As part of Qatar University's (QU) efforts to achieve its vision and connect students to the community, Qatar University (QU) - Deanship of General Studies has announced the launch of the 'Community Service-Based Learning' (UNIV 220) academic course, starting in the Fall semester of 2022.
The course is considered a cultural heritage of the World Cup because it is part of the Social and Behavioral Sciences group of university requirements. In the fall of 2022, students will engage in many challenging volunteer activities in various Qatar 2022 events.
"Highlighting Qatar's distinctive identity in this historical event will give them skills that will enrich their ability to respect and interact with others from different societies and cultures. This course seeks to develop students' inclinations towards service and community participation by engaging in exciting volunteer experiences in many fields, including sports, health, environmental, social and humanitarian, in which students will demonstrate their civilised human behaviour and contribute effectively to meeting the needs of their community, in addition to their evaluation of the experience of community service-based learning through reflective academic writings," QU said in a statement.
Community service-based learning (CSBL) is a type of experiential learning that combines academic study with meaningful participatory community service activities and structured reflective thought on the student's side. This approach is a fruitful educational experience for students to engage in many community events coming to Qatar, notably the World Cup, where the course allows students to participate in at least 40 hours of field community service outside the campus in partnership and cooperation with various authorities and institutions in the country to educate students about the needs of the community and then give them a sense of civic responsibility and development, the statement explains.
Dr Omar al-Ansari, vice-president for Academic Affairs at Qatar University, said: "We are excited to prepare the students with the skills to meet the needs and aspirations of society, especially for the largest sports event in the world (FIFA World Cup). This course will enable the students to achieve the university's strategic goals."
Prof Ibrahim al-Kaabi, dean of General Studies at QU, said the 'Community Service-Based Learning' course allows students to gain practical experiences in various fields of volunteer work and develop their inclinations towards public service and community participation.
He added, "Participating in such an approach teaches students a variety of abilities, including problem-solving, communication, leadership and responsible citizenship, as well as allowing them to apply these talents in real-life circumstances encountered through volunteer work and community service."
He said this will help QU achieve its goal of "excellence in community participation", which is one of the university's most critical strategic goals.
Prof Rana Sobh, former director of the University Requirements Programme and currently dean of the College of Business and Economics, said according to the Association of American Colleges and Universities, community service-based learning is one of the high-impact global practices in the field of public university education. It also helps meet the requirements for implementing the "experiential education", which is one of Qatar University's most important pillars of excellence in education, focusing on the student's independence and pushing him/her to relate to societal and human values, adapt to the world around him/her, and solve community problems.
She added that the students would learn, through this course, the basic concepts and features of community service, its benefits and its challenges. In addition, the system provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to respond to the urgent needs of society and increases their desire to engage in community work. Here, the possibility of applying what the student learned in the classroom to the community around him/her emerges, opening up new horizons for the student to come up with different results inspired by the practical experience s/he practices.
"Highlighting Qatar's distinctive identity in this historical event will give them skills that will enrich their ability to respect and interact with others from different societies and cultures. This course seeks to develop students' inclinations towards service and community participation by engaging in exciting volunteer experiences in many fields, including sports, health, environmental, social and humanitarian, in which students will demonstrate their civilised human behaviour and contribute effectively to meeting the needs of their community, in addition to their evaluation of the experience of community service-based learning through reflective academic writings," QU said in a statement.
Community service-based learning (CSBL) is a type of experiential learning that combines academic study with meaningful participatory community service activities and structured reflective thought on the student's side. This approach is a fruitful educational experience for students to engage in many community events coming to Qatar, notably the World Cup, where the course allows students to participate in at least 40 hours of field community service outside the campus in partnership and cooperation with various authorities and institutions in the country to educate students about the needs of the community and then give them a sense of civic responsibility and development, the statement explains.
Dr Omar al-Ansari, vice-president for Academic Affairs at Qatar University, said: "We are excited to prepare the students with the skills to meet the needs and aspirations of society, especially for the largest sports event in the world (FIFA World Cup). This course will enable the students to achieve the university's strategic goals."
Prof Ibrahim al-Kaabi, dean of General Studies at QU, said the 'Community Service-Based Learning' course allows students to gain practical experiences in various fields of volunteer work and develop their inclinations towards public service and community participation.
He added, "Participating in such an approach teaches students a variety of abilities, including problem-solving, communication, leadership and responsible citizenship, as well as allowing them to apply these talents in real-life circumstances encountered through volunteer work and community service."
He said this will help QU achieve its goal of "excellence in community participation", which is one of the university's most critical strategic goals.
Prof Rana Sobh, former director of the University Requirements Programme and currently dean of the College of Business and Economics, said according to the Association of American Colleges and Universities, community service-based learning is one of the high-impact global practices in the field of public university education. It also helps meet the requirements for implementing the "experiential education", which is one of Qatar University's most important pillars of excellence in education, focusing on the student's independence and pushing him/her to relate to societal and human values, adapt to the world around him/her, and solve community problems.
She added that the students would learn, through this course, the basic concepts and features of community service, its benefits and its challenges. In addition, the system provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to respond to the urgent needs of society and increases their desire to engage in community work. Here, the possibility of applying what the student learned in the classroom to the community around him/her emerges, opening up new horizons for the student to come up with different results inspired by the practical experience s/he practices.