Hamad bin Jassim Center for Computer Science Education

The Hamad bin Jassim Center for Computer Science Education at Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar is dedicated to advancing computer science education across the nation. In partnership with the Jassim and Hamad Bin Jassim Charitable Foundation, we are shaping Qatar’s digital future by empowering the next generation to think like computer scientists.

Vision, Mission, Strategy

Vision

Our vision is to become a leader in educational innovation in the Middle East, and to build a platform that provides the foundation of computer science education.

Mission

Our mission is to foster creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills, enriching all levels with essential computer science knowledge and promoting innovation.

Strategy

We provide Computer Science curriculum and workshops in Qatar, enriching students and the workforce with creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.

Record of Impact

Established in 2018, the HBJ Center has become a vital resource for computer science education in Qatar. Our data-driven approach and commitment to excellence have yielded significant results:

Student outreach: More than 20,000 students from schools and universities have attended our educational initiatives.
Curriculum integration: Our work has been instrumental in integrating programming skills into Qatar’s national ICT curriculum, ensuring a foundational education for more than 45,000 students so far.
Culture of innovation: We have nurtured a culture of collaboration and friendly competition, where more than 4,000 students have created, connected and competed in national-level competitions.

“In today’s world, computer science is an essential discipline like mathematics, no matter what field students pursue. We are proud that the HBJ Center has sparked an interest in thousands of students about computing.”

Khaled Harras, Director,
HBJ Center for Computer Science Education

“The HBJ Center is dedicated to inspiring the next generation to learn about computing so they can keep pace with the needs of the contemporary and changing labor market.”

Saeed Mudhkar Al Hajri, Managing Director,
Jassim and Hamad Bin Jassim Charitable Foundation

Signature Initiatives

The HBJ Center delivers proven, research-based programs designed to make computer science accessible, engaging, and culturally relevant.

MindCraft

Mindcraft is a suite of workshops and camps designed to introduce students to the core principles of computational thinking. Through interactive puzzles and problem-solving activities, MindCraft demonstrates the links between computing, mathematics, and science. The program includes tailored workshops for various age groups and intensive camps covering topics from Python programming to artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.

Alice Middle East

Alice is an innovative, 3D programming environment that teaches the fundamentals of coding through storytelling and animation. Localized by CMU-Q to reflect regional culture, this tool enables students to create their own animations and games, transforming a complex subject into an intuitive and creative experience. Alice serves as a critical entry point for students beginning their programming journey.

In partnership with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, Alice Middle East is part of the Information Communications Technology curriculum in Qatar’s government schools, reaching thousands of students each year in Arabic and English.

National Competitions

The HBJ Center runs and supports national level competitions that challenge and leverage computational thinking skills.

Alice Programming Competition: The annual competition brings together middle and secondary school students to showcase their creativity by designing animations or games in Alice 3.

Qatar Collegiate Programming Competition: This prestigious competition challenges high school and university students to solve complex algorithmic problems, promoting teamwork, problem-solving abilities, and coding proficiency.

Lifelines Hackathon: LifeLines is a humanitarian innovation platform founded by passionate students, staff, and faculty who wanted to channel their concerns into meaningful innovation. The annual hackathon brings out the best in interdisciplinary teams as they find solutions to some of the most pressing issues on the planet.

HBJ Center in the News

A Decade of Innovation: Carnegie Mellon Empowers Qatar’s Next Generation of Coders,

CMU-Q’s LifeLines Hackathon 2025: Winning projects harness the power of AI for crisis management and education

Shaping Qatar’s Digital Future: The Hamad Bin Jassim Center’s 6-Year Impact

Carnegie Mellon hosts largest QCPC in event history

Programming contest at Carnegie Mellon inspires Qatar students to code

Carnegie Mellon Qatar symposium showcases research into economic, social, human and environmental development

View all news

Learn More About the HBJ Center

Visit the HBJ Center website

Visit the MindCraft website