Designation is a key indicator of academic quality, officials say

DOHA, Qatar — Texas A&M University at Qatar this week received notification that the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET has conferred accreditation on all four of the university’s engineering programs in Qatar.

ABET is the premier accreditation authority for institutions offering degree programs in applied science, computing, engineering and technology. Accreditation means that an academic program meets quality standards set by academic and professional leaders in the disciplines.

Dr. Mark H. Weichold, dean and CEO of Texas A&M at Qatar, said the accreditation was a welcome endorsement of the university’s first-rate engineering programs in Education City.

“Academic excellence isour business,” Weichold said, “and ABET accreditation is a key marker of the quality to which we aspire.”

The university’s Bachelor of Science programs in chemical engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering and petroleum engineering all received accreditation, and the accreditation applies to all degrees awarded to Texas A&M at Qatar graduates after Oct. 1, 2007.

Dr. R. Bowen Loftin, interim president of Texas A&M, lauded the news.

“We are pleased that Texas A&M’s Qatar campus programs have been accredited by ABET, which validates something that we have known for a long time — our Qatar engineering graduates are of the highest caliber and will be a part of the next generation of Aggie leaders,” Loftin said. “We appreciate the long-standing partnership Texas A&M has had with the Qatar Foundation as we work together in developing a world-class, comprehensive engineering program in Qatar.”

Dr. G. Kemble Bennett, vice chancellor and dean of engineering at Texas A&M, sent his congratulations after hearing news of ABET accreditation for Texas A&M at Qatar.

“This is a significant achievement for Texas A&M at Qatar, and I applaud the faculty and staff who worked so diligently toward this goal,” he said.

Weichold noted that Texas A&M was invited to Education City because of its reputation for having one of the world’s best engineering programs. He said independent ABET accreditation is a good indication that the university has successfully replicated its renowned degree programs in Qatar.

“The independent accreditation of the university’s campus in Qatar as a branch campus of Texas A&M is prestigious affirmation that our academic programs are of the caliber necessary to educate engineers who are ready to work in today’s fast-changing and technology-driven world,” he said.

In May, Texas A&M at Qatar graduated its 100th engineer since it opened in Education City in 2003. Weichold said that with ABET accreditation, every student’s degree appreciates in value.

“This is a clear signal to employers, prospective students and potential research partners that Texas A&M at Qatar is a leader in engineering education in Qatar and the region,” he said. “We can be as confident as ever that students who excel in our classrooms today will be leaders in industry, government and academia tomorrow.”

About Texas A&M at Qatar
Texas A&M University, recognized as having one of the premier engineering programs in the world, has offered undergraduate degrees in chemical, electrical, mechanical and petroleum engineering at Qatar Foundation’s Education City campus since 2003. One hundred engineers have graduated from Texas A&M at Qatar since 2007. In addition to engineering courses, Texas A&M University at Qatar provides classes in science, mathematics, liberal arts and the humanities. The curricula offered at Texas A&M at Qatar are materially identical to the ones offered at the main campus in College Station, Texas, and courses are taught in English in a co-educational setting. The reputation for excellence is the same, as is the commitment to equipping engineers to lead the next generation of engineering advancement. Faculty from around the world are attracted to Texas A&M at Qatar to provide this educational experience and to participate in research activities, now valued at nearly $50 million, that address issues important to the State of Qatar. Visit www.qatar.tamu.edu to learn more about Texas A&M at Qatar.

For information contact:
Brady Creel, Office of Marketing and Communications
brady.creel@qatar.tamu.edu, +974.423.0254

Popularity: 38% [?]

CORRECTION: March 24, 2009
The original story (February 13, 2009) did not accurately reflect the current status of the ABET accreditation process at Texas A&M University at Qatar. The original headline, “Texas A&M at Qatar celebrates ABET accreditation,” should have read, “Texas A&M thanks faculty for helping prepare Qatar program for accreditation process.” Changes to the text for clarity have been made; the complete corrected text is below. Texas A&M Engineering Communications sincerely regrets any ambiguities or inaccuracies reflected in the original story.

Texas A&M University held a reception today (Feb. 13) to thank faculty and staff for lending their assistance to the university’s branch campus, Texas A&M University at Qatar, during preparations for its first-ever ABET accreditation uation.

ABET, Inc. is the recognized accreditor of college and university programs in applied science, computing, engineering, and technology.

Dr. Jeffrey Vitter, provost and executive vice president for academics, welcomed guests who had gathered to celebrate.

“ABET accreditation is a specific designation for engineering degree-granting programs, and signifies highest-quality standards, as established by those in the engineering profession,” Vitter said.

Dr. G. Kemble Bennett, vice chancellor and dean of engineering, thanked the departments and faculty members involved in the process.

The ABET accreditation process for Texas A&M University at Qatar has not been completed and accreditation has not yet been granted.

Popularity: 6% [?]

A new $3 million research project at Texas A&M University at Qatar that will focus on liquefied natural gas (LNG) safety has been established thanks to an effort led by the Mary Kay O’Connor Process Safety Center, which is jointly operated by Texas A&M’s Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering and the Texas Engineering Experiment Station.

The project, which establishes a top-tier LNG safety research program in collaboration with Qatar Petroleum and the Qatar Foundation, is based on a similar program at the Brayton Fire Training Field at Texas A&M, which was established under the guidance of the Mary Kay O’ Connor Safety Process Center.

Center director and Regents Professor M. Sam Mannan is overseeing the development of the Qatar LNG initiative through which a team of postdoctoral researchers, graduate students and undergraduate students will work together, led by Simon Waldram, senior professor of chemical engineering, and Ahmed Abdel-Wahab, senior assistant professor of chemical engineering.

The Mary Kay O’Connor Process Safety Center will work closely with the new program, sending its graduate students and research staff to Qatar to participate in the research, Mannan said. In addition, staff and students from Texas A&M at Qatar will travel to the center in College Station to observe the set up of LNG tests at the Brayton Fire School.

“I am pleased that the years of LNG research collaborations with BP and the Mary Kay O’Connor Process Safety Center has helped lead to this project with Texas A&M at Qatar,” said Mannan, an internationally recognized expert on process safety and risk assessment and an authority of LNG research.

Recently, Mannan spearheaded a collaboration of more than 40 experts from industry, academia and various regulatory agencies in an effort to develop models that can help predict the behavior of the intense fires resulting from a potential LNG tanker spill. The group’s findings are detailed in a white paper that was made available to a variety of private entities and regulatory agencies and can be downloaded at http://psc.tamu.edu/links/lng-white-paper-on-pool-fire-modeling.

Increasing worldwide demand for energy, Mannan explained, has resulted in greater utilization of LNG, which is natural gas that has been cooled to the point that it condenses to a liquid. That process reduces its volume by about 600 times, making it more economical to transport. For a fire or hazardous situation to occur, LNG must be ignited after first vaporizing and mixing with air in the proper proportions. That conversion can happen very quickly once a spill occurs, Mannan said. Furthermore, LNG fires can behave differently than other fires, he added, emphasizing the importance increased research in the area.

The experimental part of the LNG research at Texas A&M at Qatar will be conducted at the new facilities of the Ras Laffan Emergency and Safety Training College. Plans call for the study of highly instrumented, large-scale LNG spills, with dispersion and fires conducted under carefully controlled conditions. Data from these experiments will be modeled and interpreted using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software.

“The research program, the first of its kind in Qatar, also aims to provide a new opportunity for home grown graduates educated at the Qatar Foundation and seeking to develop their talents further through research and innovation while at the same time contributing to the science of safety in Qatar’s global LNG industry,” said Brian Hunter, country manager for BP in Qatar.

Ryan Garica, ryan.garcia@chemail.tamu.edu

Popularity: 8% [?]

Three faculty members from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering have been elected Fellows of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).

Dr. Aniruddha Datta

Dr. Aniruddha Datta, a professor in the department, was cited “for contributions to control techniques in cancer genomics.” Datta joined the faculty in 1991. He received the B. Tech. degree in electrical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (Kharagpur), the M.S.E.E. degree from Southern Illinois University and the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Southern California. His areas of interest include robust adaptive control, PID control and more recently, genomic signal processing and control. He has published five books and more than 100 refereed journal and conference papers on these topics. Honors include being named a Eugene E. Webb ‘43 Faculty Fellowship by the Dwight Look College of Engineering, a TEES Special Research Fellow and the J. W. Runyon Jr. ‘35 Professorship II. He also has been a member of several program committees, has been an associate editor for the IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control and has served as the general chair for the IEEE International Workshop on Genomic Signal Processing and Statistics (GENSIPS) 2008.

Dr. Scott Miller

Dr. Scott Miller, also a professor in the department and graduate coordinator, is cited “for contributions to the theory of spread spectrum communications.” Miller earned B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering from the University of California, San Diego. In August 1998, he joined the Texas A&M faculty. He has published more than 75 refereed journal and conference papers on a variety of topics in the area of digital communication theory. Miller currently is chair of the IEEE Communications Theory Technical Committee. Honors include being named a Eugene E. Webb ‘43 Faculty Fellow by the Dwight Look College of Engineering and receiving an Outstanding Faculty Award from the department.

Dr. Mohamed-Slim Alouini

Dr. Mohamed-Slim Alouini, from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Texas A&M University-Qatar and program coordinator at TAMUQ, is cited “for contributions to design and performance analysis of wireless communication systems.” Alouini received the Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering from the California Institute of Technology. He was previously an associate professor with the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering of the University of Minnesota. In 2005, he joined the electrical engineering program at TAMUQ, where his current research interests include the design and performance analysis of wireless communication systems.

With the addition of Datta and Miller there are now 21 faculty members in the department at Texas A&M who have reached the rank of Fellow, a significant achievement as the number of IEEE members who may be advanced to Fellow grade in one year is 0.10 percent of the total 320,000 Institute membership.

The IEEE Directory describes the honor as “one of unusual professional distinction conferred only by the  Board of Directors upon a person of extraordinary qualifications and experience.” To be considered, candidates must have made an outstanding contribution to the electrical and electronics profession.

Popularity: 12% [?]

Texas A&M University at Qatar and BP have signed documents to begin work on a $3 million research project for an initial five-year period, studying liquefied natural gas safety.

Officials from BP, Qatar Petroleum and Texas A&M at Qatar, along with three undergraduate student researchers, participated in the signing ceremony Tuesday.

The project establishes a top-tier LNG safety research program in collaboration with Qatar Petroleum and Qatar Foundation. Dr. Simon Waldram, visiting professor of chemical engineering, and Dr. Ahmed Abdel-Wahab, visiting assistant professor of chemical engineering, will lead a team of postdoctoral researchers, graduate students and undergraduate students in the project.

“LNG processing and transportation are some of the key pieces of Qatar’s industrial jigsaw, and much of the remainder of Qatar’s economy are based on these foundations,” Waldram said. “Our research will develop new safety procedures and standards that will permeate the land-based gas industry in Qatar.”

The experimental part of the LNG research will be conducted at the new facilities of the Ras Laffan Emergency and Safety Training College being built by QP, Abdel-Wahab said.

“Highly instrumented, large-scale studies of real LNG spills, dispersion and fires will be conducted under carefully controlled conditions,” he said.

The contract was signed by Dr. Brian Hunter, country manager for BP in Qatar, and Dr. Jim Holste, associate dean for research and graduate studies at Texas A&M at Qatar, at the Qatar Offshore Conference and Exhibition. Texas A&M at Qatar undergraduate engineering students Mohammed Albaker, Omar Basha and Raid Hassiba attended the signing ceremony. Albaker, Basha and Hassiba will be student researchers on the project.

“The research program, the first of its kind in Qatar, also aims to provide a new opportunity for home grown graduates educated at the Qatar Foundation and seeking to develop their talents further in to research and innovation while at the same time contributing to the science of safety in Qatar’s global LNG industry,” Hunter said. “It is therefore a great pleasure to mark the appointment of our first research undergraduates, who I am sure will contribute greatly to the program.”

Albaker, a senior chemical engineering student from Qatar, said he is excited to participate in the LNG safety research project. “The results of this research can help increase the LNG output in Qatar, and that would have a positive impact on my country’s growth and development.”

The new project complements a separate research program, also funded by BP, at the university’s main campus in College Station, Texas.
About Texas A&M at Qatar
Texas A&M University, recognized as having one of the premier engineering programs in the world, has offered undergraduate degrees in chemical, electrical, mechanical and petroleum engineering at Qatar Foundation’s Education City campus since 2003. Thirty-four engineers have graduated from Texas A&M at Qatar since 2007. In addition to engineering courses, Texas A&M University at Qatar provides supporting classes in science, mathematics, liberal arts and the humanities. The curricula offered at Texas A&M at Qatar are materially identical to the ones offered at the main campus in College Station, Texas, and courses are
taught in English in a co-educational setting. The reputation for excellence is the same, as is the commitment to training engineers equipped to lead the next generation of engineering discovery. Visit http://www.qatar.tamu.edu to learn more about Texas A&M at Qatar.

Popularity: 6% [?]

Ambassador Joseph LeBaron last week praised the work of the U.S. universities in Education City during a visit to Texas A&M University at Qatar.

Dr. Mark H. Weichold (second from left), dean and CEO of Texas A&M at Qatar, and U.S. Ambassador to Qatar Dr. Joseph LeBaron (third from left) stop for photos with two students during a tour of the Texas A&M Engineering Building.

“The work these universities are doing in educating the next generation of leaders has the potential to fundamentally change the region and its relations with the rest of the world for the better,” LeBaron said. “Qatar’s leaders are making an investment in their people that will pay enormous dividends.”

Dean Mark H. Weichold hosted LeBaron on 14 Oct. for a visit with students and other university administrators, and accompanied the ambassador on a tour of the Texas A&M Engineering Building in Education. Weichold said he was honored to host LeBaron and that he appreciates the ambassador’s enthusiastic support of the university’s programs.

“Ambassador LeBaron is an ardent advocate of education and I look forward to partnering with him as we work to increase awareness of the fine academic and research programs of Texas A&M at Qatar,” Weichold said.

About Texas A&M at Qatar
Texas A&M University, recognized as having one of the premier engineering programs in
the world, has offered undergraduate degrees in chemical, electrical, mechanical and
petroleum engineering at Qatar Foundation’s Education City campus since 2003. Thirty-four
engineers have graduated from Texas A&M at Qatar since 2007. In addition to engineering
courses, Texas A&M University at Qatar provides supporting classes in science, mathematics,
liberal arts and the humanities. The curricula offered at Texas A&M at Qatar are materially
identical to the ones offered at the main campus in College Station, Texas, and courses are
taught in English in a co-educational setting. The reputation for excellence is the same, as
is the commitment to training engineers equipped to lead the next generation of
engineering discovery. Visit www.qatar.tamu.edu to learn more about Texas A&M at Qatar.

Popularity: 4% [?]

Texas A&M University at Qatar will host a four-day engineering recruitment fair next week to entice top-performing students at the Al-Bayan Complex for Girls and Omar Bin Khattab Complex for Boys schools to consider studying engineering at the University.

Dolphin Energy is sponsoring the recruitment fair, which will bring more than 800 students from grades 11 and 12 to the university to learn about its engineering programs and admissions standards. Recruitment events are scheduled for late October and early November.

“Texas A&M at Qatar is seeking the best students for its engineering programs,” said Mariam Al-Mannai, director of student and community relations for the University. “We are glad to have the help and sponsorship of Dolphin Energy because we know industry in Qatar needs highly trained engineers.”

This recruitment fair is the first in a series of major recruitment events. Al-Mannai said the university is working to foster relationships with students in grade 11 so those students can choose courses that will prepare them for their first year as engineering students.

Popularity: 4% [?]

Mert Atilhan, assistant professor in the department of chemical engineering at Qatar University in Doha and former graduate student of the Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering at Texas A&M University, has been honored with the Qatar University 2008 Research Award.

The award, which is bestowed upon only one faculty member from Qatar University, was presented to Atilhan during the university’s convocation ceremonies this month.

While at Texas A&M, Atilhan was a graduate research assistant who studied under Professor Kenneth R. Hall before earning his doctorate in 2007. His research at Qatar University focuses on applied thermodynamics, thermophysical fluid properties, including natural gas and hydrates.

“I am not surprised that Dr. Atilhan has won this prestigious award,” Hall said. “He was an excellent and creative student while here, and he combined that talent with a desire to work hard.

“He has been remarkably successful at attracting research funding since joining Qatar University. Now he has the reputation of being a ‘do-er,’ and the Qatari industry has begun to approach him with projects in addition to those he develops himself.”

Atilhan has continued to work closely with Hall and Professor Mahmoud El-Halwagi, who also instructed him at Texas A&M and served on his Ph.D. committee. Together, the three faculty members are working on a joint project funded by the Qatar National Research Foundation.

“When Mert was a graduate student here, he distinguished himself as an outstanding researcher and very talented chemical engineer,” said El-Halwagi. “At present, Dr. Atilhan is leading major research efforts on the complex thermodynamic aspects of natural gas. His research is original, fundamental and applicable and will provide a significant impact on the design, operation, troubleshooting and optimization of natural gas processing facilities.

“In addition to being an excellent researcher, Dr. Atilhan also has proven himself to be a terrific teacher. Based on input that I have received from Qatar University faculty and students, Dr. Atilhan is lauded as a caring, dedicated and effective instructor.”

Established in 1973, Qatar University is comprised of seven colleges: the College of Education, the College of Arts & Sciences, the College of Sharia & Islamic Studies, the College of Engineering, the College of Law, the College of Business & Economics and the College of Pharmacy. With more than 27,000 graduates and a faculty community of almost 700 members, the university is also an active member in several prestigious regional and international associations, including the Union of Arab Universities, the league of Islamic Universities, and the International Association of Universities.

Contact: Ryan Garcia at ryan.garcia@chemail.tamu.edu

Popularity: 7% [?]

DOHA, Qatar — Texas A&M University at Qatar this week hosted in honor of his new post as dean of the college of engineering at Qatar University.

Faculty and administrators from both universities met and discussed ways to expand collaborations between Qatar University and Texas A&M at Qatar.

Dr. Mark H. Weichold, dean and CEO of Texas A&M at Qatar, said the Texas A&M at Qatar has had tremendous success partnering with Qatar University faculty on research projects and that he hopes to maintain that momentum.

“Dr. Hasna is an ardent supporter of collaborations between the academic and research programs in engineering at Texas A&M at Qatar and those at Qatar University,” Weichold said. “We are pleased to honor him for his new post as dean of engineering at Qatar University, and I look forward to expanding our relationship with Qatar University and its faculty.”

Hasna said greater collaboration between Qatar University and Texas A&M at Qatar could be beneficial for Qatar.

“With the huge industrial development that Qatar is witnessing, the role of engineering institutions is key in serving the local demand on different fronts,” he said. “The College of Engineering at Qatar University is looking forward to partner with Texas A&M at Qatar in an effort to better serve our students, the local industry, and Qatar at large.”

For information contact:
Brady Creel, Office of Marketing and Communications
brady.creel@qatar.tamu.edu, +974.423.0254

Popularity: 5% [?]

DOHA, Qatar — A record-breaking class of new engineering students at Texas A&M University at Qatar pushed enrollment figures above 300 and freshman class size above 100 for the first time since the University opened its Qatar campus in 2003.

The incoming class comprises 101 freshmen.

“We have a stellar incoming class,” said Dr. Mark H. Weichold, dean and CEO of the university’s Qatar campus. “Competition for admission this year was the toughest it has ever been, and I’m excited to welcome such a remarkable freshman class — remarkable in size and quality.”

The fall semester began Sunday (Aug. 17).

University officials anticipate total enrollment of about 340 for the fall semester when final numbers are tallied later this month. This puts Texas A&M at Qatar in the top slot for undergraduate program size among the six universities in Education City.

Students spent the latter half of last week participating in new-student orientation, which was students’ official welcome to life as university students. Seven students from the Texas A&M campus in College Station, Texas, who are studying in Doha this semester helped lead orientation for new students who were anxious to learn about university history and traditions. Five students from Doha are studying in College Station this semester.

Weichold said he anticipates a successful and productive year and that he looks forward to seeing the new engineering students become immersed in their studies.

“Their courses will be rigorous and challenging,” he said, “but I believe the students will also find their classes to be fun, too.”

The university’s academic convocation is scheduled for 25 Aug.
About Texas A&M at Qatar
Texas A&M University, recognized as having one of the premier engineering programs in the world, has offered undergraduate degrees in chemical, electrical, mechanical and petroleum engineering at Qatar Foundation’s Education City campus since 2003. In addition to engineering courses, Texas A&M University at Qatar provides supporting classes in science, mathematics, liberal arts and the humanities. The curricula offered at Texas A&M at Qatar are materially identical to the ones offered at the main campus in College Station, Texas, and courses are taught in English in a co-educational setting. The reputation for excellence is the same, as is the commitment to training engineers equipped to lead the next generation of engineering discovery. Visit www.qatar.tamu.edu to learn more about Texas A&M at Qatar.

Popularity: 4% [?]