TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK

DOHA THE Academic Bridge Program of Qatar Foundation hosted a delegation of 7 visitors from the Petroleum Institute of Abu Dhabi recently.

The visit allowed educational leaders at the two institutions to share information and learn from one another.

The delegation from the Petroleum Institute of Abu Dhabi was led by the Dean of Academic Affairs at the institute Dr Ahmed al Shoaibi.

Director of the Academic Bridge Program by Dr Miles Lovelace and his administrative team hosted the delegates.

The Petroleum Institute of Abu Dhabi provides a world-class engineering education and conducts research in areas of significance to the energy industry.

The institute offers an Advanced University Placement programme (AUP) that helps students develop the knowledge, study skills and work habits necessary for success at the institute. The Academic Bridge Program (ABP) has a similar, though more broad mission, to help prepare high school graduates for success at English language-based universities, especially the universities in Education City. Both the ABP and the Petroleum Institute were founded in 2001. The ABP and the AUP programmes enroll about 300 students a year.

Issues discussed during the visit included admissions, recruitment, assessment, key performance indicators, student services, academic advising, learning support, data collection, the use of technology, and curriculum.

Assistant Director of Academic Affairs at the Academic Bridge Program Dr Mark Newmark said, “The Academic Bridge Program and the Advanced University Placement programme of the Petroleum Institute seem to have the same challenges.

We can improve the educational experiences of our students by learning how to best address those challenges.

There is enormous interest in working together and this visit is just one step in the collaborative process.” Assistant Director of Student Affairs Moza Buainain said, “This visit gave us the opportunity to learn about other, somewhat similar, educational programmes in the region. I also discussed with Enaam al Hunaini, the Academic Advisor in the Advanced University Placement programme at the Petroleum Institute, ways of using student services and activities to motivate students to learn and develop their creativity and leadership skills and to reduce absenteeism.” In the past year, the Academic Bridge Program has hosted similar delegations from the Qatar Aeronautical Institute and from the Education Ministry of France.