Doha: Northwestern University in Qatar’s newest class is the largest group of students to enroll at NU-Q since it established a campus in 2008. The incoming freshman – similar to previous years – is quite diverse. While more than half of the class (56 percent) is Qatari, the remaining students represent 20 countries — and five continents — of origin. More than half are bilingual, with many speaking multiple languages.
“At NU-Q, students are immersed in a multicultural experience, which provides the entire student body with the opportunity – both academically and personally – to broaden their understanding of the world. These personal experiences, along with travel opportunities offered to students, leads them to develop qualities of an enlightened global citizen,” said Everette E Dennis, dean and CEO.
The University’s annual “Wildcat Week” introduced the students to campus and brought the NU-Q community together through a variety of activities and events, including the “March Through the Arch.” Adopted from Northwestern’s home campus, current students, faculty, and staff join together and cheer the new students as they march through an arch of purple and white balloons as the newest “Wildcats.”
The week-long series of events is organised and hosted by the University’s student affairs staff. The department’s director, Greg Bergida, said that it is always among his favourite weeks of the year. “Watching the class form friendships and come together, is really rewarding – and also a clear sign that our student body is only growing stronger and more connected with each new class.”
Majed Al Naimi, one of the 82 new students enrolling at NU-Q this year said that the welcome week was “a very memorable experience for me. Our peer advisers were very enthusiastic and fully devoted towards making our orientation week very unique. NU-Q is a top university for media in the region, and I look forward to earning my degree from this prestigious institute and eventually pursuing a job in government communications.”
The Peninsula
