Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar - VCUQ, Doha - Gallery news: VCUQatar Welcomes Class of 2013

VCUQatar Welcomes Class of 2013 (24.8.2009)

VCUQatar Welcomes Class of 2013

Doha, Qatar - Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar (VCUQatar) welcomed 60 full time new students to the Education City campus. 15% of Class of 2013 are young men and 85% are young ladies. Along with 37 students from Qatar, the Class of 2013 has 23 students from Bangladesh, Canada, Egypt, Hungary, India, Iran, Italy, Jordan, Korea, New Zealand, Pakistan, Palestine, Russia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, UK, and the US.

Admission to VCUQatar has become more competitive every consecutive year. The incoming Class of 2013 represents highly qualified students who demonstrated strong academic skills, English language competency and background in art that suggests the potential to succeed as promising designers.

"Dear class of 2013, I wish to welcome you to VCUQatar," began Peter C. Chomowicz, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in his welcoming statement. "I believe there has never been a more interesting - or important - time to study the visual arts. Designers of all types are rapidly becoming an indispensable link that unites different disciplines in order to solve some of the world's most pressing problems. I also believe that Qatar is uniquely positioned to give our students and graduates the ability to perform on the world stage," he added.

The welcome given by faculty and administration marked the conclusion of an exciting week of orientation activities, where both students and parents were informed about the challenges and struggles involved in earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in design. Beginning last Sunday with Family Night, the activities organized by Student Activities Coordinator, Hissa Al Garni, included a cross cultural awareness session, scavenger hunt, debate, art foundation activity and sprinkle time where students mingled with and got to know each other. Students also enjoyed trips to Café Ceramique at the Mall, a movie night at City Center and dinner with the faculty at Souq Waqif.

"The orientation was experimental and interactive. We learned about the university, it was useful. Personally, I loved it. I will always remember these days. This motivated me to volunteer for next year's orientation," said freshman Fahad Al Kuwari.

"It was fun, a bit tiring, but that will help us survive the upcoming long days," said another freshman Reem Al Darwish of the previous week's activities. "It was very informative. The fashion show was fun and so were the leaders," she added.

Sheikha Al Sowaidi echoed most of the students' sentiments when she remarked that the experience was positive and "helped us with the upcoming weeks of hard work".

"The class of 2013 is full of enthusiasm and new energy," said Ms Al Garni. "This is the biggest class we've had to date and it was challenging for us as well to organize a week of activities for them that would be interesting and fun-filled while also preparing them for the year ahead at VCUQatar." Ms Al Garni was also thankful to the 20 student leaders - some of whom started working on the orientation during the summer - for their volunteer work during the week-long sessions.

About Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar:
Established in the US in 1838 and in Qatar in 1998, Virginia Commonwealth University offers students from all over the world the opportunity to earn Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees in fashion, graphic, interior design and painting & printmaking and a Master of Fine Arts degree in design studies. A team of highly skilled professors provide rigorous curricula that prepare students to assume leadership roles in the professional design field of their choice. VCUQatar regularly organizes and hosts exhibitions, gallery events, world-class conferences and holds an annual fashion show. VCUQatar is supported and funded by the Qatar Foundation. For more information please visit www.qatar.vcu.edu

About Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development
Founded in 1995 by His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, Emir of Qatar, and chaired by Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al Missned, Qatar Foundation is a private, non-profit organization committed to the principle that a nation's greatest natural resource is its people. The headquarters of Qatar Foundation are located within its flagship project, Education City, a fourteen million square-meter campus which hosts numerous progressive learning institutions and centers of research, including branch campuses of six of the world's leading universities, plus a cutting-edge research and development center. Qatar Foundation also works to enhance the quality of life in Qatar by investing in community health and development.

For more information please visit: http://www.qf.org.qa

Images:
VCUQatar Class of 2013

VCUQatar freshmen participating in the week-long orientation activities

VCUQatar freshmen participating in the week-long orientation activities

VCUQatar freshmen on the first evening of orientation with their families