Qatar Career Fair (QCF), a member of Qatar Foundation, held its inaugural Qatar Career Forum at the Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC) with more than 150 participants.
The Forum focused on the current practices and concerns of career guidance in Qatar. Experts shared their insight on the best methods for assisting Qatari youth between the ages of 16 and 26 about their career, as well as the recommended strategies needed for improving current career development programmes.
An ideal platform was provided at the event for policy and decision makers, human development professionals, researchers, career counsellors and key career guidance stakeholders in Qatar, as well as Qatari parents and youth to meet and share expertise on the subject.
Abdulla al-Mansoori, director of QCF, said: “Qatar’s advancement is highly dependent on its people. For this reason, investing in human capital is essential for sustainable economic development. As we undergo a massive education boom, appropriate career guidance and placement is required to ensure that youths are pursuing the right career paths, in which they can excel and play a substantial role in Qatar’s sustainability.”
The participating experts and specialists of the forum were divided into four focus groups that represented education, training and human capital development sectors in Qatar, as well as Qatari parents and students.
The first focus group, made up of career guidance decision makers, policy makers and researchers in the private, public and mixed sectors of the Qatari economy, was led by Dr Khalid Mohamed al-Horr, director of Higher Education Institute, Supreme Education Council (SEC) and was moderated by Dr Mohamed Abul-Ola, career counsellor and general manager of Integral Training and Development Company.
The second focus group of career guidance practitioners was led by Dr Khalid Mohamed al-Khanji, vice president of Student Affairs, HBKU and moderated by Adam Ahmed al-Saadi, director of Career Development Centre, HBKU.
The third group, which consisted of Qatari parents and youth, represented the segment of the Qatari population that is affected directly by the decisions taken by career planning and development. They were led by Dr Maryam Abdulla al-Ali, founder and CEO, Draw Your Way Consulting and Training Centre and moderated by Dr Aziza Ahmad al-Saadi, director of Education and Training Sector Strategy, SEC.
The fourth focus group of career guidance knowledge exchange, which included representatives of international career guidance providers, discussed experiences relevant to the situation in Qatar, and presented case studies from which lessons can be derived.
This group was led by Zamila Bunglawala, Fellow, University of Manchester and former British Government Policy Advisor and moderated by Dr Kholode al-Obaidli, vice president of National Talent Management, Human Resources Division, Qatar Airways.