Nation Sunday, September 22, 2019 05 NASA astronaut shares insights VCUarts Qatar unveils fall classes TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK value of an art and design on dynamics of decision-making DOHA education at VCUarts Qatar. Students will learn about VIRGINIA Commonwealth observational drawing, crea- Veteran NASA astronaut Dr Weber highlights the importance of planning and preparation in decision-making University School of the Arts tive thinking, communicat- in Qatar (VCUarts Qatar) in ing ideas, composition and TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK Education City has launched preparing their portfolio. DOHA the 2019 edition of its fall The classes are taught by art, design and craft classes. alumni and faculty from DR Mary Ellen Weber, a vet- The school also launched the university, who have eran NASA astronaut and US its Portfolio Development in-depth knowledge of the national skydiving champion, classes, which have been processes that are required discussed the dynamics of de- designed to help high school to produce a world-class cision-making when risks are students acquire the skills portfolio. high and time is short, during a necessary to prepare ad- The university’s Contin- lecture at Carnegie Mellon Uni- missions portfolios, and its uing Education programme versity in Qatar (CMU-Q). Continuing Education pro- aims to cultivate an under- Drawing on her long experi- gramme, which offers the standing about the potential ence as a consultant in innova- public creative professional and value of art and design, tion and high-risk operations, courses and programmes for as well as attracting, devel- Weber said the need for urgent adult learners. oping and supporting self- action can be a major risk factor Those who are interested directed lifelong learners in any decision-making process. in art, design and craft class- and creative innovators in “The reason why there are es can choose from an excit- Qatar and the region. lessons from space on decision- ing and educational range The university offers two making is because it applies to DR Mary Ellen Weber speaks during a lecture at Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar. of creative pursuits that programmes. The Fashion any situation where you have to includes classes in pottery, Business Programme focus- make a decision fast,” said Dr the US Embassy in Qatar to and decision-making.” nology innovation, strategic in Qatar. sketching, fashion design, es on business development Weber, who was selected in the host Dr Weber for this lecture Weber is currently a mem- communications and high-risk Now in its ninth year, CMU- calligraphy, contemporary and aims to provide partici- 14th class of NASA astronauts for our community. Her re- ber of the NASA Advisory Coun- operations through her com- Q’s Dean’s Lecture Series fea- architecture, novel writing pants with entry-level busi- and went on two spaceflights markable experience provides cil Committee on Technology, pany, Stellar Strategies. tures industry leaders, govern- and applied technology in- ness skills for the fashion during her 10 years with NASA. key insights for our students Innovation and Engineering, Weber is a guest of the US ment officials and members of cluding animation, robotics enterprise market. Michael Trick, dean of who are forging their own ca- which advises NASA leadership Embassy in Qatar and will be the community who share their and virtual reality. The Creative Entrepre- CMU-Q, said: “We are de- reer paths and learning about on future space technologies. speaking to several different expertise on relevant and topi- A full list of classes can neurship Management is lighted to have worked with leadership, problem-solving She is a consultant in tech- communities during her stay cal issues. be found on the university’s intended for entrepreneurs website. The classes are who run or want to run their open to all ages and abilities business online (e.g. blog- and will begin from mid- gers, online retailers, etc.) October. with efficiency in their day- Astronaut stirs audience interest in space exploration The portfolio develop- to-day work by applying ment classes teach students proven strategic and busi- TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK He added, “I always want- the necessary skills to build ness operations manage- DOHA ed to learn about travelling to a competitive portfolio. ment practices without be- space from someone who has Students will have the ing overwhelmed. CELEBRATING 50 years of actual first-hand experience. time to practise and experi- Interested parties can the first Moon landing, Qatar As a scientist-to-be, I appreci- ment on different types of review class offerings and National Library (QNL) host- ate the commitment and hard portfolios, with the instruc- fees as well as register online ed a public presentation on work that Dr Weber, and in tors providing timely and at any time or visit VCUarts space exploration, in collabo- fact all space scientists, put in detailed personal feedback Qatar for in-person registra- ration with the US Embassy to make such marvelous ad- when required, allowing tion from Sunday to Thurs- in Qatar. ventures possible.” students to develop an un- day, 9am to 12pm and from NASA’s Dr Mary Ellen We- Another participant, Mo- derstanding of the vigor and 2pm to 3:45pm. ber presented a talk on ’The hammed Siraj, a petrochemi- Moon and Beyond: The Ex- cal engineer, said: “I have at- perience of Space and Future tended around 20 events at of Space Exploration’, sharing the library over the past seven experiences from her 10 years months since I moved to Qa- as an astronaut. tar with my family. There is Dr Weber flew on two something for everyone to Space Shuttle missions. Her learn and an opportunity to first flight was aboard STS-70 meet new people. Discovery and her second was “My younger daughter the STS-101 Atlantis mission even wore her spacesuit to for the construction of the In- Dr Weber flew on two Space Shuttle missions. Her first flight was aboard STS-70 Discovery and her second come and hear Dr Weber ternational Space Station. was the STS-101 Atlantis mission for the construction of the International Space Station. speak today. I think the lec- Dr Weber continues to ture is a great example of how serve on the NASA Advisory technology innovation, strate- student who attended the talk, is one such person, and I was the library offers something Council Committee on Tech- gic communications and high- said: “I am fascinated by peo- fortunate to have the chance for everyone in Qatar and is The classes are open to all ages and abilities and will begin nology, Innovation and Engi- risk operations. ple who want to achieve ex- to listen to her insightful lec- inspiring young people to fol- from mid-October. neering, and is a consultant in Rashid al Ali, a high school traordinary things. Dr Weber ture.” low their own dreams.” QFBA and Northumbria University host orientation for new students TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK DOHA WITH the commencement of a new aca- demic year, Qatar Finance & Business Academy, in collaboration with North- umbria University Newcastle, hosted a four-day period orientation week to fa- cilitate a positive transition for its new incoming students. Orientation week signifies the first BPS Higher Education Fair evokes step towards a successful academic year for new students where they are exposed to the university’s various departments, tremendous response from visitors facilities and faculty. The students learned about the vari- TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK ous student support services provided by Orientation week signifies the first step towards a successful academic year for new students DOHA the university, creating a healthy relation- where they are exposed to the university’s various departments, facilities and faculty. ship between the administration and stu- THE Higher Education Fair dents throughout their academic journey. significant increase of 238 percent be- 2019 at Birla Public School During the orientation week, students tween this year and the previous year. (BPS), Doha, evoked an over- had the opportunity to be officially wel- Northumbria University is one of the whelming response from stu- comed to QFBA-Northumbria Univer- largest public universities in the United dents and parents with around sity, in addition to learning about the Kingdom, with over 35,000 students 2,500 visiting the two-day fair. university’s functions, systems and nec- ranked ninth in the nation by number of The fair was inaugu- essary information. bachelor’s degree and higher education rated by President of Indian The students were provided with graduates. Northumbria has also cement- Business and Professionals the chance to ask questions regarding ed its footing among the top ten univer- Council (IBPC) Azim Abbas, their majors of choice courtesy of QFBA- sities in the UK by number of graduates Vice-Chairman of the School Northumbria faculty offering detailed entering professional employment: nine Management Gope Shahani insight on the university’s administrative out of 10 Northumbria graduates join the and Principal AP Sharma, in President of Indian Business and Professionals Council (IBPC) Azim body and offerings. advanced ranks of the workforce within the presence of the leadership Abbas, Vice-Chairman of the School Management Gope Shahani and During the orientation week, the stu- six months of their graduation. The in- team, teachers, staff members, Principal AP Sharm inaugurate the Higher Education Fair. dents were also given a tour on the uni- stitution also ranks 4th in the nation by parents and students. versity’s campus facilities, including the number of graduate students who set up The event was held as Information about higher nance’, ‘Careers of Future’, ‘Sci- classrooms, library, computer labs, medi- their own start-ups. part of ‘Disha’ (Directing and education courses of all the ence of Success’, ‘Understand- cal services, cafeteria and more.