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Tribune News Network
Doha
In an interview, Dr Rana Sobh, Director of the Qatar University’s (QU) Core Curriculum Program (CCP), discusses the format, vision and values of the educational programmes and the changes that the programme has recently made to support QU’s vision for transformation.
All undergraduates of Qatar University, irrespective of their majors, are required to complete 33 credit hours of the CCP prior to receiving a baccalaureate degree. The new requirements for CCP degrees encompass a set of college-level courses drawn from different disciplines.
Dr Rana Sobh said, “We strive to offer a common academic experience that binds students from diverse disciplines together. Taking courses from outside their majors is crucial for students’ intellectual and personal growth; it helps them become rounded and gain a broad perspective on life. Through learner-centric, digitally enriched and entrepreneurial approaches and a careful selection of courses, the CCP cultivates a range of skills, knowledge, values and dispositions that students need for their academic success, intellectual growth, and responsible citizenship.”
“The ultimate goal is to prepare well-rounded and engaged graduates who are able to cope and succeed in an uncertain and ever changing world and in return bring about positive change in Qatar and beyond,” she added.
The CCP has undergone an extensive Academic Program Review (APR) and a structured enhancement process has resulted in many recent changes that have led to the requirements of the New Core Curriculum degree for all students admitted to QU in the fall of 2021.
Commenting on the new changes, Dr. Rana says, “These changes will probably result in some implications on scheduling and sections’ offering by a number of departments. Dean of General Studies formed a CCP Restructuring Implementation Task Force (CCP-RIT) to ensure a smooth implementation of changes that minimizes any negative potential impact of these changes on students’ study plans and schedules.”
In collaboration with the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U), the CCP has offered the Core Curriculum Certificate in Teaching CCP (CCC) to members of the QU faculty who teach CCP courses. The CCC is a prestigious vocational development program and the first of its kind in the region.
“52 instructors have successfully completed the CCC in Cohort 1 and the CCP will accommodate the remaining instructors in the pool during Spring and Fall 2021,” said Dr. Rana.
Discussing the new initiatives of the CCP, Dr. Rana said: “In support of the Education Excellence Themes Framework, the CCP has recently launched a number of faculty and student awards. The ‘CCP Excellence in Teaching Award’ is designed to recognize faculty members teaching CCP courses that demonstrate the exemplary implementation of QU Educational Excellence Themes.”
The CCP has also launched three student awards. The first recognises students who demonstrate exceptional capacity in innovation and entrepreneurship. The second award recognises the ability of students to integrate knowledge and communicate it through digital creative products. And the last award recognizes students who stand out in their civic commitment and contribution to the community of Qatar.
The CCP is a connective tissue that binds together all QU students and graduates. “We encourage students to engage in academic and social engagement. We inspire graduates of the QU to bring meaningful change to the nation,” she added.
By adopting a student-centered approach to teaching and learning, the CCP gives students the opportunity to explore a wide range of subjects beyond their field of study that broaden their knowledge and outlook on life.
Sharing Dr. Rana’s experience, she said, “The journey has been challenging, yet very exciting and rewarding. My mandate was to reinvigorate the Core Curriculum Program in order to align it with the transformational QU strategy. The challenging part was that I was trying to balance my desire to propose an ambitious model in line with best practice in general education, on the one hand, and my determination to suggest something that could easily be implemented in our QU context.”
Doha
In an interview, Dr Rana Sobh, Director of the Qatar University’s (QU) Core Curriculum Program (CCP), discusses the format, vision and values of the educational programmes and the changes that the programme has recently made to support QU’s vision for transformation.
All undergraduates of Qatar University, irrespective of their majors, are required to complete 33 credit hours of the CCP prior to receiving a baccalaureate degree. The new requirements for CCP degrees encompass a set of college-level courses drawn from different disciplines.
Dr Rana Sobh said, “We strive to offer a common academic experience that binds students from diverse disciplines together. Taking courses from outside their majors is crucial for students’ intellectual and personal growth; it helps them become rounded and gain a broad perspective on life. Through learner-centric, digitally enriched and entrepreneurial approaches and a careful selection of courses, the CCP cultivates a range of skills, knowledge, values and dispositions that students need for their academic success, intellectual growth, and responsible citizenship.”
“The ultimate goal is to prepare well-rounded and engaged graduates who are able to cope and succeed in an uncertain and ever changing world and in return bring about positive change in Qatar and beyond,” she added.
The CCP has undergone an extensive Academic Program Review (APR) and a structured enhancement process has resulted in many recent changes that have led to the requirements of the New Core Curriculum degree for all students admitted to QU in the fall of 2021.
Commenting on the new changes, Dr. Rana says, “These changes will probably result in some implications on scheduling and sections’ offering by a number of departments. Dean of General Studies formed a CCP Restructuring Implementation Task Force (CCP-RIT) to ensure a smooth implementation of changes that minimizes any negative potential impact of these changes on students’ study plans and schedules.”
In collaboration with the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U), the CCP has offered the Core Curriculum Certificate in Teaching CCP (CCC) to members of the QU faculty who teach CCP courses. The CCC is a prestigious vocational development program and the first of its kind in the region.
“52 instructors have successfully completed the CCC in Cohort 1 and the CCP will accommodate the remaining instructors in the pool during Spring and Fall 2021,” said Dr. Rana.
Discussing the new initiatives of the CCP, Dr. Rana said: “In support of the Education Excellence Themes Framework, the CCP has recently launched a number of faculty and student awards. The ‘CCP Excellence in Teaching Award’ is designed to recognize faculty members teaching CCP courses that demonstrate the exemplary implementation of QU Educational Excellence Themes.”
The CCP has also launched three student awards. The first recognises students who demonstrate exceptional capacity in innovation and entrepreneurship. The second award recognises the ability of students to integrate knowledge and communicate it through digital creative products. And the last award recognizes students who stand out in their civic commitment and contribution to the community of Qatar.
The CCP is a connective tissue that binds together all QU students and graduates. “We encourage students to engage in academic and social engagement. We inspire graduates of the QU to bring meaningful change to the nation,” she added.
By adopting a student-centered approach to teaching and learning, the CCP gives students the opportunity to explore a wide range of subjects beyond their field of study that broaden their knowledge and outlook on life.
Sharing Dr. Rana’s experience, she said, “The journey has been challenging, yet very exciting and rewarding. My mandate was to reinvigorate the Core Curriculum Program in order to align it with the transformational QU strategy. The challenging part was that I was trying to balance my desire to propose an ambitious model in line with best practice in general education, on the one hand, and my determination to suggest something that could easily be implemented in our QU context.”
