Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar (VCUarts Qatar), a Qatar Foundation (QF) partner university, is offering portfolio development classes for high school students in the first semester of the 2024 academic year. These short courses, organized by the University’s Community and Continuing Education (CCE) wing, are designed to help students build competitive portfolios for university applications.
The non-credit sessions are comprehensive and aim to equip students with the skills necessary to create standout art and design portfolios tailored to university standards. The program offers flexibility with four different schedules to accommodate students’ varying routines.
For 2024, students can choose from the following class schedules: September 1 – October 20; September 16 – November 4; October 1 – November 19; and October 23 – December 11.
The program emphasizes originality in thinking and development—key factors that art, design, and architecture universities consider alongside technical skills. Participants are encouraged to create portfolios that showcase their unique interpretations of themes or topics.
Experienced VCUarts Qatar alumni will lead the classes, offering personalized feedback throughout the learning process. Upon completing the course requirements, including attending all sessions, students will receive a certificate of completion.
The curriculum includes sessions on basic, advanced, and observational drawing, creative thinking processes, effective communication of ideas, and documenting work progress using photography.
One of the previous participants, Haya El Amadi, shared her experience. She said, “It was my first time taking the portfolio development classes and I enjoyed it. I quite looked forward to the Wednesdays when I attended them. In the process of building a portfolio, I learned a lot about art and design. My instructor was very helpful and always ready to offer additional guidance when we needed it.”
A former participant, Haya El Amadi, shared her positive experience, noting, “It was my first time taking the portfolio development classes, and I enjoyed it. I looked forward to the Wednesdays when I attended them. In the process of building a portfolio, I learned a lot about art and design. My instructor was very helpful and always ready to offer additional guidance when we needed it.”
Rasha Alkasab, VCUarts Qatar’s Community and Continuing Education Program Manager, noted that the relevance of the program lies in the fact that an art or design portfolio is considered to be a prerequisite not just for admission into a university, but also for job prospects across fields as varied as art, design, architecture, product design, technology, and innovation.
Rasha Alkasab, VCUarts Qatar’s Community and Continuing Education Program Manager, highlighted the importance of the program, noting that a well-crafted art or design portfolio is not only essential for university admission but also for career opportunities in fields such as art, design, architecture, product design, technology, and innovation.
Alkasab explained further, “This 8-week course gives potential applicants an advantage as they can develop their portfolios under the guidance of experts. In addition to teaching them the process of creating a portfolio, the program boosts confidence and readiness for future academic endeavors in art and design. It also serves as a tool to expand students’ creative processes and teaches them complex thinking techniques that can be applied in all fields, including the sciences.”
For further information please visit https://qatar.vcu.edu/portfolio-classes/ and @vcuqatar.cce on Instagram.
