Doha: Qatari engineering students enrolling at Texas A&M University at Qatar (TAMUQ) have posted significant improvements in mathematics knowledge and skills through Pathways for Retention in Engineering Programmes (PREP), according to examination scores.
Overall, the students improved exam scores by an average of more than 40 percent from the beginning to the end of the programme, reflecting the success of the initiative.
The PREP course, which ran from July 31 until August 11, was taught by Dr. Sandra Nite from Aggie STEM and the Department of Mathematics at Texas A&M’s main campus in College Station, Texas, US.
PREP is part of the Dhia: Engineering Leaders initiative, a partnership between TAMUQ and long-time collaborator Maersk Oil Qatar to help young Qataris choose and succeed in educational pathways in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), which are critical to the success of Qatar National Vision 2030.
PREP was designed for incoming freshmen who seek to improve maths skills before starting university engineering studies.
The programme comprises intense instruction in maths topics such as functions, trigonometry, linear systems and mechanics.
Dr. Nite said: “It’s more than just getting them through that placement exam. We want to give them the foundation they need to be successful throughout the engineering mathematics sequence.”
She said the students are very engaged and have been improving. They are getting a better idea of the underlying concepts of the work they were doing.”
The students also took part in academic success seminars to enhance study skills and habits, while learning about on-campus academic resources they will have at their disposal.
The Peninsula
