A research project conducted by faculty and researchers at Qatar University (QU), in collaboration with a team from Brunel University London, is developing a lifelong learning framework that facilitates the enhancement of graduate attributes and continuous professional development (CPD) in Qatar based on national skills and competency requirements.
The team includes QU associate vice president for academic planning and development Dr Nitham Hindi, QU continuing education office director and assistant professor of accounting at QU College of Business and Economics Dr Rajab al-Esmail, professor of digital governance at Brunel Business School and editor-in-chief of the International Journal of Electronic Government Research Prof Vishanth Weerakkody, founding dean of Brunel University London College of Business, Arts and Social Sciences Prof Zahir Irani, senior lecturer at Brunel Business School Dr Tillal Eldabi, research fellow Dr Mohamed Osmani and research assistant Paul Waller.
The team is formulating a framework that provides the necessary guidelines for policy and decision-makers to monitor and actively engage in lifelong learning and CPD activities in Qatar. The framework and its related information will be available to the public through a web-based platform.
The platform will allow senior management and HR functions in local organisations to appraise and recommend the Qatari workforce for CPD training workshops based on international standards and accreditations. The information and knowledge generated through this platform will be dynamically accumulated and summarised to inform national policy-makers and engage them in shaping attributes of the new graduate workforce.
“If we want to grow our own workforce, we have to think about how we improve our graduates’ skills while at university, and also about continued professional development after they graduate and start their employment journey,” observed Dr Hindi.
Prof Weerakkody explained that CPD is a core requirement for getting and keeping a formal professional status in professions such as accounting and information technology, because it demonstrates a commitment to lifelong learning.
“CPD used to be measured by hours spent studying, but the trend now is to demand reflection on learning activities of all sorts, and the assessment of their impact on the professional performance.”