Hamad bin Khalifa University (HBKU) organised its annual Family Day on October 13. This event was an occasion for the parents and family members of all students of participating universities and programmes to experience the environment in which the students study, live, discover, and grow during their academic careers.
Participating universities included: Virginia Commonwealth University, Weill Cornell Medical College, Texas A&M University, Carnegie Mellon University, Georgetown University and Northwestern University. Qatar Foundation’s Academic Bridge Program was also represented.
Family Day 2012, now in its 4th year, was held at the Hamad bin Khalifa University Student Center. The event also provided an opportunity for parents to interact with university faculty and staff.
After an early morning breakfast, the families attended a fair to learn more about the various opportunities for student involvement throughout their academic careers. The fair also focused on academics and how to balance university studies with student involvement.
The fair was followed by a welcome address given by Dr Khalid Mohammed Al Khanji, Vice President of Student Affairs at Hamad bin Khalifa University. Dr Al Khanji emphasized that the main aim of Family Day was to facilitate the communication between Hamad bin Khalifa University, its partner universities and parents. He stressed that he wants parents to feel confident that the students are getting the best university experience through a combination of learning inside and outside the classroom.
Dr Al Khanji’s address was followed by speeches from a parent and current students, who shared their experience with the attending families.
Dr Marwan Al Musleh, a parent with two daughters currently studying at Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar said, “It is vital to look at the final outcome of studying at university. Students at Hamad bin Khalifa University benefit from better opportunities on a local and international level. All of this is directly in line with the Qatar National Vision, specifically the human development and social development.”The Peninsula
