Northwestern’s School of Law and Hamad bin Khalifa University have partnered to create the graduate-level Hamad bin Khalifa University Law School in Doha, Qatar, the University announced Sunday.

NU’s law school is serving as an advisor to HBKU.

The new law program will be first of its kind in the Middle East and will open fall 2015 in Doha’s Education City.

“We are committed to immersing students in a culture of learning that nurtures their creativity and innovation, prioritizes the development of research skills and prepares them not only for the next stage of their education, but also enables them to become the future leaders of Qatar,” said Dr. Ahmad Hasnah, HBKU executive vice president and provost, in a University news release. “As such, the launch of our first postgraduate degree program in our new law school is a prime example of this.”

Law Prof. Clinton W. Francis will serve as interim dean for the new law school and will receive assistance from Law faculty to help guide the development of the school, including building its curriculum and hiring faculty.

“We are developing a leading-edge curriculum, instruction and scholarship with the goal of delivering the maximum knowledge and value to students and to domestic, regional and global partners,” Francis said in a news release.

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