Qatar Foundation launches Promising Students Program

As part of its drive to attract enrollment of some of the brightest young Qatari students in the country at Education City, Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development hosted an event to officially launch its latest initiative, the Promising Students Program.

Held on September 21 at the Hamad Bin Khalifa University Student Center, the event witnessed the gathering of parents and students taking part in the program, to provide information about the universities in Education City, the admissions process and different aspects of the new outreach program.

The Promising Students Program is geared at students who attend Qatar’s independent schools, with the goal of better preparing them for admission into Education City universities.

The program is expected to support prospective Qatari students interested in studying at the universities in Education City, in areas like standardized testing and college admission.

A total of 100 students have been selected for this year’s program debut, out of a strong applicant pool of about 300. Of the 100, male and female students took half of the openings each.

“The goal of the Promising Students Program is to build a strong pool of applications. It will feature extremely talented and bright Qatari students who are expected to go on and apply to some of the best education programs Education City has to offer,” said Maha Al Thani, Recruitment and Outreach Coordinator, Education Division at Qatar Foundation.

To be selected, Qatari students of independent schools across the country with a class average of 85% and above took an English-language proficiency test as well as submitted an application of intent.

The selection process started during the winter of their Grade 11, after which the Promising Students Program coordinators worked with the students through the academic year until the following March.

In offering test preparations, the Promising Students Program partnered with the British Council who offered their expertise on the IELTS test, and with Sylvan who extended their expertise on the ACT test.  Test preparation was covered during the Grade 11 year. In the spring, the students then took the IELTS and ACT examinations.

With the students now in Grade 12, the Promising Students Program will be working with them in a number of other areas related to college admission. A range of workshops will be held offering expertise on how to write a college admission personal statement to developing a CV and interviewing skills.

“This program is important because it is about providing additional opportunities for students to prepare themselves for college admission,” said Asmaa Al Hajaji, Recruitment and Outreach Coordinator, Education Division at Qatar Foundation.

Alreem Al Mazroei is a student at Rabaa Al Adwea, and is participating in the program:  “I felt very lucky to be selected for this program where I received test preparation for ACT and IELTS. I achieved my goal of getting good scores on the exams thanks to the help of the instructors and the comfortable setting in the student center.  I look forward to applying to the universities in Education City.” 

All Qatari students of independent schools who meet the application criteria can apply for the Promising Students Program. They can get more information by contacting outreach@qf.org.qa.

The Promising Students Program information session takes place just as Qatar Foundation’s annual undergraduate admissions recruiting campaign kicks off.  The annual campaign, entitled Discover Education City, is directed at prospective students and their parents. It is designed to raise awareness about the academic programs offered at the universities, the admissions process and the vast resources available at Qatar Foundation’s Education City.  The campaign comprises high school visits, counselor workshops and a gala event in Qatar.  The gala event is scheduled for October 5 at the Hamad Bin Khalifa University Student Center in Education City.