Summer Program for High School Students 2020 Offers a Taste of University Life

VCUarts Qatar is gearing up to launch a unique online summer program exclusively for high school students who would like to explore the opportunities that higher education in art and design, would bring them.

The Summer Program for High School Students 2020 – which runs from July 1 to July 30 this year – is specifically tailored to provide an overview of the academic degree courses offered by the university. Furthermore, students will be able to design the program according to their needs and preferences.

What sets this year’s program apart from VCUarts Qatar’s previous summer programs is that it will be led by VCUarts Qatar alumni who have a post-graduate degree. The department chair of each specialization will also take part with online introductions to each speciality.

Additionally, participants will be able to engage with leading industry professionals who will further explain the careers – and transferable skills – that a major in art and design would open doors to.

The course will consist of three phases. The week-long first phase – an introduction or foundation module – aims to provide an overview of art and design.

The second phase extends over two weeks, during which participants can choose from four pathways; each pathway will provide a deeper understanding of one the four majors or academic programs – graphic design, painting and printmaking, fashion design and interior design – that the university offers.

Following this, participants can opt for an additional one-week workshop that will teach them the fundamentals of developing a portfolio of their work – an indispensable skill for those applying for higher studies, or eventually, a job.

Aysha Alkooheji, Community and Continuing Education Program Manager, at VCUarts Qatar, noted how the program aims to be a microcosm of VCUarts Qatar’s four-year degree programs. She said: “VCUarts Qatar is keen to bridge our strong community outreach, to academics; the Summer Program for High School Students 2020 is a perfect springboard for this. This online course is live, interactive, and scheduled to run for three hours each day.

“By participating in the program, students will gain clarity on the scope and application of each of the four academic specializations. What’s more, they will also have the chance to discuss the future prospects of studying art and design – a question which often weighs on students’ and parents’ minds – with industry experts.”

Alkooheji also added that these courses establish technology-based learning as an indispensable part of the future of higher education – a reality reinforced by the ongoing pandemic.

“VCUarts Qatar’s plans to adopt virtual learning platforms have been expedited by the current health crisis,” Alkooheji said.

“Participating in a three-to-four week course such as the Summer Program for High School Students 2020, will give students a feel of what will eventually become the new normal when it comes to studies and work – remote engagement.

“Irrespective of whether education continues online, follows a hybrid model, or returns to on-campus classrooms, online learning – in one form or the other – is here to stay. And VCUarts Qatar is delighted to offer students an opportunity to benefit from it.”

VCUarts Qatar will make arrangements for registered students to collect the appropriate course material from specific retail outlets in Qatar or to arrange to have the materials delivered.

Further details on the summer program are available at https://qatar.vcu.edu/community/summer-program, while queries can be mailed to [email protected]