The Bedaya Centre for Entrepreneurship and Career Development (Bedaya) has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Qatar Financial Centre Regulatory Authority (QFCRA) to develop careers in the financial sector and to unlock the potential of the Qatari youth.
Under the MoU, the centre will facilitate one-to-one advisory sessions with QFCRA for users of Bedaya’s career guidance tools and for those who will participate in parents’ awareness sessions hosted by Bedaya.
In addition, QFCRA and Bedaya will collaborate on the production of career videos on the financial sector, and on Bedaya’s work exploration programmes (such as job shadowing and internships) by hosting two students per year in different divisions of the organisation.
Bedaya’s initiative for Qatari graduates, the Graduation Programme, will also involve the QFCRA, which will deliver financial technical training for 25 graduates on a yearly basis.
The QFCRA will also promote Bedaya’s initiatives to encourage aspiring members of Doha’s financial community, primarily secondary school and university students, to hone their personal and professional skills.
“Our strategic partnership with QFCRA is highly-important in nurturing financial talent in the country while reflecting the organisations’ commitment to support both the Qatar National Development Strategy 2011-2016 and the Qatar National Vision 2030,” said Bedaya vice chairman Raed al-Emadi.
Otello Sturino, QFCRA corporate communications managing director, said: “Our ultimate goal is to build a legacy of financial regulators for the state of Qatar. In partnership with Bedaya, we will work on mutual strategies for Qatarisation by promoting awareness of financial services regulation and careers in this field to secondary school and university students and their parents.”
QFCRA chief administrative officer Eisa Abdulla said: “We are especially excited to work with Bedaya in using their psychometric testing and career guidance tool, Tahmeed, to refine our selection of qualified job candidates and identify the people who will flourish here at the regulatory authority.”
Bedaya general manager Reem al-Suwaidi said: “Our initiative for Qatari graduates will also gain QFCRA support from their financial technical training. The MoU has all the hallmarks of a very productive partnership to promote career development in the financial regulation sector.”
Al-Suwaidi said Al Masar or “The Path” is a custom regulatory authority programme designed to take fresh graduates, as well as Qataris who are more established in their careers, through five stages of professional growth and development in the core business roles of the QFCRA. Each of these stages is carefully charted and brought to life with professional training, coaching, and staff mentoring, she said.
The core business roles of the QFCRA are in the fields of authorisation, supervision, policy, and legislative counsel. The QFCRA team has extensive experience working at financial centres in London, Dubai, Hong Kong, and Sydney, among others.
“These financial experts will play a major role in Al Masar career development at the regulatory authority by mentoring fresh graduates, interns, and Qataris at entry-level through established expert phases and beyond,” al-Suwaidi said.