The Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) hosted Doha Counsellors Day last week which was attended by more than 80 counsellors from various education institutions in Qatar.
Held in partnership with the Qatar campuses of universities across Education City, the Doha Counsellors Day provides school counsellors and administrators in Qatar with in-depth information about the academic offerings and admissions processes for universities in Education City. The event is an important networking opportunity for counsellors and university admissions professionals to meet and share best practices.
Represented at this year’s event were Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Texas A&M University at Qatar, Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar, Georgetown University in Qatar, Northwestern University in Qatar, and HBKU, all of which offer undergraduate degree programmes at Education City.
The event highlighted the value of school counselling programmes that go beyond assistance with university applications.
Those in attendance discussed ways counsellors can prepare students for a successful future through personal and social competence assessment, as well as by providing support in academic achievement and career consideration.
Thouraya Bouz, assessment co-ordinator and career adviser at Al Maha Academy for Girls, said: “The event updates us on the application process and programme requirements each year, which certainly helps us guide our students. The networking aspect of the event is also crucial as it offers counsellors the opportunity to hear about what others are doing with their students and gives each of us the chance to share ideas.”
Patrick Desbarats, head of counselling and college placement at the American School of Doha, said: “When I first came to Doha six years ago, I didn’t know about the admissions processes of the universities located in Education City, so I found Doha Counsellors Day really helpful. It’s a great way to share knowledge about how to help students get into the post-secondary institutions they want to attend.”