QF's University Students Thrive Through Cross-Registration Opportunities

Doha, Qatar: Cross-registration in subjects across universities, multiple cultural events, sporting and skills competitions, and internships – just some examples of activities that students from Qatar Foundation universities can participate in to take their university experience beyond simply gaining a degree.

Ahmad Kamal Al Moslemani, a Junior at Qatar Foundation's (QF's) Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), studies Computer Engineering – a degree that divides its programme between computer science courses at HBKU and engineering courses at QF partner university Texas A&M University at Qatar (TAMUQ). This allows students of this course to engage with disciplines and professors in two universities, benefitting from the strengths of each.

There are also several competitions in this field that are open for students across Education City to participate in, such as the Qatar Collegiate Programming Contest at Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar (CMU-Q) – another QF partner university. “Our professor asked us if we wanted to join the competition, and that he would give us bonus points in the course if we participated,” said Al Moslemani, who took part with a team from HBKU.“I think it's a creative way to improve the university experience for students.”

Another Computer Engineering student at HBKU, Sai Surag Lingampalli, pursued a Marketing course at CMU-Q in addition to the courses at HBKU and TAMUQ. Having this exposure to three different universities made him appreciate that each institution comes with its own experiences.

“I was able to meet different people from a plethora of backgrounds and interests. This really enlightened my understanding of the world and the people around me,” Lingampalli said.

Beyond academics, Lingampalli is also the President of the Student Chapter of The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers at TAMUQ, and has played multiple sports with and for different universities.

Emilia Pacheco De Larrea is a Senior at Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q), another QF partner university, where she is pursuing a major in International Politics. She is taking advantage of having QF partner university Northwestern University in Qatar as a next-door neighbour by taking a Certificate in Media and Politics.

“I remember the first time taking a class there, with everything being new – it was a little bit nerve-racking,” she said Luckily, through social gatherings in Education City, she already knew some Northwestern Qatar students.

“I did have a friend in that class from Northwestern, and we both bonded a lot more through studying together.” Outside of coursework, she also became active in the Latin American and Caribbean Society at GU-Q, as it collaborated with other clubs around Education City for students to celebrate their shared cultures.

Shahed Al Awad is majoring in Graphic Design at QF partner university Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar (VCUarts Qatar) and decided to pursue a Film and Design minor from Northwestern Qatar, where her courses have provided an extra edge in her VCUarts Qatar graphic design classes.

“For example, last semester, we did a character design project, and we needed to write a backstory,” she said.“With the skills I took from Northwestern Qatar, it was a lot easier for me to write,” she said.

Even outside class, she has benefitted from her joint minor while doing an internship at Doha Film Institute.

Meanwhile, Khatimat Abilova, a sophomore at Northwestern Qatar who is majoring in Journalism and Strategic Communications – and an active content creator who covers events on social media for different universities – has been taking Arabic classes at CMU-Q.“Knowing a new language is always good, and I also want to stay in the Middle East after I graduate,” she says.“I'm also applying for a language grant at Northwestern Qatar to go to Morocco.”

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