Northwestern University in Qatar marked an important milestone this month when it welcomed its fourth incoming class, giving the university a full complement of students for the first time in its short history.
Students at the NU-Q campus
“The Class of 2015’s arrival is significant not only for each of the students who are joining the NU-Q community and beginning their university studies, but also for the university itself,” said NU-Q dean and CEO Everette E Dennis.
“For the first time Northwestern will have a complete student body, which means that NU-Q will be home to an even richer academic and student life experience.”
The Class of 2015 has been on campus little more than a week, but its impact can already be felt, said associate dean for student affairs Debra Wood.
“You can feel more energy and enthusiasm in the hallways, lounge, and at student events with the addition of nearly 50 new students,” Wood said.
“Now that we have a critical mass of students we are seeing growth in our clubs and organisations, as well as the birth of a few new ones. Discussions outside the classroom are livelier and more intense as a wider range of opinions are expressed.”
All students at NU-Q will benefit from a greater variety of experience and insight into university life, said senior associate dean Richard Roth.
“The new class is significant,” he explained, “because for the first time freshman will benefit from having role models in the seniors who will show them how to study, how to behave and how to succeed here.”
“Welcoming the Class of 2015 is tremendously exciting,” said James Schwoch, senior associate dean for the communication programme.
“But the major milestone is yet to come. Students will finally have gone through the full four-year programme and we’re going to have our first graduation in the spring.”
Students, new and returning, are enthusiastic about the year ahead.
“So far classes are a lot of work, but they’re great,” said Jaser Alagha, a freshman communication student. “The work I’m doing is work that I love.”
Alagha is enrolled in four classes this semester, including global media, analysing media texts and psychology.
Motasem Kalaji helped welcome the Class of 2015 to NU-Q and was impressed by the class’ enthusiasm.
The Class of 2015 comprises 27 communication and 20 journalism students. A total of 18 nationalities are represented, including Qatar, US, Tunisia, India, Canada, Indonesia, Jordan, Palestine, Egypt, Pakistan, UAE, Australia, New Zealand, Iran, Oman, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iraq, and China.+