The Academic Bridge Program (ABP) organised an orientation event for 250 new students at the Learning Resource Center, located at the ABP building on the campus of the Qatar Foundation.
During the meeting, the 2016-17 class students were introduced to the programme facilities, policies and activities, as well as the officers, faculty, and staff members, with whom they will work during the upcoming academic year. The orientation included an introductory speech delivered by ABP Director, Dr Bryan Lewallen, in which he welcomed the new students. After that, the students were walked around the building to be familiarised with its facilities and services.
Dr Bryan said: “Our faculty and staff members work hard for everything to run smoothly on the very first day of the new academic year. We look forward to a very successful and rewarding academic year.” He added: “I am very proud of ABP students and the accomplishments they achieve.”
Speaking on the first day of orientation, Dr Bryan welcomed the students and provided them with important information about the programme. Then a short film was presented summarising the life of ABP students during their one-year-long study prepared by last-year students. Subsequently, the students were divided into groups so that they could be introduced to the programme’s excellent facilities. They were taken in a tour around the Science and English sections, Student Services, Administration offices and labs, in addition to other dining and recreational facilities. Lunch with new students was the last activity of the first day of orientation.
As for the second day of orientation, Dr Bryan started by giving a simple presentation on the events and activities that the students would be engaging in. They were then divided into groups, and were taken to classrooms led by the faculty, who gave them short session about study skills such as time management and note-taking, which would make the future studies easier for them. After this, they were taken in shuttle buses on a tour across Education City, where they were able to learn more about the facilities and services of the City’s Recreation Center. Later, they went on an outdoor tour and visited the seven universities located on the campus before they visited the Student Center, ending up their tour with lunch together.
All new students had taken the Accuplacer test. The ABP administrators and department supervisors use the results to place each student at the appropriate level in English, mathematics, science, and computer skills.
Since its inception in 2001, the programme has graduated about 2,650 students, more than 85% of them enrolled at English-speaking universities in Qatar, USA, UK, or other countries abroad. In addition, the entire ABP faculty has experience ranging from 7 to 25 years – 15 years in average. Most of them have at least one master’s degree, and some hold doctoral degrees.
The mission of the Academic Bridge Program (ABP), a centre of Qatar Foundation that operates under pre-university education office, is to provide high school students graduated from Qatar schools and other similar schools with the academic and personal skills for success in reputable English-language universities, with special emphasis on preparing students for the universities in Qatar Foundation’s Education City. Since its launch in 2001, the programme has adapted model approach in teaching English, math, science, and computer skills, along with holding a broad range of activities including debates, a Model United Nations, school clubs and newspaper, sports teams, and students’ union.
The ABP is accredited by the Commission on English Language Accreditation (CEA) in the United States.
This makes it easier to fast-track ABP graduates into universities in the United States without the need for them to complete a university foundation year.
ORIENTATION: During the meeting, the 2016-17 class students were introduced to the programme facilities, policies and activities, as well as the officers, faculty, and staff members, with whom they will work during the upcoming academic year.
