School counselors take part in Doha Counselors Day

The program is designed to communicate important information about Education City and admissions at the universities, as well as provide a forum for discussion of best practices and case studies in the field of high school guidance counseling. The program is open to all secondary schools around Qatar.

This year's program was held in the halls of Texas A&M University in Education City. The day's events opened with a brief welcome by Mr. Abdulla Albinali, Career Services and Student Employment coordinator at Qatar Foundation, and Dr. Dennis Roberts, Assistant Vice President for Faculty and Student Services of the Education Division.

"As college advisory and counseling are relatively new fields in Qatar, there will be some challenges in preparing students and parents to making decisions about higher education and careers,"

said Mr. Albinali.

"As counselors, we strongly believe you are the right people to be delivering the message of developing our future talent and communicating the opportunities at Education City. Through programs like today, we offer our full support to you in this process."

"Qatar Foundation has committed immense resources to invest in its people," said Dr. Roberts.

"As guardians of future talent, you are in the best position to guide students to discover their potential, and we hope that you see us as supporters in this endeavor. Qatar Foundation and counselors have a shared responsibility and privilege to encourage students to strive for their greatest potential."

The program followed with a presentation about Education City highlighting its values and academic programs, which was then followed by informational sessions and interactive workshops.

The universities at Education City each deliver programs designed to the same rigorous standards and award the same degrees as their home campuses in the United States. Admissions decisions take a holistic approach at Education City, and are based on high school curriculum, grades, extracurricular activities as well as standardized tests as well as other factors.

During the day's program, the presentations and sessions were focused on informing counselors of the programs offered by each university, the admissions process, and how to guide the students to prepare and apply for admittance at any of these prestigious universities.

Paula Brunning has been a counselor at the Qatar Academy for the last three years.

"This annual program offered by Education City is a great benefit to counselors. It helps us focus on what is needed to get students prepared for application and ultimately admittance to the universities."

"This is a very worthwhile event," says Ms. Suman Sara Peter a school counselor at the Ideal India School.

"Each year the program is updated and offers more useful information about admissions and the universities. We will bring students back to visit the universities in the upcoming weeks."

Sessions during this year's program included interactive workshops about the admissions process, standardized testing requirements and testing services at Qatar Foundation. Qatar Foundation strives to improve the program each year, adding more topics to ensure the school counselors have a comprehensive understanding of Education City and have the proper tools necessary to advise and prepare the students for their post-secondary school success.

This year's program included an interactive session on admissions case studies, as well as a panel discussion about counseling best practices.

The sessions this year also included a panel on careers and student experience, which was led by students.

The Doha Counselors Day is an annual event held in advance of the Discover Education City school fairs, during which representatives from the branch campuses showcase to prospective students and their parents around the region the broad scope of the academic programs offered at the universities.

Early in 2010, counselors from secondary schools around the region will be invited to participate in a similar program in Doha.