I posted a question on Twitter saying: “What are the problems of the students of Qatar University?” I did not think that the reply to my question would continue over three days. After a long discussion, I have divided the reactions in four sections as follows:
Section 1: General Discussion
Everyone has appreciated the move by H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser for directing the Supreme Education Council (SEC) to cancel the foundation programme and approve Arabic as the learning language.
All commentators supported the call of Sheikha Moza to set up a channel of communication between teaching staff and students and work out to understand the necessities of students and find a solution to academic problems.
Commentators stressed that Qatar University should take into consideration the international standards before taking any decision for the university. The decision makers should not forget that Qatari citizens are in small numbers and their role is necessary for human resources development in the country.
The easiest action being taken in international universities for the students of Qatar University so that the students do not leave the university and the academic and professional performance will improve.
Section: Counselling
All commentators including students and graduates reached the consensus that the performance of Students’ Counseling Center at Qatar University is not up to the mark, despite the fact that Qatar University has provided counsellors for evry student.
Only a qualified person can do the job of counselling, otherwise the courses will be taken according to the wish of the students not as per the curricula.
Some commentators believe that the counselors do not have enough knowledge about curricula of science faculty because they came from those universities that do not count hours but they consider years for courses (like the Universities of Arab and European Countries), or these universities are following the point system that is being adopted in several universities of United States (US).
Several commentators said that when the counselor did blunders and the students try to approach the counselor to discuss the matter or to the officials to rectify the mistakes, they were notified that the guideline of the university stipulates that only student is responsible for any error of registration. As a result, university or counselors are not being held accountable for any mistake.
Some commentators said ‘we are of the view of the production of high quality graduates but in the same time we do not like the removal of any Qatar students due to the mistake of the counselor.
Section No.: 4
Several commentators connected the issue of students’ counseling with Grade Point Average (GPA). ‘Only Qatar University in the world is counting GPA from grade-I, why they called it GPA it is only for one semester, argued the commentators.
The participants also discussed another problem of the students about obtaining grade D or what is called passing mark but the percentage declined to the alarming level.
The commentators unanimously supported the move of Qatar University that the graduates must obtain good grade so they could contribute in the development of the country. But they said that implementing good grade throughout the courses is not fair because it might cause the removal of the student.
They have also hinted towards another important issue to adopt the mechanism to improve the averages of the students who are being removed due to poor averages despite they did their best.
Section No. 4
Mostly students, rusticated from Qatar University surprised to see the method of rustication as they did not get any warning from the university or counselor about their average (throughout the courses) except last year when they were removed.
Some students said that they never fail in any course of the university, still they were removed on the ground of that they obtained D grade in some courses.
Others said that they improved per semester average but the improvement of GPA was slow. The university did not consider this improvement while terminating him.
A commentator claimed that he was removed from Qatar University and his only one subject remain for study so whey he could not give opportunity to complete this subject for graduation. However, the country made huge investments in the education sector so the Qatari students could study and join the local job market.
The commentators raised question that why the average of rusticated students from Qatar University increased when they got admission in other universities? There are more than 600 Qatari students in the universities of United Arab Emirates (UAE) and these universities proud of them.
We leave this matter to the Authority Concerned to bring about appropriate solution to save the Qatari work force from wasting and keep the academic level up to the mark.
