UDST student population rises threefold in last two years

* UDST organises career fair with participation of over 50 companies

 

The number of students at University of Doha for Science and Technology (UDST) has tripled in the last couple of years, a top university official said on Wednesday.“There has been a great increase in the number of students in the last two years with several new programmes introduced in all colleges of the university. In 2020, the student population was over 2,000 and currently we have more than 6,100 students at the campus,” Dr Salem Al-Naemi, president of UDST, said in reply to a question from Gulf Times.Dr Al-Naemi was speaking to the media on the sidelines of a career fair organised by UDST with the participation of over 50 companies in the country.“The career fair is an occasion and an opportunity for the students to look for careers after completing their programmes or for internships. This provides opportunities for the student community to have an idea of the job market and get prepared accordingly. The students will also have the opportunity to explore and higher studies opportunities at other universities who are present at the fair,” explained Dr Al-Naemi.The two-day fair, aimed at providing employment and sponsorship opportunities, gave visitors a chance to delve into the professional world, enquire about the key skills employers look for, and discover the vacancies available in the marketplace.Leading up to the event, the career services team at UDST hosted preparatory sessions for students and alumni to practise their job pitch skills, receive interview tips and help sharpen their resumes.The first day of the fair was dedicated to career awareness through exhibitor-led sessions. Topics such as teamwork, soft skills and professionalism, workplace communication, durable skills for the future workplace, competencies, interview techniques, industry insights, cyber security and career expansion were discussed respectively by professionals from Milaha, North Oil Company, Qatalum, Qatar Chemical Company, Qatar Petrochemical Company, talabat, Ooredoo, National Cyber Security Agency and Vodafone.On the second day of the fair, companies were provided with personalised booths to exhibit their services and gain access to potential candidates who align with their interests.“UDST’s academic model is a successful example of how a higher education institution can develop work-ready graduates. We adopt an applied approach to education and collaborate with industry partners and experts to develop programmes that help respond to the economy’s needs for innovators, entrepreneurs, and a highly skilled workforce. UDST’s career fair is an opportunity for prospective employers to attract the most talented candidates and a chance for our students and alumni to show what they’re capable of and also attend seminars and lectures that further develop their knowledge and skills. UDST also boasts a career services section, to assist students with career plans and job search techniques and help them sharpen their employability skills,” added Dr Al-Naemi.UDST will hold the career fair on a yearly basis to provide a space for students, alumni, and employers to interact, network, share information, and explore numerous career opportunities. The event will offer insights as well, into the organisations’ culture and the way candidates envision their career paths. All sectors of the economy were represented at the career fair including banking and finance, technology, telecommunications, engineering, healthcare, the oil and gas industry, and more.