“Eyes on CCQ” Vantagepoint Newsletter Organization BJ Jumnadass Editor-in-Chief [email protected]Gregory Twidal Senior Staff Writer and Designer [email protected]CONTENTS 1 | The Community College of Qatar Newsletter December 2013 | Issue 16 Sweet December is upon us and while one semester comes to a close, another continues on to its half-way mark. Midterms for the ELC’s Second Quarter students and Finals for Transition and College Level students are scheduled in just a week and already students are pushing hard in preparation. Fortunately, the week after exams offers everyone the chance to relax and catch their breath. In addition to Qatar’s 6 th Annual National Day celebration, many Faculty, Staff, and Students are planning on going on a short vacation this month, but before you go, make sure to check this issue of Vantage Point for important information relating to special events happening this month, recaps from November, and see what to expect in January. Not Your Ordinary National Day In addition to being the 6 th Annual celebration of Qatar’s Independence and sovereignty, this year’s event will also commemorate His Excellency Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani’s transition into power since his father’s chosen abdication last summer. Residents of West Bay can report the noise of thundering jets and construction occurring throughout the Corniche in preparation for what hails to be the country’s largest celebration yet. For those who haven’t experienced National Day before, we invite you to read more about it on the next page. Jack Attack!!! In other news, Jack Canfield, famed author, motivational speaker, and creator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, visited the Community College of Qatar Monday, December 2 nd . He agreed to a brief interview with Gregory Twidal and his insights are shared on page 3. Take the Next Step December 5 th marks the first official day of the Aspire Foundation Zones “Steeping Into health” competition. Registered participants are encouraged to begin walking everyday with their pedometer in tow or cell phone application on, so that they can record their steps and keep an up-to-date track of their monthly trek. CCQ is in competition with several schools and is currently ranked at third place. If we all band together we can make it to first. Keep going CCQ! Research, Recaps, and Reviews For more news regarding the new Internal Research Grant, recaps from last month’s events, and important information regarding Math and Final review, keep reading. If you are interested in adding your own work to the next issue of Vantage Point, please contact either BJ Jumnadass, Editor-in-Chief or Gregory Twidal, writer and designer. Student submis- sions are also welcome. SWEET DECEMBER BLISS
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The females at C-Ring Campus need to use the following
code: CCQF2013 when registering online at
www.stepintohealth.qa
The males at West Bay Campus need to use the following
code: CCQM2013 when registering online at
www.stepintohealth.qa
STUDENT ACTIVITIES IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE A NEW NATIONAL DAY COMPETITION FOR CCQ EMPLOYEES ONLY! 1.) BEST OFFICE DECORATION (15Th) 2.) BEST DEPARTMENT DECORATIONS (15TH) 3.) BEST NATIONAL DAY OUTFIT (17TH) VOTING WILL BE ON THE 15TH AND 17TH RESPECTIVELY.
As the theme of athletics continues to spread across the country on
the coattails of the 2022 World Cup, youth from all corners are
becoming more engaged with the growing sports environment that
is Qatar. Previous criticized as being one of the most obese
countries in the world, Qatar has made several steps to heavily
advocate the importance of good health and sports participation,
going so far as to establish a national holiday. However, such
changes now pose difficulties for students who wish to both
participate in sports and concentrate on their academics.
In 2012, the International Obesity Taskforce, an organization based
on the global analysis and understanding of the obesity, concluded
that Qatar, among many
other nations within the
GCC, had the largest
percentage of obese adults.
At 17%, the population also
had one of the highest
percentages of adults
suffering from diabetes. In
response of this, the State
of Qatar quickly established
a number of successful and
growing strategies to reduce
childhood obesity, including
introducing athletics into the
daily regimen of students in
grammar and secondary
school , and p roper
educational forums. Follow-
ing this the National Sports Holiday was established that same year
and since has been held annually on the second Tuesday in
February with the main objective being the promotion of healthy
lifestyle choices and the participation in athletics. In doing so, Qatar
has become of one the few nations to dedicate a day for sports.
Similarly, Japan celebrates Health and Sports Day with the same
aim in October. While scientific research is questionable regarding
the findings submitted by the IOTF, an abundance of fast food
companies in Qatar and the lack of proper education on diabetes
have brought the need to be healthy to the forefront for many of
Qatar’s national and expatriate youth.
However, as one goal is reached for, another goal begins to fall from
focus. Students particularly those in secondary and post secondary
institutions are finding it difficult to juggle multiple responsibilities as
loyalty to class competes with loyalty to the team. Words such as
“Pass” and “Score” begin to carry double entendres as each
individual seeks to succeed on both the field and in the classroom.
For the Community College of Qatar, this couldn’t be more evident
than for those competing in the newly established Universities
League, representing CCQ against other football teams. Seventeen
players practice three nights week in preparation for a weekly match
against an opposing component from one of the country’s growing
n u m b e r o f
universities. The
team’s success has
come at a price
though as students
must also find the
time to study for their
exams, many of
whom are ELC
students. Ten weeks
of nonstop learning
makes up each
quarter of the new
English Learning
Center program. This
i n c l u d e s a n
abundance of exams,
assignments, and
busy work, but students who wish to stay in, must keep up with their
school work if they hope to pass. Practices, however, are
discretionary and student-athletes choose to come to the practices
that suit them best, though the decision to miss practice may also
mean they see less time on the field. Ultimately, students must
balance priorities with wishes if they want to continue.
In addition to earning acceptable grades and scoring goals, student-
athletes in general must master time-management skills if they wish
to keep pace with the ever-increasing demands of their school. Add
in family and you have full load heavier than most, but such
pressure can make diamonds out of carbon, and leaders out of
players.
Vantage Point is proud to announce the formation of CCQ’s first ever female football team. ELC Faculty Member Mira Rithalia will serve as the team’s coach and trainer, and Huda Abdulaziz Al-Dosari will be the team’s active manager, handling all administrative aspects for the team. Selection and training is tentatively scheduled for 2014.
As female presence in athletics becomes an even greater quality to everyday life, the State of Qatar under the auspicious of multiple administrations has continued to build within itself a strong base for female athletics Last year, under the patronage of HE Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad Al-Thani, Qatar Museums Authority (QMA) Chairperson showcased a photo and video exhibition titled Hey’Ya: Arab Women in Sport, which celebrated female athletes throughout the Arab World. The exhibition, done by internationally renowned photographer Bridgette Lacombs, brought a great deal of press and attention for women in the Middle East to be recognized for their athletic and physical abilities. Meryl Streep, famed actress, attended the opening.
Little information is available now, but CCQ’s Vantage Point will be there to support this new endeavor and will continue to cover these and similar events for the future.
6 Certificate Certified? How can Certificates and Other Documents Help You Succeed?
A new trend in hiring practices may mean more opportunities for those who lack the necessary pediree to compete traditionally in the market place as old practices are becoming new trends. As students may have experienced during the previous month’s Annual Career Fair, they are not alone when applying for some of the best jobs available in Qatar and abroad. However, while some only submitted their CVs to prospective employers, others included a secret ingredient they hope will get them to the top, formal certificates. In an ever-increasingly competitive landscape, certificates, once considered an archaic and otherwise antiquated form of awarding accomplishment, has joined the ranks of digital badges and are trending again as a method to prove one’s ability beyond what’s written on a person’s CV. Attesting in official documentary style, certificates and the latter can provide more evidence to what a person has achieved, how, and when. Signed and dated, any employer can review the information provided, follow up with the signaturees and learn more about a person than from any single one liner written on a resume. Typically resumes or CVs, are considered best when short and to the point. This is because employers do not have the time or energy to read about every skill and ability a person possesses when searching for new candidates. However, certificates pose as both a means to inform the employer and gain his or her attention as the document works in the same fashion as an infographic; sharing both imagery and text to quickly inform the viewer of information they did not previously know. If a picture can say a thousand words, than a certificate from an accredited source should have the same effect. Throughout Qatar, this mentality appears to be forming as more and more employers are asking for any and all ancillary prove be provided with each CV they receive. Equally as much, young professionals are asking for certificates in place of financial restitution as a means to prove their skills and abilities. The reason being that while in other parts of the world where wealth is easily measured upon success, the abundance of wealth in Qatar means individuals must use other means to prove their abilities and skill. Digital badges, as mentioned in a previous issue, do the same, only electronically; allowing viewers to detect a person’s skills and
abilities before needing to test the validity of their statements. Earning digital badges is an up and coming system for professionals (in this case-academia) who wish to show significant accomplishments have been made on their part. Such accomplishments can include finishing academic projects, mastery of a new skill set, or years completed at an institution. Resembling un-lockable digital tokens of past and recent videogames, this new reward program seems to take its cues from both the videogame culture many Generation X professionals remember from childhood and the military tactics of awarding medals to show appreciation and keep moral high. As more and more online educational websites appear to be adopting badges to mark completion of scholarly work, this new system is being heralded by some as a 21st century challenger to the “dominant paradigm” diplomas hold over the field of academia. Institutions, employers, and students can view these badges via a Faculty member’s online profile and understand what professional accomplishments he or she have achieved. Opportunities to earn both experience and the evidence to prove so, include community classes offered at educational institutions such as VCU-Qatar, language courses, and organizations needing volunteers.
Lebanese dishes provided by the Business Club and meals
specific to the Gulf by the Health Club. Iffat Khan’s
Sociology Club did an excellent job promoting Qatar as
their country, but it was the Student Government who
offered the largest amount of entertainment taking an entire
corner of the cafeteria. They offered a personal cartoonist,
nail saloon, and a make-up vendor for those interested in
life as an artisan living in Paris, France.
West Bay’s campus played host to the United Kingdom, the
United Arab Emirates, and People’s Republic of China, as
students circled the greater Euro-Asian continents. ELC
Instructor Carol Lafferty’s Level 4 class presented on each
of the different states within the UK and offered delicious
pasties after each presentation. Aysha Hajri, representing
both the Recruitment Club and the UAE decorated nearly a
fourth of lobby in traditional furniture found in the GCC and
offered food and coffee as well. Completing the circle, WB’s
Business Club did an impressive job epitomizing China’s
ethnic culture with framed photos and items originating di-
rectly from Asian Nation. Winners of this year’s Cultural Fair
were C-ring’s SGA Organization and West Bay’s
Recruitment Club.
AROUND THE WORLD IN 60 SECONDS
The Community College of Qatar
launched its 3rd Annual Career Fair on
Tuesday, November 26th at the C-Ring
Road Campus and Wednesday,
November 27th at the West Bay
Campus, 10:00am until 4:00pm. The
aim of CCQ's career fair was to provide
its growing student population new op-
portunities to gain entrance into any one
of Qatar’s emerging business groups,
corporations, or conglomerates. As two
major dates, 2022 and 2030, approach,
administrators work to provide the
nation’s newest generation of leaders a
more equitable economic foundation
which will eventually be the future of this
developing nation.
Dr. Mohamed Yousef Al Mulla,
QAPCO’s VC&CEO was delighted to be
able to sponsor this event stating,
“Career Fairs are an excellent way of
promoting the exciting job and
scholarship opportunities currently
available through QAPCO and we aim
to become a benchmark for those
young professionals keen to further their
learning and career opportunities. Dr. Al
Mulla continued, “We are also proud to
work once again with Dr. Ibrahim Al
Naimi and his team at CCQ and we
hope to receive many C.V.’s and
expressions of interests from the bright
young students currently studying at the
College.”
Dr. Ibrahim Al Naimi, the President of
CCQ, had this to say. "The purpose of
the Career Fair at CCQ is to provide our
students with a way to explore career
opportunities within the many industries
and local organizations within the State
of Qatar. We are delighted to announce
that many companies, ministries and
industries participated in this year's
CCQ Annual Career Fair. They had a
chance to meet face-to-face with our
students which provided an excellent
recruiting mechanism for them as well
as increase their organization's visibility
at the college."
This year, in addition to QAPCO, other sponsors included QNB, Exxon Mobil, RasGas, Doha Bank, Naqi lat ,
Kahramaa, Ahli Bank, Qatalum, the General Directorate of Customs, Stenden University, University of Qatar, University of Calgary, QP, Al Rayyan, Ministry of Municipality, Sidra, PHCC and QIB. Each partnering business offered internship and/or career opportunities for young Qatari Nationals who met their recruitment standards.
HIRED; RECAPPING CCQ’S CAREER FAIR
WHATTODO?WHATTODO?WHATTODO?WHATTODO?WHATTODO?
Thursday, December 12th, 2013 For Sunday-Tuesday-Thursday or Sunday-Tuesday Classes, which start between: 9:00-9:30am 9:00 am Exam 11:00-11:30am 11:00am Exam 1:00-1:30pm 1:00pm Exam 3:00-3:30pm 3:00pm Exam 5:00-5:30pm 5:00pm Exam 7:00-7:30pm 7:00pm Exam
8
Saturday, December 14th, 2013 For Monday-Wednesday classes which start between: 8:00-8:30am 8:00 am Exam 10:00-10:30am 10:00am Exam 12:00-12:30pm 12:00pm Exam 2:00-2:30pm 2:00pm Exam 4:00-4:30pm 4:00pm Exam 6:00-6:30pm 6:00pm Exam 8:00-8:30pm 8:00pm Exam
Sunday, December 15th, 2013 For Sunday-Tuesday-Thursday or Sunday-Tuesday Classes, which start between: 8:00-8:30am 8:00 am Exam 10:00-10:30am 10:00am Exam 12:00-12:30pm 12:00pm Exam 2:00-2:30pm 2:00pm Exam 4:00-4:30pm 4:00pm Exam 6:00-6:30pm 6:00pm Exam 8:00-8:30pm 8:00pm Exam
Thursday, December 12th, 2013 For Sunday-Tuesday-Thursday or Sunday-Tuesday Classes, which start between: 9:00-9:30am 9:00 am Exam 11:00-11:30am 11:00am Exam 1:00-1:30pm 1:00pm Exam 3:00-3:30pm 3:00pm Exam 5:00-5:30pm 5:00pm Exam 7:00-7:30pm 7:00pm Exam
Vantage Point is pleased to welcome Dr. Shetha Faraj Al-Numan, the new
Deputy Associate Dean of Student Services for The Community College of
Qatar. Formerly the Assistant Director to Qatar foundation’s Academic
Bridge, Dr. Al-Numan hails from Baghdad, Iraq and holds a PhD in Industrial
Design from Baghdad University. She carries a degree of Associate
Professor and taught at Baghdad University for fourteen years at both a
graduate and post graduate level. She has published one textbook and
seven academic researches and she holds two patents in lighting systems
and four industrial patterns.
Having resided in Doha since 2000, she has worked at many different
institutions, including spending the past seven years at Qatar Foundation.
During her time as Assistant Director of Student Services of QF’s Academic
Bridge program, she developed the Student Affairs and Public Relations
Departments including student development activities, tutoring, recruitment,
admission, testing, sponsorship, policies, procedures, media responses, and
various publications. Before then she was an Academic Advisor for the
Qatar Leadership Academy and participated routinely in academic, social,
and career advising processes. Counseling, admissions, policies, and
regulations, were also areas she familiarized herself in.
The daughter of one of the five Iraqi art pioneers to found the Academy of
Fine Arts at Baghdad University, painting has become a great passion of