Dr Gregory J Moncada (left) and Buthaina Ali Al Nuaimi during the press conference yesterday. Pic: Baher Amin / The Peninsula
DOHA: Qatar Foundation (QF) will open a one-of-a-kind specialised Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) school in August under the umbrella of its Pre-University Education.
Qatar Academy for Science and Technology (QAST) will officially open its doors in August, welcoming 40 Grade 9 students. QAST will offer a programme focusing on academics, hands-on science skills, and innovative thinking and currently open for admissions for the 2018-19 academic year, said officials yesterday.
“As Qatar Foundation’s newest school under the PUE umbrella, QAST aims to nurture and develop talented students to become pioneers, innovators, and future leaders in the area of STEM. This new school demonstrates QF’s continuous commitment towards the advancement of Qatar in becoming a sustainable and diversified economy through education and science,” said Buthaina Ali Al Nuaimi, President, PUE, QF addressing a press conference held to announce the launch of QAST.
By offering a specialised environment, led by highly-qualified STEM experts, students will be taught in science and technology fields which they can then pursue in the future.
“We are delighted to be opening a one-of-a-kind specialized STEM school in Qatar. Being part of Qatar Foundation allows us to provide our students not only with world-class education, but with educators and facilities that no other academic institution within the country can provide. Our teachers are hand-picked STEM experts and educators, our facilities are state-of-the-art, and our curriculum is tailored to fit each and every student’s needs,” said Dr Gregory J Moncada, Director, QAST. “The curriculum of QAST is designed to meet Qatar, US and UK based university expectations. We look forward to fostering, and eventually graduating, the next generation of future leaders in STEM.”
The first two years of the QAST programme will focus on core areas of technology, communication, and collaboration. Students will take a comprehensive set of classes, including an engineering course in which they apply their skills to resolve real-world challenges using both traditional and modern methods. “Students will have internship opportunities with local university labs, engineering firms, and many more, where students work with practitioners and participate in the organization,” said Dr Moncada.
Enrolment is selective and limited to 40 students per year at QAST. It will gradually open until Grade 12 and enrol a total of 240 students. They will benefit from the programme’s student-to-teacher ratio of 20:1. Admission requirements include that the student must completed algebra by grade 8, fluent in English and have demonstrated interested in science.
Applications to QAST are open until May 30 and could be submitted through qast.openapply.com. QAST will be temporarily located at the LAS building in Education City. The school will move to its built-for-purpose building in the fall of 2020.
