Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar hosted a special event dedicated to new students and their families to familiarize them with life at VCUarts Qatar

Qatar - April 13, 2019:  Virginia Commonwealth University of the school of the Arts in Qatar (VCUarts Qatar) in Education City welcomed more than 90 new students at an exciting orientation program entitled “Hayakom”, which is the Arabic word for “welcome”.

The event began with an introduction from Katherine Magnum, the university’s Director of Recruitment and Admissions, followed by a welcome note from Executive Dean Dr. Donald N. Baker.

Teslim Sanni, the President of the university’s Student Government Association (SGA) took the stage to welcome the new students and to give them some insights into what university life would be like. He stressed the importance of balancing academics with extra-curricular activities to ensure that everyone makes the most of their college years. 

He said, “When you start taking classes, don’t let it take the most of you. Participate in extracurricular activities and talk to people outside your circle. Make friends with students from other universities and professors from other departments. A 4.0 GPA is very important, but a real university experience is just as essential.

The best way to make the most of your years here is by networking. VCUarts Qatar has some brilliant clubs and activities for you to engage in. Today is a remarkable milestone of your life. Be persistent, be hardworking and most definitely, have a great time.”

Sanni’s speech was followed by a welcome from 2004 alumna Amal Ameen who shared her journey and life after VCUarts Qatar. She is a successful designer and has several awards and accolades to her name. 

Multiple sessions commenced around the campus thereafter, catering to the different types of students that applied, from expat freshmen to local Qatari students. A panel discussion took place simultaneously which welcomed new students as well as their parents.

Several chairs of the various departments including Fashion Design, Interior Design, Graphic Design, Painting and Printmaking, Art History, and Art Foundation took turns to explain their programs and how it could be beneficial to the students.

Fleming Jeffries, the Interim Director of the Painting and Printmaking department spoke about the contemporary art curriculum. “It’s still a young art community here in Doha, but in the next few years, you’ll see real growth,” she explained. 

The event ended on a high note with a “Pick Up Party” wherein the successful students picked up their letters of acceptance. The event was a great success, according to Student Recruitment & Admissions Counselor Fatima Al-Kharaz. 

“This is a great opportunity to introduce the students and parents to the programs that we have at VCUarts Qatar. We have brought people from all the majors including the professors, students and graduates themselves to speak about their full experiences starting from the day they join to the day they actually graduate and the journey afterwards.

A lot of students showed up and we’re all quite excited for the year to come.” 
92 students (54 Qataris) were admitted to various programs from 19
different nationalities.