hbku.edu.qa/en/tuition-fees-21

This course will begin on Aug 24, 2021, and end on Dec 7, 2021, following the HBKU academic calendar (the official AIA program will start Aug 31, 2021, and end on Nov 23, 2021).
Check more information about cross-registration in the following questions.

No, only students who are doing their graduate studies Master / PhD, or 3rd and 4th-year Undergraduate students can join.

The AIA program is carried out online due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Only students who are applying for HBKU credit have to be present for extra-curricula parts and examination physically.
Check the requirement with HBKU https://www.hbku.edu.qa/en/cse
Check more information about cross-registration in the following questions.

Official AIA Online will last for 12 weeks – during the Fall 2021 academic semester. Students who apply for HBKU credit will have extra curricula sessions and exams with HBKU and the program will last for 15 weeks.

The program’s full attendance is mandatory as it is a fully integrated study course where the AIA team will check your attendance closely.

Please do not apply for the program if you are not sure that you can fully commit to it.

If you are a student from the MENA region, you can apply by simply signing up for the registration form that you can find here.

All students must fill the application/profile with AIA.

Students interested in credit must be residents in Qatar and go through the HBKU registration channels to obtain credit after filling in the application form.

Unfortunately, only Qatar-based students can apply for HBKU credit. (look for more info in question 11)

International students (outside of Qatar) can apply for the official AIA program only and obtain a certificate of completion at the end of the program. (if all the program work completed and all learning sessions attended)

If your university is interested in accrediting the program, they can reach out to QSTP and coordinate with them [email protected]

You can apply for the AIA program if you are a resident in any of the Arab countries.

If you are an HBKU student – you need to fill the online application for AIA and register through the regular HBKU channels to the course to earn credit points.

If you are NOT an HBKU student in Qatar but would like to earn course credit, please fill in the application form and register through regular HBKU registration channels.

Please note that there is a registration fee, follow the links below for more info:
https://www.hbku.edu.qa/en/tuition-fees-21
https://www.hbku.edu.qa/en/student-financial-information
Tuition Fee per Credit Hour: QAR 5,069

Qatar University is also offering its students another option to count AIA as a course project. You have to coordinate with QSTP [email protected] and your academic advisor in QU to get the credit.

Yes, suppose you would like to become a participant in the Arab Innovation Academy and earn an AIA official certificate (without HBKU credited points). In that case, you can apply by simply signing up for the registration form that you can find here.

No, we have limited seats in the program, all candidates must go through the review and selection process, and we would inform you if you got accepted in advance.

Application for AIA Program is now open until 15 August 2021!