The students of the Class of 2022 at VCUarts Qatar with Executive Dean, Donald R Baker, during the orientation programme.
DOHA: Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar (VCUarts Qatar) welcomed the Class of 2022 during the new student orientation week which ran from August 28 to August 30.
The Class of 2022 has 83 students from 22 countries, with 77 joining as undergraduates and six joining the Masters of Fine Arts in Design program. VCUarts Qatar is the Qatar campus of the prestigious Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Richmond, Virginia.
Established in 1998 through a partnership with Qatar Foundation, VCUarts Qatar offer students the opportunity to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in fashion design, graphic design, interior design and painting & printmaking, a Bachelor of Arts degree in art history and a Master of Fine Arts degree in design.
Executive Dean Donald R Baker greeted the Class of 2022 and noted that students would have the “opportunity to work closely with faculty members” and that they would “learn to think critically and creatively and to solve problems.”
The new students were introduced to the orientation team leaders who organised orientation and who guided them through a wide range of activities that were created to acquaint them with the university.
Faheem Khan, Head Orientation Coordinator (HOC), said, “Last year we decided to change the whole atmosphere of the New Student Orientation Program with a theme that the majority of the students could relate to and enjoy. It was a huge success and has set a standard at VCUarts Qatar for our future NSOPs to follow.”
Steffi Braganza, SGA Secretary, said, “I have been an HOC for two years and being a part of something like this during the summer is something that I’ve looked forward to. It’s always a plus to be included in activities and events besides the usual university-related course works.”
Qatari student Hassan Khalid Al Shahi, said that he “enjoyed the welcoming atmosphere of the students who organised the orientation.” Razan Mustafa was “amazed by the amount of effort and the time that was put into the preparations in order to make [the students] feel welcomed.”
VCUarts Qatar also welcomed 13 new faculty and staff to the university. They include the 2018/19 Artists in Residence Abdul Azim Al Ghussein and Asmaa Al-Issa.
The Artists in Residence will have the opportunity to work at dedicated studios at VCUarts Qatar, while also teaching and mentoring students from within the Painting and Printmaking program. Their nine-month period of research and practice in Qatar will culminate with an exhibition in April.
