As part of Qatar University’s (QU) endeavors to bring its services closer to its students and to answer their most important inquiries related to their studies, university’s curricula and its developments; Dr. Hassan bin Rashid Al-Derham, President of Qatar University, held a virtual meeting via the WebEx platform with the university students.
During this meeting, Dr. Al-Derham touched on all issues of interest to the university students, whether it is related to acceptance merits at the university, the development of new buildings, ending virtual education and returning to the campus.
The meeting began with the recitation of Holy Qur’an, followed by an opening speech by the President of the Student Representative Council at the university, in which he thanked the academics and administrators for their role in the progress of the university, stressing the council’s determination to contribute to that development and progress.
After that, the moderator of the meeting put the students’ questions to the president, including the question related to the university’s strategy and current goals.
Dr. Al-Derham answered that the university’s strategy began to take its course from 2015 and 2016, it has many goals, including: solving the observed problems in the educational process, Such as the academic difficulties that Qatari students face in particular, and the attempt to reduce their graduation period. In addition to solving the problem of Qatari students’ regarding their discipline of interests. Efforts of increasing male students from Qatar on campus.
In his speech, Dr. Hassan Al-Derham added that one of the most important of these goals is to inculcate and promote the values of social responsibility, innovation, academic integrity and diversity and aiming to be a compass that guides the university student towards achieving his goals.
He also answered a question regarding the future of distance education at the university after the pandemic, where the president explained the importance of face-to-face education for students, and that the university has taken virtual education as a solution to continue the learning process keeping in mind the current circumstances, but despite that, the university administration tends to face-to-face education, we aim to provide same educational quality via distance learning.
Among new information, President added that the university will receive the first batch of patients at the beginning of next year, and its new buildings will receive students as of the next academic year.
The students also raised the issue of the lack of food outlets for boys students compared to cafeteria restaurants in the girls’ building.
Dr. Al-Derham replied that the administration is currently working to increase cafes and restaurants for boys students, and from this the university president explained that kiosks will soon be opened in the yard of the boys building.
Regarding the traffic issues that students face the university is studying to find solutions for that as well.
After answering the students’ questions and inquiries; The president of the university gave advice to university students, urging them to take advantage of their time on campus to benefit from the research programs and grants offered by the university. He asked the students to work hard to achieve a better future.
Source: QATAR UNIVERSITY
