JEDDAH, 23 October — Rasha Naim, who has been adjudged this year’s Queen Effat Award student, and others on the dean’s honors list were honored at an annual ceremony held at Effat College in Jeddah.
Rasha, who couldn’t conceal her surprise and excitement, said : "This award means a lot to me, I tried to achieve the perfect criteria to get it and thank God I did," she said.
The criteria for the award include good academic record, leadership qualities, good relationships with peers and department, and involvement in extracurricular and student activities.
"Effat College is very different from other educational institutions," said Rasha who is majoring in computer science. "We are constantly motivated and encouraged to participate and create new activities."
Although Effat College is only four years young, it has already achieved a distinct quality and standard. It derives its reputation from the high caliber of its faculty and the high standards expected from its students. Attending the annual ceremony was Princess Lolowah Al-Faisal, vice chairperson of the board of trustees and general supervisor of the college.
Heba Ajaj, one of the students on the dean’s list majoring in information systems, considers the college her second home. "We are given individual attention and we have a lot of activities besides the academic requirements," she said.
As for Najiah Garoot, another student on the list majoring in computer science, finds the extra activities and programs as the most appealing in the college because it broadens the learners’ horizons and realm of interests.
For example, there will be an IT seminar at the college starting today, which will be attended by local and international professionals.
The inauguration ceremony of the First Annual Learning and Technology Program under the patronage of Princess Lolowah will be held today, and over the next two days there will be several training workshops for educators on how to use technology to enhance the teaching and learning process.
"The goal is to build constructive methods of teaching enhanced by interactive, wireless technology," said Dr. Haifa Jamal Al-Lail, dean of the college and the chairperson of the program. "We plan to spread the use of technology in education by hosting more workshops all year round," she said.
Effat College is the first academic institution to host such an event in the Kingdom.
Dr. Mervat Tashkandi, the dean’s senior assistant for student affairs, said the board of trustees is "studying the possibility of providing post-graduate programs some time in the future."
