Qatar Foundation’s Academic Bridge Program (ABP) welcomed more than 330 students for the commencement of the spring semester at events on Saturday and Sunday.
ABP students at a welcome event
ABP enrols new students twice yearly. The majority join during the fall semester, starting classes in August. Around 30 more students are accepted in the spring semester.
This year however, student enrolment for the spring semester reached a record high of more than 50 making the Class of 2011 the largest class to study in the ABP since its inception in 2001.
Students enrolling for the spring semester start classes in January, studying for only one academic term in contrast to the two terms the rest of the students take. The ABP student population has boys and girls in equal numbers.
With only two months to go before Education City university deadlines, ABP director Dr Miles Lovelace encouraged students to focus on their studies and commit to their schedules diligently, urging them to aim for high grades.
He announced that this April ABP will be visited by the Commission on English Language Programs from Washington DC to evaluate the institution as a candidate for international accreditation.
“We certainly expect to pass and to be accredited by the summer. Thus, your class will be the first class to graduate from ABP after its accreditation and this will assist you if you ever wish to study in the US,” he explained.
Dr Lovelace told the students: “Our goal is always to help you and to push you to work hard so that you can achieve close to you maximum ability. Most of you plan to enter universities next year, and to do this, you will need to come to school every day – and to be on time- and to do all of the assignments given by your teachers. We know you are capable of doing this because we have selected you carefully. But it is up to you to meet these expectations. Get off to a good start the first week and continue to do your very best work right up to the final exams in May.”
ABP’s assistant director of student affairs Moza al-Boainain informed the students that apart from studies, they can also participate in activities such as debates, Model United Nations, photography, on-campus employment, community service, volunteer work, sports and recreation.
“We also have counselling and advisory services to guide students regarding their choice of future profession, including checking approved majors with sponsors and helping them with application procedures to gain admission to universities in Education City and abroad,” she added.
ABP’s academic affairs assistant director Dr Raul explained how students are able to find out who their academic advisers are, how to read their class schedules and how to locate the different classes.
Students were then allowed to meet with their respective advisers who gave them further tips and answered queries.
This year is unique to the ABP as it celebrates its 10th anniversary and marks the culmination of two years of work towards obtaining accreditation as an English teaching programme from the Commission on English Language Program Accreditation.
