Doha, July 29 (QNA) - The Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MOEHE) has launched the "Zad Al-Mubta'ath" National Program for the Preparation and Education of Scholarship Students.
It is the first comprehensive national program aimed at preparing scholarship students set for travel, providing them with support and guidance throughout their studies.
Addressing an orientation workshop organized by the ministry in Doha, Acting Director of the Scholarships Department at MOEHE Noura Al Ansari said the program is a cultural and awareness-strengthening system that supports those students.
She added that the program-poised to kick off in August 2026- wasn't merely an orientation meeting that precedes travel, explaining that workshops and implementation mechanisms will be announced soon.
The workshop was attended by Assistant Undersecretary for Higher Education Affairs at the Ministry Dr. Hareb Aljabri, representatives of government entities and relevant institutions, alongside a host of ministry officials and students who had applied for government scholarships.
Al Ansari outlined that the program brings together a team of trainers and experts from government agencies and partner institutions and covers key areas needed by scholarship students, including cultural and religious guidance, financial matters, safety and security, and personal data protection.
This is alongside mental health, social, and academic support, Al Ansari highlighted, stating that the program intends to help students navigate challenges throughout their study abroad journey.
The ministry will also launch a dedicated online platform for the program, allowing students to create personal accounts, communicate directly with advisors and experts, and receive ongoing support and answers to their inquiries throughout their studies, she noted.
Al Ansari remarked that the ministry is still accepting scholarship applications, noting that the number of applicants will be announced at a later date once the registration process is complete.
  She noted that technology-related fields, particularly Computer Engineering and Computer Science, were drawing remarkable turnout from students in both domestic and international scholarship programs.
Dr. Abu Bakr Musa Abdullah, a consultant at the Ministry, for his part, emphasized that the program came after the challenges encountered by scholarship students had been monitored and scrutinized throughout their years of study abroad.
He added that the objective was to prepare them for various situations in advance. Dr. Abdullah highlighted that the program revolves around three core pillars: prevention, empowerment, and response. It focuses on equipping students with the knowledge and skills they need before departure, providing them with the resources necessary to succeed, and establishing an ongoing support system throughout their study abroad.
The program, he noted, includes five key tracks: religious and cultural guidance, mental health and social support, safety and digital security, financial literacy, and academic excellence.
These tracks were developed based on the experiences of former scholarship recipients and a careful assessment of the key challenges they encountered while abroad, Abdullah underscored.
Abdullah went on to remark that the religious and cultural guidance track addresses faith-related considerations related to travel, residence, and engagement with diverse communities.
The mental health and social support track, he said, helps students adapt to life abroad and navigate challenges related to homesickness and integration, with the safety and digital security track strengthening awareness of personal data protection, cybersecurity, responsible social media use, and compliance with local laws in host countries.
Dr. Abdullah further explained that the program also provides financial literacy training, along with academic success skills, including time management, research skills, and access to academic advisors, helping foster students' opportunities for academic success and distinction.
  He emphasized that the ministry would establish a dedicated support and advising line that safeguards students' privacy and confidentiality, as well as a digital student portal featuring a training library, educational resources, answers to frequently asked questions, and important contact information for entities in host countries.
The program will also create an online community for scholarship students and organize regular visits to their host institutions, ensuring ongoing support until graduation, Abdullah noted.
Dr. Abdullah emphasized that the program aims to bolster scholarship students' readiness, raise academic success rates, achieve psychological and social stability, and build a leadership-oriented character capable of representing the State of Qatar outstandingly.
He added that the program helps realize the objectives of Qatar National Vision 2030 by preparing scientifically and professionally qualified national talents capable of contributing to the nation's future development.
The workshop wrapped up with an open panel discussion during which Dr. Aljabri, Al Ansari, Dr. Abdullah, and preacher Mohammed Yahya Tahir answered the inquiries raised by students.
They went over the most salient challenges students encounter throughout this scholarship journey, along with the mechanisms for utilizing the services and paths this program provides. (QNA)