Doha, Qatar: Faculty and students of the University of Doha for Science and Technology have praised Qatar’s first applied university for its hands-on and practical approach to teaching as the 2nd batch of graduates was celebrated recently.
The university graduated 781 students this year, recording a 68% increase compared to last year.
Fatma Farhan Mohamed Anwar, a Medical Radiography graduate, spoke about the university and said, “I’m feeling extremely overwhelmed and happy to graduate. This is my second graduation in UDST because I already graduated with a diploma, and now I am graduating with my bachelor’s.”
She added that the one major benefit of UDST is that it is an applied university and offers more simulations and lab work, so the students learn more.
“We know what the workforce wants after we graduate. It has been an easy flow and transition from a student to an employee,” she added.
Assistant Professor at UDST, Dr. Shiban Khan, said it had been an exhilarating experience since UDST transitioned into the second national university in Qatar.
She added that the applied university encourages interesting class conversations and discussions for students and their professors. She noted that the students are well equipped to take on the labour market, adding that their confidence, presentation skills, and all other skills they have learned would help them fit in a demanding workplace.
“What I like about the teaching in UDST is we’re an applied university. So all of our learning, teaching, and assessments are applied. So it’s less of how much you can memorize and more of what you think and how you can apply what you’ve learned,” Dr. Khan disclosed.
Senior Lecturer in Human Resources Ruba Al Abed, who has worked six years with the university, said UDST has experienced many changes and upgrades in the last year. She said the university is in a great situation and added the level of the graduating students is a thing of pride for the faculty.
“We are very lucky that all the courses are applied and related to the industry and our students. They can apply what they have learned directly to their work, so they don’t have a lot of training afterwards. That will minimize their training period when they get a job,” she added.
A couple who graduated together also praised UDST for encouraging them and making education seamless. Halima Ahmad and Fahd Yusuf, who met in UDST before getting married and graduated with a master’s of science in human resources and a bachelor’s in chemical engineering, respectively, said the university empowers its students and opens doors to better opportunities.
Assistant Professor in the Banking and Fintech Department, Bashar Abu Khalaf, said the way the courses are taught in the College of Business Management at UDST focuses more on the application of the different systems that they might face in the workplace.
“The university is different compared to other universities in the region. The students know it is an applied university, and the minute they graduate, they have what is needed -- the skills and everything that companies would ask for,” he added.
