+ A
A -
QNA
Doha
Qatar University (QU) has announced new measures related to the evaluation process for students in the current Spring 2020 semester following the transition to a distance learning system as part of the preventive measures to control coronavirus (COVID-19).
In a message to the students, Qatar University President Dr Hassan bin Rashid al Derham said the university has decided to continue teaching with distance learning for the remainder of the current semester (Spring 2020).
Over the last few days, the university has discussed the methods used to evaluate students. All the colleges of the Qatar University and the student affairs departments participated in this conversation and provided valuable insights.
“During these discussions, we examined a variety of evaluation examples used by regional and international universities,” the QU president said, adding that over the past few days, the university has deliberated on the methods of evaluating
students.
He said, “During the meetings, we have examined a variety of evaluation examples applied by regional and international universities. In addition, the university has taken into account a number of important factors, such as ensuring the quality and seriousness of the education process and the need to reduce anxiety and stress on both students and faculty members.
“Another important factor is to ensure that students are not adversely affected by this shift and to provide them with appropriate compensation and assessment opportunities. In alignment with this, the university has decided to maintain the scale of final estimates currently in use (the letter system A, B +, B, etc.) while implementing new procedures that will help to reduce anxiety and will give students an opportunity to maintain their academic performance.”
He expressed confidence that the university had chosen the optimal evaluation method to be adapted and that the additional procedures outlined above would ensure that students would not be adversely affected by this sudden transition of the learning process. It will also provide opportunities for compensation in order to protect the student’s overall academic performance.
“I am also confident that this choice will motivate students to work even harder and will support them to finish the academic semester and get the highest of grades,” he added.
QU provided a document containing a set of questions and answers that could provide further explanation of the new procedure outlined, adding that this file will also be published on the University’s website.
It is important to understand that we are currently living through exceptional circumstances that enforced a semester upon us that differs from any previous semesters because in exceptional circumstances, exceptional procedures are required. Therefore, patience, flexibility and mutual understanding should be practiced by all members of QU community. This is why I would like to take this opportunity to call upon all students and faculty members to do their best and work together to achieve optimal benefit considering what is available. We shall aspire to support the students to gain the required skills and information in order to achieve the expected outputs of the educational process that will qualify them to serve their communities and nations.
“In the end, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to my fellow faculty members and researchers, who have positively responded to this transition and showed their high sense of responsibility. I would also like to thank the university employees who spared no effort and worked tirelessly day and night to move the University through this transition and implement the new learning system in record time,” Dr Derham said.
He added, “To you, my dear students, I would like to share my gratitude and appreciation for your understanding, cooperation and continued hard work. I also extend my gratitude to your families for their understanding, cooperation and support for students and the efforts of the University. I am confident that the University, with the cooperation and solidarity of all of us, will emerge from this phase stronger.”
Doha
Qatar University (QU) has announced new measures related to the evaluation process for students in the current Spring 2020 semester following the transition to a distance learning system as part of the preventive measures to control coronavirus (COVID-19).
In a message to the students, Qatar University President Dr Hassan bin Rashid al Derham said the university has decided to continue teaching with distance learning for the remainder of the current semester (Spring 2020).
Over the last few days, the university has discussed the methods used to evaluate students. All the colleges of the Qatar University and the student affairs departments participated in this conversation and provided valuable insights.
“During these discussions, we examined a variety of evaluation examples used by regional and international universities,” the QU president said, adding that over the past few days, the university has deliberated on the methods of evaluating
students.
He said, “During the meetings, we have examined a variety of evaluation examples applied by regional and international universities. In addition, the university has taken into account a number of important factors, such as ensuring the quality and seriousness of the education process and the need to reduce anxiety and stress on both students and faculty members.
“Another important factor is to ensure that students are not adversely affected by this shift and to provide them with appropriate compensation and assessment opportunities. In alignment with this, the university has decided to maintain the scale of final estimates currently in use (the letter system A, B +, B, etc.) while implementing new procedures that will help to reduce anxiety and will give students an opportunity to maintain their academic performance.”
He expressed confidence that the university had chosen the optimal evaluation method to be adapted and that the additional procedures outlined above would ensure that students would not be adversely affected by this sudden transition of the learning process. It will also provide opportunities for compensation in order to protect the student’s overall academic performance.
“I am also confident that this choice will motivate students to work even harder and will support them to finish the academic semester and get the highest of grades,” he added.
QU provided a document containing a set of questions and answers that could provide further explanation of the new procedure outlined, adding that this file will also be published on the University’s website.
It is important to understand that we are currently living through exceptional circumstances that enforced a semester upon us that differs from any previous semesters because in exceptional circumstances, exceptional procedures are required. Therefore, patience, flexibility and mutual understanding should be practiced by all members of QU community. This is why I would like to take this opportunity to call upon all students and faculty members to do their best and work together to achieve optimal benefit considering what is available. We shall aspire to support the students to gain the required skills and information in order to achieve the expected outputs of the educational process that will qualify them to serve their communities and nations.
“In the end, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to my fellow faculty members and researchers, who have positively responded to this transition and showed their high sense of responsibility. I would also like to thank the university employees who spared no effort and worked tirelessly day and night to move the University through this transition and implement the new learning system in record time,” Dr Derham said.
He added, “To you, my dear students, I would like to share my gratitude and appreciation for your understanding, cooperation and continued hard work. I also extend my gratitude to your families for their understanding, cooperation and support for students and the efforts of the University. I am confident that the University, with the cooperation and solidarity of all of us, will emerge from this phase stronger.”
