27 January 2024
Under the Patronage of H.E. Lolwah bint Rashid Al Khater Ministry of Education and Higher Education and Qatar Career Development Center Host Deliberation Session to Establish Career Development Ecosystem in Qatar
Doha, Qatar – 27 January 2024 – Under the esteemed patronage of Her Excellency Lolwah bint Rashid Al Khater, Minister of Education and Higher Education, the Ministry, in collaboration with Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC), hosted a deliberation session titled “Towards Establishing the National Career Development Ecosystem in Qatar: Contributing to the Realization of Qatar National Vision 2030.” The session, held at the Ministry’s headquarters, featured intensive discussions in specialized focus groups and saw wide participation from decision-makers, policymakers, and strategists across the education, training, and labor market sectors.
The session aimed to explore ways to enhance the role of career guidance and development in achieving Qatar’s sustainable development goals (SDGs) by establishing the foundational frameworks and infrastructure for a comprehensive national ecosystem. This ecosystem will coordinate the efforts of relevant entities and career development partners from various sectors involved in human capital development. Additionally, the session sought to support investment in national talents and empower young generations to contribute to the sustainable development journey.
In her opening remarks, Maha Zayed Al-Ruwaili, Assistant Undersecretary for Educational Affairs, emphasized, “Continuous development and enhancement of student guidance and career counseling services are top priorities for the Ministry of Education and Higher Education. We strive to improve the quality of these services by updating guidance programs in line with educational and social developments and training academic counselors on the latest guidance methods to help students understand the requirements of local and international universities, various majors, and future careers.” She added, “By identifying future job needs, we can align educational systems with these requirements, helping to bridge the gap between education and the labor market and elevating employment levels in the community in line with national and future priorities.”
Mr. Saad Abdulla Al-Kharji, Acting Director of QCDC, highlighted the anticipated benefits of this collaboration in his opening speech, stating, “Establishing the national career development ecosystem will bring significant benefits to Qatar, enhancing the career readiness of current and future generations to meet the evolving and dynamic demands of the labor market in Qatar.” He noted that the success of this initiative would lead to “strengthening our nation’s career security, which is as crucial as any other form of security in ensuring the future of Qatar’s citizens. Additionally, it will enhance the integration between the education sector and the labor market, improving employability and the long-term productivity of our youth.”
The deliberation session is part of the ongoing and robust collaboration between the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE), QCDC, and other local and international partners. Participants presented their perspectives on the current state of the career guidance and development landscape in Qatar and the progress made in creating favorable conditions for establishing the national career development ecosystem. The discussions were enriched by modern international models and best practices in career guidance and development presented by experts from EduCluster Finland, a leader in planning and establishing career development systems and services. The session also benefited from the participation of representatives from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the International Labour Organization, and UNESCO in Qatar.
The participants agreed on a future roadmap for the national career development ecosystem, transforming it into strategic goals, performance indicators, and an annual action plan in line with the Ministry’s 2024-2030 strategy, derived from Qatar’s Third National Development Strategy. All partners will contribute to shaping, implementing, and evaluating this plan.
MoEHE affirms that this session marks a new strategic starting point and an added value for fruitful cooperation among partners and all relevant stakeholders in leveraging existing opportunities to drive human development and contribute to the sustainable development journey and the realization of Qatar National Vision 2030.
