VCUarts Qatar welcomes new academic year

Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar (VCUarts Qatar) welcomed new and returning students, staff, and faculty to the 2024-2025 academic year earlier this week.This year, 97 new students joined the country’s only university dedicated to art and design, established in 1998. Of these, 91 students joined the undergraduate programmes, and six joined the postgraduate MFA in Design programme.The first week started with an orientation programme for new students, who were welcomed by dean Amir Berbić and the team.Interior Design Class of 2023 alumna Shaikha Darwish delivered the opening keynote speech at the new student Convocation ceremony. The new students were then introduced to the directors, heads, and chairs of the various academic and non-academic departments, who gave them an overview of VCUarts Qatar’s BFA, BA and MFA programmes.The orientation programme for new students was a three-day activity-driven introduction to VCUarts Qatar. Students from the senior, junior, and sophomore years, along with the Student Government Association, and the University’s Student Affairs department were involved in organising the programme.The introductions, brainstorming, and team-building activities gave the latest cohort a taste of the academic pathways and served as an ice-breaker between the new students and the rest of the community.During the same week, the University’s Department of Human Resources held a one-day off-campus gathering for new and returning faculty and staff, where the leadership team shared priorities and strategic developments for the upcoming year. Awards for outstanding teaching and services were handed out to deserving faculty and staff, during the one-day event.