New Faculty, Parents of New Students Oriented
2012-09-09
New faculty and parents of new students attended orientation exercises over last week to familiarise themselves with the organisation.
Faculty orientation ended last Wednesday (September 5) following a series of exercises designed to provide them with essential information on QU’s products and services, and facilitate their settling-in process.
Over 140 new faculty were oriented on a wide range of internal and external services such as IT, HR, external relations, finance, legal office, phones/mobiles, banks, and car rentals. HR specialists and representatives from different colleges, departments and programs were on hand to respond to queries and concerns raised.
The new arrivals were welcomed by HR Communication and Information Head Section Ms Amani Othman who said: “QU human resources section as well as HR units in the colleges and departments, strive to ensure HR practices are consistent with the University’s strategic plan. Our intent is to create and sustain partnerships with faculty and staff to enable QU to achieve its vision through innovative and supportive people practices. We are committed to doing so through Focus on People – a framework that arose from feedback with faculty and staff”.
“We are dedicated to fulfilling the overall mission of the University by supporting learning and academic excellence; attracting and retaining a highly-qualified, diverse workforce that embraces the University's mission; and providing all staff and faculty members with a stable and cohesive work environment, equal opportunities for development and growth, and exemplary service through modern, simple and fair human resources methodologies and concepts that encourage fair and consistent treatment, teamwork and respect”, she added.
Commenting on the orientation exercises, College of Education new faculty Dr Eiman Zaki said: “It is a great opportunity for all of us to finalize our HR, housing, immigration and transportation processes in one go. I appreciate the ultimate support that the HR team provided for all of us to ease our first few days in Qatar and QU”.
Dr Brenda Tofte, who newly joined the College of Law said: “HR people here are so helpful and patient. The orientation was a great chance to interact with people from different cultural and educational backgrounds. This is very encouraging as I start the new academic year at QU”.
Earlier in the week, the university’s Parents’ Program Unit held orientation exercises for parents of new students to introduce them to the wide range of resources, services and facilities at QU such as academic advising, library, financial, textbooks, cafeterias, transportation, and student clubs and activities. It was also an opportunity for QU advisers to respond to parents’ questions and concerns, and encourage their role in supporting their children’s academic experience.
Parents were welcomed by Vice President for Students Affairs Dr Omar Al-Ansari and Dean College of Arts & Sciences (CAS) Dr Eiman Mustafawi, and heard from Foundation Program Director Dr Mohammed Al Naemi, Student Services Department Director Mr Abdulla Al-Yafei, Parents’ Program and Services Unit Head Ms Fatima Shbib Al-Naimi, Student Counseling Center Director Ms Hannah Omar, and Academic Advising Center member Ms Alanoud Althani.
“Parents’ orientation is a golden opportunity for you all to communicate with Deans, administrators and college representatives who are on hand to hear your views and respond to your questions. We are working to strengthen the bridge between the University and the parents in a way that benefits our students, the community, and QU as a whole”, Dr Al-Ansari said.
Parents also heard from College of Business and Economics student Ahmad Al Yazeedi who gave an informative presentation on the wide range of services provided to new and existing students.