Abdul Basit / The Peninsula
DOHA: Qatar University (QU) on Sunday welcomed more than 28,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students, including 4,700 new students, on its first day of the academic year 2022/2023.
While welcoming the students and all its members of faculty and administrators, the President of Qatar University, Dr. Hassan bin Rashid Al Derham urged everyone to be diligent and work hard with perseverance, and to benefit from all the available facilities and programmes to achieve their goals, visions, and plans.
"The university has become a hub for expertise that societies, institutions, and individuals resort to to advance, address the challenges, and overcome obstacles that hinder progress," Dr. Al Derham said, pointing to the recent achievements of QU in international rankings.
He noted that QU is now ranked 208 in the global university rankings, which is 16 places higher than its 2021 ranking, and that the university has started some new programmes and colleges as well as forged multiple and diverse partnerships with other institutions.
According to the QU president, the university has also 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 the future.
"The new academic year comes on the brink of the state of Qatar hosting one of the most important global events in the region, the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, and QU has played an important role in preparing for the event with research, seminars, consultations, and its facilities will be used by some of the international teams participating in it," Dr Al Derham noted.
He encouraged the students to contribute and participate effectively in highlighting the country's ability to host the event and make it a success with all competence and distinction.
For her part, the 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 in both academic and extra-curricular programmes.
She pointed out the university's readiness to help the students and provide all the support and guidance they need to study.
She stressed that 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 the Student Affairs Department 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.
She said that 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.
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 August 21 and ends on September 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 September 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 October 9 to 20 based on the specific conditions for this service.
