CCQ orientation session explores IT, Engineering Technology career paths

The Community College of Qatar (CCQ) recently organised an all-day orientation session for its incoming students and a group of students and academic advisers from 13 high schools to help them explore the Information Technology (IT) and Engineering Technology (ET) educational paths. The event was held in response to the growing demand for competent professionals in technically-oriented positions across the industrial, commercial, and government sectors in Qatar. During the session, students took part in presentations about the College’s IT and Engineering academic programmes, in addition to meeting with representatives from a number of leading institutions to know more about potential career opportunities for graduates of those programmes. These institutions included Qatar Petroleum, Qatargas, Kahramaa, Es’hailSat, Qatar Financial Centre, and El Seif Engineering Contracting Co.Chair of the Engineering Technology Programme at CCQ, Dr Ahmad al-Omari said, “We pursue all prospects of preparing our students for their journey as aspiring professionals who can continually develop their skill-sets and advance their careers, while contributing to Qatar’s overall socioeconomic progress and help realise its vision as a nation. The crucial role Engineering Technology plays in pushing national development forward in various sectors places our ET graduates in one of the country’s fastest-growing career fields.”CCQ’s ET programmes integrate communication skills, theoretical, and applied competencies to get students up to speed with the latest technologies and engage them in a lifelong learning process. Endorsing a flexible 2+2 learning model means that the enrolled can graduate with an associate degree in Engineering Technology in two years, following which they can choose to join the labour market, or study for two more years towards earning a bachelor degree in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering.To complement their theoretical learning, the 176 male and female students currently enrolled in CCQ’s ET programmes undergo practical training in a number of latest-tech college laboratories equipped with state-of-the-art systems and devices, which is further augmented with internships at leading public institutions such as Hamad International Airport, Qatar Rail, Ashghal, Dolphin Energy, Qatar Petrochemical Company and many others.Chair of the Information Technology Programme, Dr Mohamed al-Dorani said, “The establishment of a knowledge-based society in Qatar requires building and operating a smart ICT infrastructure that powers national development in a broad range of disciplines. Certainly, vast technological resources and skilled personnel are crucial factors in managing as well as safeguarding such intricate IT systems - and that’s where the specialised academic programmes at CCQ come in.”In the context of promoting a greater understanding of and interest in the telecommunications sector, the IT Academic Department has also participated in Huawei’s annual weeklong programme “Seeds for the Future”, recently in Beijing, China.  In addition to the BS in Information Technology-Cyber and Network Security programme, CCQ offers a two-year Associate of Science in Information Technology, as well as a 2+2 BS in Information Technology-Network and Systems Administration.