LANI ROSE R DIZON

DOHA The Northwestern University in Qatar (NU-Q) which offers programmes in journalism and in communication began its five-day orientation on Sunday.

The orientation provides incoming students greater understanding about the university, its programs, and the community within.

The students get to meet the professors to learn more about the courses and classes.

Suzanne Dun from the admissions department said, “This would help them understand all the things that will be coming so that they can be successful in their class.

The other part is to develop community.

So they know their fellow students, and they understand what it means to be a wild cat.

We are simultaneously preparing them for full and meaningful participation in our community.

And I think they are an amazingly energetic bright motivated group of young students that are the future of media in Qatar”.

Classes will open next Sunday, but the move into the CMU-Q building would be possible only by November.

To further guide the incoming students about university life, a group of sophomore students have also taken the initiative to mentor the younger students.

Shannon Farhoud, a 2nd year Journalism student said, “We came here last year and we were the brand new class.

Everything was starting off.

We had the student affairs taking care of us, which was good.

But we didn’t have the student-to-student advice.

We wanted this year to give them our own opinions, as well as the professors and student affairs ideas.

So we’ve set ourselves up as role models and so if ever they need us, they can always come to us.” During the orientation, a student panel is formed, where incoming students learn more about life in the university and life in Qatar.

“Students are given advice on how to cope with university life.

Honestly for me, it was just talking to people.

I made very good friends in international orientation.

And because we’re such a small community, it makes it easier to know people and that helps you cope with it,” added Shannon.