DOHA: Qatar University has expanded the scope of its Arabic for Non-Native Speakers programme by converting it to a dedicated centre at the University’s College of Arts and Sciences (CAS).
Dr Eiman Mustafawi, CAS dean, and Dr Abdullah Abdulrahman, the centre’s director, spoke on the new centre’s plans and direction.
In establishing the programme as a centre, the College is building on its continuing development and its vision for quality and excellence in all its offerings, Dr Mustafawi told the media.
She noted that from its inception, the programme had grown considerably in the number of students and applicants from every corner of the world. “The programme started with 20 students, and last year we admitted 50 students”, Dr Mustafawi said, adding “800 applications were received this year but the programme can accommodate only 55 students, so we have become very selective”.
Dr Mustafawi detailed the centre’s history as a unit established within the College’s Department of Arabic Language in 1987 to its expansion to an independent programme in 2006.
“This was in recognition of the language’s historical significance among the other modern languages, the reality of it being one of the most-spoken languages in countries around the world, and its growing popularity globally, especially in western societies”, she said.
She added: “QU also recognised that as the national university it had a responsibility to advance the language, culture, history and traditions of the Qatari, Arab and Islamic peoples and communities and to share it with people from around the world to further a better understanding and build bridges of communication.”
Dr Mustafawi also noted that with the numerous projects in the country leading up to World Cup 2022, the centre would be able to support Qatar’s efforts towards cultural communication and exchanges that would benefit the country, region, and the world.
The centre will also spur further collaboration with external institutions, Dr Mustafawi said, noting the cooperation agreements it currently holds with top-ranked universities worldwide such as Georgetown University, Osaka University, University of Tokyo, New Bulgarian University, Kiev University and Pusan National University.
In his remarks, Dr Abdulrahman explained that the programme offers three tracks — Morning, Evening (Continuing Education), and Distance Education.
“The morning track is the backbone of the centre; it offers courses at six levels each year and focuses intensively on basic language skills; the evening track offers general and tailored courses for the diplomatic, health, business and other sectors; and the distance education track is designed to meet the needs of international students who wish to study Arabic language but are not on-site in Qatar”, he said. He further explained that admission to the programme now has two stages — one for applicants from abroad and the other for those based in Qatar.
THE PENINSULA
