QU’s overseas ‘study fair’ attracts good turnout

Qatar University (QU)’s fifth Study Abroad Fair, which was held on Monday, drew over 22 academic institutions as well as several ambassadors from countries that provide study-abroad opportunities to QU students. The event, organised annually by the university’s Scholarships and Partnerships Office, was opened by QU president Dr Hassan Rashid al-Derham in the presence of QU V-Ps and the ambassadors of Canada, Spain, the Netherlands, South Korea, Japan and Sweden. Additionally, representatives from the embassies of US, France, Germany and Switzerland were on hand to provide students with insights about graduate and undergraduate programmes and scholarship opportunities available at universities and colleges in their respective countries.  More than 600 students benefited from the information provided at the respective booths, QU said in a statement yesterday.As with previous years, the event gave students the opportunity to meet embassy and academic representatives to learn about academic opportunities as well as cultural and other information about the various countries. QU faculty and researchers were also able to meet with their peers from overseas institutions and discuss possible academic and research collaboration.   The event also included a memorandum of understanding (MoU)-signing ceremony between QU and the Agency for International Development Co-operation (Spain) to establish a collaboration between Qatar University and the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. As a first step towards this, a lecturer for Spanish Language is expected at QU next September. Commenting on the MoU, Spain’s ambassador Ignacio Escobar said it would serve to strengthen the co-operation between both institutions. In his welcome remarks, Dr al-Derham said: “This event’s main objective is to promote various countries to Qatari nationals as destinations for graduate studies and to QU students who may benefit from scholarships offered by their governments as well as study abroad opportunities that will enrich their academic endeavours.” “With currently 66 scholarship holders in 11 countries around the world, it is fair to say that the objective to provide them with a variety of cultural and academic environments has been achieved,” he said, adding that the scholarship programme is preparing another 40 scholars to leave in the coming year.Scholarships and Partnerships Office director Cesar Wazen said QU has currently around 95 students on the programme list, noting that from 2011 to 2016, the number of enrolled students increased by 137%.   Chemistry student at the College of Arts & Sciences Ali al-Sammak, said: “The fair provides students with information about further education after graduation through direct contact with representatives.”