Doha: University of Doha for Science and Technology (UDST) held its annual Festival of Cultures event on campus to celebrate the multiculturalism and diversity of its community, consisting of more than 70 nationalities.
Organised by Student Engagement, a division of Student Affairs, the two-day festival was inaugurated in the presence of ambassadors and other representatives from various embassies alongside UDST’s students, faculty, staff and their families.
Close to 10,000 members of the public visited the campus courtyard as it was transformed into a lively exhibition of art and culture.
Student participants decorated their booth to best represent their countries, values and traditions. Attendees were also encouraged to dress in their traditional attire and enjoy various artistic and cultural activities from the represented student countries which included Qatar, Bangladesh, Egypt, France, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Malaysia, Morocco, Nepal, Pakistan, Palestine, Philippines, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Turkey and Yemen. The two-day festival also featured the University’s talents as students presented cultural dances and musical ensemble performances.
On this occasion, Dr. Salem Al Naemi, President of UDST said: “Our university is a melting pot of diverse individuals who each have a heritage and a culture to share. UDST places high importance on inclusivity and we encourage our community members to engage in different extra-curricular activities that will help them interact with their peers, learn and grow not only academically but also on the personal level. This year we invited the public to come onto our campus to learn about the many countries that are represented here, and let the students shine as ambassadors of their native countries.”
The Festival of Cultures event closed with many awards, including a prize for first, second and third Best Cultural Dress, won by Somalia. India bagged the prize for Best Booth. First, second and third prize was also given for “Best Performance” with The Philippines winning the top prize.
