DOHA: Qatar University (QU) has embarked on a major expansion project to meet the requirements of its increasing number of students which is expected to cross 20,000 over the next two years. Currently the university has about 15,000 students on its roll.
The university has allocated an annual budget worth $60m (QR218.5m approximately) for scientific research, with a strong emphasis on projects relevant to the Qatari community, its President Dr Sheikha Abdulla Al Misnad said yesterday.
The new plan will see QU’s transition into a residential campus. “It will provide a safe and engaging housing environment that is more than just a place to study and sleep but also where students are able to participate in social, educational, cultural and recreational opportunities and so enhance the spirit of the campus,” said Al Misnad, in her annual press conference at the university premises. Two student housing complexes each holding 450 students are expected for completion in the second quarter of 2014. They will include sporting and leisure facilities, cafeteria, supermarket, and kids playing area.
A Student Center is also in the planning phase. It will offer the full range of services and offices provided by the Student Affairs sector in one building: Admission and Registration, Student Services (Financial Aid, Counseling, Learning Support, Career Services and all other types of resources and support).
Al Misnad said that Career Services will be enhanced to develop unique career advising programs and events for each college, with special emphasis on 1st-year students; collaborate with faculty, governmental agencies and HR associations on relevant labor market research activities; increase the use of technology to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of all career-related services; and develop and implement a comprehensive employer outreach and relations plan to increase under-graduate and graduate recruitment activities.
A First-Year Experience (FYE) Project is also being offered to help students, especially those who do not go through the Foundation Program, to maximize their chances of success by building their direction and identity, and developing long-term strategies in their first year at QU.
The organization is also looking into offering online distance learning courses with a university-wide committee recently established to determine their viability. In the coming phase, some courses will be offered with the understanding that the pilot may be expanded at a broader level if effective. This term, the core curriculum course Islamic Education will be offered online as a pilot for the committee’s assessment.
Discussing campus expansion, Prof Al Misnad highlighted current buildings projects – College of Engineering, College of Pharmacy, Early Childhood Center, Central Stores — and new entrances and campus roads network. Planned projects include a multi-storey parking lot; a new College of Education, College of Law, Administration Building, faculty offices, and a multi-purpose hall.
Al Misnad pointed to several research projects that present good examples of the link between QU research and national priorities such as a major partnership between QU, Qatar Airways, QSTP and several leading national and international organizations to convert local into biofuel products for use in the aviation industry.
THE PENINSULA
