Over 100 Qatari 11th grade students who participated at Texas A&M University at Qatar (TAMUQ) annual EMPC (Electrical, Mechanical, Petroleum, Chemical) Summer Program along with officials from Texas A&M University at Qatar, paid a visit to DOHALAND's Knowledge Enrichment Centre moored off Doha Corniche.
The visit comes after a successful collaboration between the TAMUQ and DOHALAND in June 2009, which gave last year's alumni an opportunity to familiarize themselves with 'Musheireb', DOHALAND's flagship project. The benefits to students, faculty and even DOHALAND staff brought about by the previous collaboration meant both DOHALAND and TAMUQ were keen to keep this partnership alive in 2010. In the spirit of DOHALAND's CSR initiative and founding pillar of 'Enrichment', it was a natural progression for the group to visit the Knowledge Enrichment Centre which opened earlier this year.
Mariam Al-Mannai, Director of Student and Community Relations, spoke of the goals of the EMPC Summer Program saying, "This program is aimed at enhancing the experiences of outstanding 11th grade Qatari students and introducing them to the engineering majors offered at TAMUQ. Members of the industry are invited to enlighten the group on the importance of engineering and the need for Qatari engineers both in the State of Qatar and worldwide, as well as take them on field trips to companies and sites. I would like to take this opportunity to express my profound gratitude to DOHALAND for their continuous collaboration through events and programs with TexasA&M Qatar."
Officials from main campus at Texas,United States were present and part of TAMUQ delegation including Dr. Cesar Malave, Associate Dean for Engineering, Texas A&M University. Speaking of the visit, Dr Malave said: "Our students were extremely intrigued by the 'Heart of Doha' (now renamed 'Musheireb') presentation that DOHALAND provided during the 2009 program. By supporting last summer's endeavour, DOHALAND greatly contributed to the growth of Qatari engineers in the State of Qatar, and I feel sure that today's visit to the wonderful new institution that is the Knowledge Enrichment Centre will be another great opportunity for our summer program students to familiarize themselves with such an important Qatari organization and the crucial work that they are doing to reshape the landscape of Doha."
During the visit, the group toured the current exhibition, displays and artifacts housed at the Knowledge Enrichment Centre. They were also treated to a captivating presentation on DOHALAND's project and unique architectural language. Earlier in June 2009, DOHALAND gave the participating students a presentation on the Musheireb project, highlighting opportunities for engineers to contribute and be involved in this exciting and important development in Qatar.
Students attending the program learnt about the different engineering majors, how to use their time constructively to complete assigned projects, gained a better and clearer understanding of each major and which one may be better for them, as well as learn how to work in a team under time constraints.
"Last year's TAMUQ program was clearly a great success," said Maryam Al Mansoori HR Manager of DOHALAND. "This program truly gives students a better understanding of the engineering programs offered, and DOHALAND is delighted to be associated with such an initiative. We at DOHALAND are great believers in the next generation of Qatari leaders and encourage this through our very own 'Future Affiliates Club' which gives an insight into the working world for the nation's upcoming graduates."
DOHALAND's Knowledge Enrichment Centre has, since its opening earlier this year, proven very popular with residents and visitors, as well as several educational institutes in Qatar, as the ideal setting to educate themselves on the traditions and heritage of Qatari ancestors and history and learn more about future plans for the regeneration of Doha. It has attracted visitors from around the world with its innovative design and unique exhibits, while its state of the art facilities hosted several key conferences and symposiums mainly focusing on Green Building and sustainability practices.
