Dr. Judith M. L. Hansen’s work in education spans secondary, post-secondary and graduate arenas dating to 1968, when she served the Virginia Beach School System as an Instructor. She went on to serve Iowa State University as a Teaching Assistant before becoming the Dean of Instruction at Crowder College followed by president of Olney Central, Independence Community and Southwestern Oregon Community Colleges. In 2010, Dr. Judith Hansen began her tenure as College Dean of Community College of Qatar.

Community College of Qatar (CCQ) offers three Associate Degrees which enable students to either continue their education or enter the workforce. Students who pursue an Associate in Art can use the degree as a platform to earn a Baccalaureate in areas such as education, business, communication, fine arts, and humanities. Similarly, students who earn an Associate in Science can transfer to accredited universities as a third-year student to complete a Bachelor’s Degree in fields ranging from computer science and engineering to mathematics and health sciences. 

While the AA and AS degrees prepare students to continue their academic studies, CCQ’s Associate in Applied Science (AAS) Degree includes programs focused on skills that students can use to immediately upon graduation to enter numerous corporations and industries. Interested students can also enroll in certificate courses designed for skills training and personal development. CCQ degrees and programs are designed to assure every qualified student and the State of Qatar the best future.

Dr. Judith M. L. Hansen lead launch of Community College of Qatar (CCQ) in 2010 as Dean, appointed by State of Qatar. Prior to the school opening in the fall of 2010, she worked tirelessly to recruit and select the first 305 students enrolled for the academic year. In collaboration with CCQ administration, Dr. Hansen lead expansion of the curriculum and schedule from one campus and degree to two campuses and three degrees in the first two years. 

Prior to the CCQ inaugural semester in September 2010, thousands of potential students submitted applications and took placement tests in the hopes of being admitted to the first college class. In the following academic term, eager to accommodate more learners, CCQ implemented evening courses. Expanded evening and part-time schedules added courses for students who worked and tended to families during the daytime.

CCQ renovated a second campus located on C-Ring Road in the first year to accomodate more applicants to the popular insitution. Whether attending morning, afternoon, or evening courses; CCQ students can work toward an Associate Degee programs which transfer to universities both in Qatar and abroad. Students can also enroll in Associate in Applied Science Degrees for employment in careers specific to the Qatar economy upon graduation.

The Community College of Qatar (CCQ) and the General Administration of Qatar Customs have signed an agreement to develop a new educational program for Customs staff, who will soon be able to earn an Associate Degree in Applied Science with a major in Customs Sciences. According to the Founding Dean, Dr.Judith M. L. Hansen,the new Customs programming will increase the technical competence of the General Administration’s staff members, better enabling them to offer exceptional service to their clients. Judith Hansen helped establish the Community College of Qatar in 2010 and has led it as Dean ever since.

The memorandum of understanding was signed by CCQ’s Acting President, Dr. Ibrahim Al-Naimi, and by the General Director of the General Administration of Qatar Customs, Ahmed Al-Mohannadi. The Customs Sciences program is the first of several Associate of Applied Science degrees that are being developed by the school. There are currently 40 students enrolled in the new program.

In addition, the Customs agency is planning to sponsor a number of additional students who plan to enter customs service after graduation. The new agreement will focus on building and developing human resources through ongoing education and training, ultimately working toward the goals set out in the Qatar National Vision 2030.

When Judith M. L. Hansen owned and operated a successful, award-winning 1,200-acre farm in Iowa, the data necessary to make good decisions was collected and organized by hand. If she were farming today, Dr. Hansen, who recently launched a college in Qatar, would be able to use information technologies and data from global data sources to employ “precision farming.” 

Precision farming uses data gathering and analysis techniques to reduce the use of fertilizer, limit the need for pesticides, increase crop yields, and mitigate risk for crop loss. Published experts state that data from precision farming allows farms to increase effectiveness and efficiency while minimizing the need for additional labor and/or expensive new equipment. Research shows that the most successful American farmers embrace data analysis and precision farming.

Globally competitive American farmers have facilitated the evolution to data-driven precision farming and recognized the benefits of increased information technology utilization. However, agricultural educators fear that farmers may be stop short of taking precision farming to the next level of total data-driven decision-making. Software can now collect and organize more data than any one farmer can analyze. 

Experts suggest that, in the future, farmers may need to outsource their data analysis to third parties for effective management decisions. Many farmers are unwilling to entrust their data and decision making processes to an outside firm. Farmers need the assurance of business data and information firewalls requisite for security to embrace contracted data consultant recommendations, rather than distrusting plans of action that may be different than intuitive and historic farming choices. While the transition to totally data-driven farm decision making may have been slow, the global economy portends that American agriculture and farmers will soon use big data.

The Qatar Supreme Education Council (SEC) oversees State education and higher education reform. The SEC leads and manages institutions and institutes directly responsible for Qatari educational reform, under the leadership of His Excellency Mr. Saad al Mahmoud, Minister of Education and Higher Education, Secretary General of the SEC.

The SEC structure includes three institutes: Higher Education (HEI), Education, and Research and Evaluation. The Education Institute directs global competitiveness by creating and developing curriculae in language, mathematics science, social sciences, humanities, research, and critical thinking. Assessment and evaluation of all education programming is directed by the Research and Evaluation Institute to meet international standards. 

The HEI develops global education and training opportunities for successful Qatari students to meet international marketplace challenges. Top-achieving Qatari students are sent to colleges and universities throughout the world to attain the knowledge and skills that are needed to create an effective future economy and workforce for the State of Qatar.

About the Author: Dr. Judith M. L. Hansen is a founder and Dean of the Community College of Qatar. Launched in 2010, the Community College of Qatar aims to train a national workforce capable of meeting Qatar’s diverse professional needs.

The American Association of Community Colleges (AACC)supports higher education professionals with key information, advocacy and career development required for international success. Events,publications and contacts provided by the AACC address the needs of both beginning and highly experienced education professionals.

The official AACC website describes upcoming events, publications and professional development programs. For example, The annual Workforce Development Institute provides networking opportunities, educational sessions, and opportunities to tour regional community colleges specific to economic development. Similarly, the AACC Future Leaders Institute (FLI)delivers leadership skills and mentors requisite for aspiring college administrators and Presidents selected for advancement. For more experienced leaders of community colleges, Presidents and Chief Executive Officers may find the Presidents Academy Summer Institute beneficial for gaining an in-depth understanding of emerging trends and case studies in higher education.

About the Author: An experienced college administrator and professor, Judith M. L. Hansen has served as President of Olney Central College and Independence Community College. Dr. Judith Hansen receently lead the launch of the Community College of Qatar as College Dean.

Judith M. L. Hansen is an educator and consultant with more than 30 years of experience in ESL, elementary, secondary, and higher education. She discusses a project designed to assist students to improve their English skills.

The Jakarta Post has announced an exciting, new, joint project aimed at helping secondary students in Indonesia to learn English. Chevron PT Pacific, The Indonesian Education and Culture Ministry, and the Jakarta Post have joined forces to provide secondary school students with copies of the English-language edition of the newspaper. The Post will distribute the newspapers to students at 100 secondary schools across Indonesia.

Global educators envision that this English education collaborative initiative will improve students’ grasp of English and teach students about worldwide events and media literacy. In the past, Indonesian English teachers have struggled with the same problems that face many English as a second language instructors around the world. While students often pass language assessments, the ability to communicate in the global economy may still be limited. The Indonesian English education collaborative model sets a standard for effective global education throughout the world.

By Judith Hansen, Ph.D.

College Success Tips Part One discusses two successful techniques, Course Guide and Mock Test  that can be used by individual and group learners using visual, auditory and/or action learning modes to meet the challenges of individual repsonsibiltiies of a college student.  The environment and timing for study and learning, often overlooked,  also affect student success. The following points will impove the effectiveness of the time dedicated to study and provide the necessary mental  fuel  for the focus required by students in the higher education academic environment.

1)  Regular times explicitly for studying.  When study times are scheduled into free time in each day and week, students avoid the stress of other responsibilities associated with being an independent college student. Ideal scheduled study times include early morning, breaks between classes, before and/or after class, and/or at night. Scheduled study times  form a routine  the student can follow for a period of several weeks through the semester, thus relieving the pressure of ‘cramming’ or last minute preparation for papers, projects and/or exams.
2)  Regular time for relaxation and recreation.  Mental work requires oxygen that is only replenished during quality relaxation and recreation time.   Whether the recreation/relaxation is filled with walking to a friend’s room, playing tennis,  running and/or laying down on the couch for a nap; the time provides energy for pusuit of academic goals and clear perspective for available time to meet the academic deadlines.
3)  Short breaks.  It is recommended that students plan short visual breaks every 20 minutes. The breaks must remain short, however, or students may not return to the task. Once the one/two minute break is over, students may review recent learning before continuing on to new material, providing essential reinforcement. In order to keep on track, students can set longer-term stretch goals  for each scheduled study session and academic term without compromising the thorough learning process.
4)  Healthy food and assure adequate sleep.  The mind is a machine fueled by the right foods and sleep required for rejuvenation of thought and purpose. The ability to absorb new information requires well-fueled mind. Relying on caffeine and/or high sugar foods to stay alert exhausts the body and ultimately hurts the student. Instead, a student should schedule time to eat healthy snacks and sleep when deadlines near.
5) Include other students in study, relaxation and renewal.  Even for independent learners,  studying in a group or with other students around provides the human touch and interaction that sparks thought and stimulates learning.   While learning is a solitary process, students benefit from including others in their study. Classmates provide a different point of view and help to keep all those involved on track. Setting and meeting goals often becomes easier in a group setting.

Success in college requires more than attendance and study.  Attention to regular schedule for academic pursuit, recreation, relaxation, healthy diet and group activity enhance student effective use of all the opportunities a college/university provides.

About the Author

Judith Hansen, Ph.D., possesses more than 30 years of experience in higher education working at colleges around the United States. Last year, she became the Dean of The Community College of Qatar, the first institution of its kind in the region. A skilled educator, Judith Hansen, Ph.D., has taught classes in college study skills and psychology, among other subjects.