Qatar varsity medical students honoured

Qatar University College of Medicine (QU-CMED) recently honoured Dean’s List students at a ceremony attended by the CMED administration, faculty, students and their families.
A total of 26 distinguished students (44% of the first year’s cohort) who obtained 3.5 GPA or higher received their certificates from Dr Egon Toft, V-P for medical education and CMED dean, for their outstanding academic performance during Fall 2015.
In his remarks, Dr Toft said: “You are here because you have demonstrated distinctive excellence in both the social and personal aspects of learning. The College of Medicine adopts a learning method that is new to Qatar. It is called problem-based learning, and you, a remarkable 44% of the first year’s cohort, are the answer to the question that was raised when the curriculum was being developed in Qatar: will problem-based learning work in Qatar? Thank you for giving us the answer. Yes. It works.
“It works because of your excellent ability to learn in teams - dialoguing, researching, conceiving hypotheses and discussing possible solutions in a team-based learning context. It also works because of your more solitary, and equally necessary, endeavours of scholarship - thoughtful reading and reflection and the formulation of ideas in writing characterised by clarity and reflective of deep understanding of your subjects.”
Commenting on her achievement, Almaha Saad al-Muhannadi said: “The key element for achieving what I have achieved is the desire to be nothing ordinary. That is why I put everything I have into the knowledge and tasks I was given, to ensure that everything was falling into place. Looking back now, I can only remember the great knowledge I have gained, disregarding the pressure and anxiety I faced.”
Speaking on the determination and motivation necessary to achieve academic excellence, Mohamed Hussain Aljaber said: “Being one of the Dean’s List students will push me to put in more effort to achieve higher levels. I am proud to be a CMED student who will be committed to serve his community after a few years.”
Stressing the importance of good study habits and study/student life balance, Wafaa Ahmed Mohamed said: “Devoting time and effort to quickly comprehend lessons is an important key to success. Students should also remember to enjoy their academic life and benefit from all offered opportunities.”