Northwestern University in Qatar’s newest class of 82 students is the largest group of students to enrol at NU-Q since it established a campus in 2008. The incoming freshman is quite diverse with more than half of the class (56%) is Qatari while the remaining students represent 20 countries – and five continents. More than half are bilingual, with many speaking multiple languages. 
“At NU-Q, students are immersed in a multi-cultural experience, which provides the entire student body with the opportunity – both academically and personally – to broaden their understanding of the world,” 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.” 
Adapted from Northwestern’s home campus, current students, faculty, and staff join together and cheer the new students as they marched 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. 
Majed al-Naimi, one of the new students at NU-Q this year said that the welcome week was “a very memorable experience. Our peer advisers were very enthusiastic and fully devoted towards making our orientation week very unique.”
Dennis added that the students entering this year are joining an impressive group of current students and alumni who are already making their mark in Qatar and the region.
Among current NU-Q alumni, 34% have pursued graduate degrees at prestigious institutions around the world, including Harvard, Oxford, the London School of Economics, Northwestern, Columbia, and Dartmouth.