HEI conducts scholarship awareness campaign

Advisors from the Advising and Career Development Office of the Higher Education Institute (HEI) recently conducted a large-scale awareness campaign aimed at briefing students on the scholarship system available for Qataris. The campaign, which took place between October 2009 and February 2010, targeted 12 grade students in more than 36 boys and girls secondary schools.

The officials also furnished the conditions and requirements of scholarship opportunities and the many options provided by the State to Qatari students to complete their post secondary studies. Advisors focused on how the students select their specializations or majors based on their abilities, inclinations, attitudes and the needs of the labor market. The labor market changes and the current and future needs were also presented.

"The campaign was designed to raise awareness of the scholarship system and opportunities and the many options provided to Qatari twelve grade students in boys and girls secondary schools," said Ms. Fawzia Al Neema, Director, Office of Advising and Career Development. "The advisors also provided tips on the HEI competence and its functions, its offices including the Office of Advising and Career Development, the Scholarship Office, Institutional Standards Office, and the Financial and Administrative Office."

The campaign reviewed the most important scholarship programs of HEI and their requirements, particularly the Hamad bin Khalifa Grant and the Tamim Bin Hamad, which have been allocated ten and twenty world-class universities respectively. Students were briefed on the benefits - material and moral incentives - provided by the grants, the new universities list which contains 675 universities and colleges.

"The awareness-raising campaign will continue to cover all schools, therefore, I invite students, parents and schools to communicate with our academic advisers to equip them with the best counseling services in accordance with established scientific and professional practices," said Al Neema.

Students raised many questions including whether the high school certificate scores are important and necessary to apply for universities and meet the admission requirements at universities in the Education City, the difference between ACT and SAT testing, the deadline for registration in the universities at Education City, the terms of enrollment at American universities, whether they could study languages at the expense of HEI, the best universities, admission requirements at the College of the North Atlantic. Some even asked if it was possible for excellent non-Qatari students to study at the expense of the HEI in universities included the SEC lists and which are the most required disciplines in the labor market.

On her part, Ilham Ahmadani - the chief counseling officer at the Advising and Career Development Office and the coordinator of the awareness campaign commended the cooperation and interest of schools principals and schools advising counselors who participated in the campaign. She noted the growing awareness among students about the importance of the role of an academic advisor and the need to consult them on how to choose the appropriate field of study.

Ms Ahmadani urged parents to adopt scientific planning method for the future of their children career because they represent the real wealth of Qatar.

The Advising and Career Office is responsible for providing comprehensive advising & career counseling services that will help students and graduates make educational and career choices based on their interests, abilities, values as well as the needs of the labor market. Among its, activities, the Office conducts several field visits and provides diverse learning resources and it's and accredited center for TOEFL, SAT and IELTS, organizes an open day for students wishing to join universities to provide them with counseling services.