June 10, 2010
By Noimot Olayiwola
Staff Reporter
The Community College of Qatar (CCQ) will accommodate all applicants willing to study at the college regardless of the initial plans to admit only 300 students in the first year.
“Our plan is to meet the educational needs of all categories of students and we are ready to offer admission to anyone who knocks on our door,” the college’s dean Judith Hansen and project director Ibrahim al-Naimi told Gulf Times in an exclusive interview yesterday.
Hansen disclosed that the institution had received thousands of applications during the open house held recently, but said that about 1,000 have signed up to take part in the placement tests and orientation programme.
“Out of this lot, we will be selecting the best 300 students who have excelled in Math and English language in the placement exam. At the same time, we will be finding opportunities for all the students who want to come to CCQ by telling them when to enroll as our ultimate goal is to provide education for everybody approaching us and showing interest in the college,” she explained.
The dean reiterated that more students would be invited in January when the institution would begin its part-time courses and then in June, adding that many students had expressed their desire to study part-time.
To why the college has chosen to administer Act Compass, a different set of tests, she said: “We have chosen this because it is a special test particularly for students who have not used English as their first language. So Act Compass will be administering English to them as a second language.”
She explained that it was not a pass-fail test, as the college would not turn down anyone based on their test scores.
“The test is being viewed as a placement test that helps us to identify studies that suit students , because we want them to be successful and pass their courses and cope with their pursuit of degrees later on,” she maintained.
The college will begin offering two-year courses in three different degrees, namely associate degrees in Arts, Science and Applied Sciences by the academic year starting in September.
However, the college has extended the dates for signing up for its placement tests and orientation until July 7.
The placement test to be held from 8am to 12noon and from 1pm to 5pm at the Qatar University’s Foundation Programme (Men and women) building has four areas: Mathematics, English as Second Language (ESL), Listening, Reading and Essay.
Asked about the most sought after degree, she maintained that equal number of students have shown interests in all the three courses.
“We have not yet added up all of their interests though, but based on our interactions with some of the applicants, there are equal number of students enrolling in the associate degrees which will have combined core courses in English, Math, Communication, Social Sciences and the Humanities,” she mentioned.
“The big surprise to us however, was that there are many working students who wanted to take courses in applied sciences in order to improve their businesses and promote technologies. It was a surprise to us because we think that would make a difference in their businesses and help improve Qatar’s economy.”
Hansen added the college would contribute to Qatar’s economy and help achieve the Qatar National Vision 2030 by producing students who see learning as a way to improve themselves and their country.
“Any CCQ student who is successful in their associate degrees will be eligible for transfer to any university’s third year class provided their core courses tally with the university’s requirements,” she said mentioning that the college would soon hold meetings with senior officials at Qatar University and the Education City to discuss how CCQ students could be transferred to courses offered by these institutions.
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