Pupils from Doha College have won a problem-solving competition at Qatar National Library.
Six Qatari schools were invited to take part in the Solutionists Challenge, with participants charged with offering library staff a practical method of transporting books to a level of the building not serviced by a lift.
After much discussion and planning of various concepts, each team constructed full-scale cardboard models to put before a judging panel comprising engineers, architects, designers and library staff.
Three teams were then invited to design and construct a prototype of their respective plans, before demonstrating their ideas to the panel.
All told, the six-strong Doha College team spent seven weeks on their winning entry, including many evening and weekend hours.
It’s been such a journey for the students – Dean Hackett, Doha College
That commitment saw them claim first prize in an awards ceremony at Qatar National Library, with second place going to the American School of Doha and third to the Qatar Academy of Science and Technology.
“It’s been such a journey for the students,” said Dean Hackett, head of design and technology at the Doha College.
“From the initial stages of forming the team and collaborating on shared ideas, they also learnt to value each other’s input as we went through the weeks.
“The students worked so hard, they put so much into it, and I am so proud of their success.”
Doha College was established in 1980, sponsored by the British embassy, and initially catered to the children of British diplomats and business people before becoming an international school in the early 90s.
A new 90,000m² campus opened two years ago, hosting a six-form primary and 10-form secondary school.
