A future-ready Innovation Lab has been opened at Georgetown University in Qatar's (GU-Q) Library. Dean Safwan Masri inaugurated the new facility at a ribbon-cutting ceremony held during the Library Open House event.
The Innovation Lab serves as a dedicated space where students can foster their creativity and produce content for academic coursework or personal development.
This state-of-the-art facility is equipped with cutting-edge multimedia production and editing tools, providing students with the means to enhance their digital and media skills, with dedicated library staff on hand for support and guidance.
"The Innovation Lab is a bold step towards confronting future challenges with full confidence and ultra-modern skills," stated dean Masri.
Data, Media, and Web librarian Robert Laws observed that in an increasingly digital and interconnected world, higher education institutions are proactively embracing new technologies to better equip their students for success, and support innovative pedagogies that enhance the learning experience.
"The goal of the innovation lab is to provide a space where students can build skills that will help them in the classroom and in the workforce as well as provide faculty additional opportunities to design assignments that are innovative.”
The array of equipment available is extensive, including a professional podcasting mixer, four microphones, video cameras, action cameras, handheld audio recorders, three Mac computers loaded with the latest audio, video, and imaging editing software, as well as supplementary accessories for audio and video recording.
The new resources will help students to gain access to advanced equipment and software currently not accessible to them elsewhere on campus.
Examples include professional video editing software such as Final Cut Pro and Adobe Creative Cloud applications.
Students will also get hands-on experience with equipment to produce podcasts, creative videos, and develop polished presentations.
