Qatar- TAMUQ students gain engineering skills
(MENAFN- The Peninsula) One of the students working on a project.
Doha: Engineering students at Texas A & M University at Qatar (TAMUQ) are building on their classroom knowledge and bringing their imagined projects to life through the Engineering Enrichment Programme (EEP).
First offered in Spring 2016, the programme provides 26 short courses for students who want a more hands-on engineering experience to drive innovation and entrepreneurship.
The programme, which wrapped up its third cycle in mid-August, enhances TAMUQ";s commitment to educate exemplary engineers and well-rounded leaders.
EEP has three levels: Pros, Mentors and Inventeers. Pros learn skills of machining, electronics, fabrication and programming. Mentors help fellow students learn these skills while solving design problems and Inventeers have the opportunity to bring their ideas to fruition — and possibly have their projects sponsored.
Yasser Al Hamidi, Manager, EEP, said he wants the programme to empower engineering students.
'These short courses are important stepping stones in your career,” Al Hamidi said. 'This recognises you as an expert in your course, but the road doesn";t end here. We look forward to seeing you return as mentors and continue towards certification.”
Dr. Eyad Masad, Vice Dean, TAMUQ, told students that he was proud of what they";d accomplished, and their participation showed their 'commitment and thirst for learning and gaining skills.”
He encouraged them to continue in the programme to train the next group of students.
That goal has been accomplished, with more than 100 students having taken part and some achieving certification.
One student attained the NI Certified LabVIEW Associate Developer distinction and five of the 12 certified SolidWorks Associates in Qatar are Aggie engineers.
The programme came full circle last week when one of its certified students became teacher.
For students, the draw is the opportunity to get certified in house. 'Personally, the chance to take a SolidWorks course and future opportunities to get certified is why I wanted to be here,” said one of the participants, Maher Armoush. 'It was a really good experience.”
Beyond short courses, one new aspect of the programme will be involving students in international competitions like Society of Automotive Engineers"; Formula SAE programme where students will be tasked to collectively build a race car from scratch.
Masad hoped these trainings will appear on future students"; transcripts as ancillary course work.
The Peninsula