QU Welcomes More Than 28,000 Students on First Day of New Academic Year

Qatar University

Qatar University (QU) welcomed on Sunday more than 28,000 students on its first day of the academic year 2022/2023, with full readiness with its academic and research facilities to serve all university staff.

In a statement on the occasion, HE Qatar University President Dr. Hassan bin Rashid Al Derham welcomed the students and all its members of the faculty and administrators. HE urged everyone to work hard, diligently, with perseverance, and to benefit from all the facilities and programs available to follow the march towards achieving goals, visions, and plans at all levels.

The university has become a hub for expertise that societies, institutions, and individuals resort to advance, address the challenges and overcome the obstacles that hinder progress, HE said, pointing to the recent achievements of QU in international rankings.

HE explained that this year QU advanced on the QS rankings, ranking 208, which is 16 places higher than last year. The university also opened new programs and colleges and forged multiple and diverse partnerships.

QU's President indicated that the university launched many projects, entered the world of digital space, and is looking forward to more achievements and successes with the participation of all its staff to chart new landmarks for future horizons, some of which were fictional or optional, and became an urgent necessity that must be accessed and benefited from.

This academic year comes on the cusp of the state of Qatar hosting one of the most important global events in the region, the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, HE highlighted. QU played an important role in preparing for the event with research, seminars, consultations, and hosting some of the international teams participating in it, HE indicated and urged students to contribute and participate effectively in highlighting the country's ability to host this event and make it a success with all competence and distinction.

For her part, Vice-President for Student Affairs at Qatar University Dr. Eiman Mustafawi affirmed the university's support for its students throughout their educational journey, providing an educational environment that encourages creativity and innovation, in addition to opportunities for development and support at an academic level or extra-curricular programs.

She pointed out that the university received this academic semester more than 28,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students, including 4,700 new students, amid the various departments and colleges' readiness to help students and provide all the support and guidance they need to study.

The university will spare no effort to overcome the difficulties and solve the problems that some students may face at the beginning of the semester regarding registering for courses and applying for student services, she stressed.

On a similar note, the Vice-President for Student Affairs announced the imminent transfer of student affairs departments to a new building. This building is one of the most important and largest new buildings at Qatar University, and was designed according to the latest approved standards and specifications for student affairs buildings, she added.

The new building includes multiple facilities that enhance student activities, as well as other service and recreational facilities, including a gym, restaurants, individual and group study rooms and more, she explained.

On the other hand, QU announced the opening of applications for student financial aid services for the fall 2022 semester for undergraduate students who face financial difficulties in covering their educational expenses. She noted that the first application period begins on Aug. 21 to Sep. 1. The aid is available to university students who meet the conditions for applying for monthly assistance services, exemption from transportation fees, emergency assistance, and financial aid programs supported by some local institutions.

The second application period begins on Sep. 11 to 22. This period includes the possibility of applying for monthly assistance services, exemption from transportation fees, emergency assistance, payment of tuition fees, university housing fees supported by the university, and the rewards program of the Jassim and Hamad bin Jassim Charitable Foundation.

The Student Financial Aid Department also provides the opportunity for university students to submit a request for the service of postponing the payment of tuition fees and lifting the registration record from Oct. 9 to 20 based on the specific conditions for this service.

(QNA)