QNA
Doha
The University of Doha for Science and Technology (UDST) has rounded off arrangements to venture into the new academic year, with more than 7,500 male and female students enrolled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
These students comprise 1,500 freshmen who will start their studies on Tuesday in five colleges offering more than 70 programmes in business, computing and information technology, engineering and technology, health sciences, and general education.
UDST President Dr Salem bin Nasser Al Naemi attributed the increasing enrollment demand to the university’s keenness in applied research in partnerships with multiple prestigious local and international entities.
He added that the Qatari students, who comprise up to 20 percent of the total number of students, focused on the programmes of the colleges of business and computing and information technology, including the Data and Cybersecurity and Human Resources Management programs.
The programmes offered by the UDST, especially over the past two years, are in demand in the Qatari and global labour market, and align with the university’s philosophy that focuses on the applied academic aspect leveraging on effective infrastructure, including laboratories and other related facilities, he added.
Dr Al Naemi hailed the international accreditations obtained by some programmes, which are usually offered after consultations with employers on the labor market needs.
Dr Al Naemi told Qatar News Agency that the university will offer new programmes in the Academic Year 2024-2025, which have been designed thoroughly to meet the professional and technological needs of today and contribute to economic growth locally and globally.
Al Naemi listed the new programmes: the College of Business will offer a Bachelor of Business Administration in Logistics and Supply Chain Management, and a Master of Science in Digital Marketing and Entrepreneurship; the College of Computing and Information Technology will offer a Bachelor of Science in Digital Communication and Media Production (Arabic-English track), and a Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence and Cognitive Cybersecurity; the College of Engineering and Technology will offer a Master of Science in Process Safety, while the College of Health Sciences will offer a Bachelor of Science in Nursing with three tracks: the first for high school graduates, the second for registered nurses who wish to continue their studies after a diploma, and the third for those who wish to continue their studies after a practical nursing diploma.
The UDST president stressed the university’s commitment to targeted applied research and its active partnerships with prominent local and international entities in the field, praising UDST’s collaboration with the Qatar Research, Development, and Innovation (QRDI) Council in conducting research together with various organizations, ministries, and companies, something that provides students with future job opportunities.
In a related context, Dr Al Naemi pointed out that UDST has five different research teams that participated this summer in joint research projects with global universities such as the University of British Columbia and the University of Toronto in Canada, as well as universities in Singapore and Indonesia, adding that this did not only positively impact students’ research and professional skills, but also raised the quality of education at the university, which is crucial for the job market.
He said that research teams from universities in Singapore and elsewhere will similarly visit the university later this year to conduct joint research projects with UDST students.
Responding to a question about the types of certificates the university offers, the president noted that the university provides 70 programmes, most of which align with professional certificates required in the job market that students can obtain alongside their university degrees.
He pointed out that such certificates are offered not only by the college of information technology but also by the colleges of business, engineering, and health sciences.
Dr Al Naemi also said that all programmes are designed to achieve human, social, and economic development goals at both national and international levels.
Additionally, he stated that the university is preparing to organise and host a number of conferences and events in the coming months.