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Education Above All Foundation and Qatar Career Development Center Forge Partnership to Support Career Guidance in Assalam Schools

To Support 347 Students and 77 Teachers

Education Above All Foundation and Qatar Career Development Center Forge Partnership to Support Career Guidance in Assalam Schools

10 March 2024, Doha, Qatar – The Education Above All (EAA) Foundation and Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC) announced a new partnership aimed at enhancing career guidance and development quality for students at the Assalam Schools, part of EAA’s Together Project. This collaboration will benefit over 340 students and 77 teachers from four schools by providing comprehensive training, planning support for career-focused events, and increasing employability and internship opportunities.

 

The collaboration between the EAA Foundation and QCDC is set to launch a series of key initiatives to enhance student’s career prospects within the Assalam Schools. The Training & Development program is central to these initiatives, designed to equip teachers and counselors with the latest tools and methodologies. This program ensures that educators are well-prepared to guide students on their career paths, providing them with the insight and direction needed for their future.

 

 

Director of EAA’s Al Fakhoora Programme Talal al-Hathal, said: “This partnership with QCDC marks a significant milestone in our mission to empower the youth of Qatar through education. By integrating comprehensive career guidance and support into the curriculum of the Assalam Schools, we are not just educating students; we are preparing them to make informed decisions about their futures. Our collaborative efforts will ensure that every student has the tools and opportunities to confidently pursue their aspirations. Together, we are building a foundation for a brighter, more prosperous future for our students and our community.”

 

Meanwhile, Saad Al-Kharji, Career Programs and Services Manager at QCDC, further emphasized that, “QCDC continually explores new avenues to embed career guidance and development solutions into Qatar’s national strategic development process in general, and into the education sector in particular.” He added, “Our partnership with Education Above All allows us to broaden our access to students and youth in need of career guidance, thus empowering them to make informed academic and career decisions to ensure future success.”

 

In addition to career counseling support, the partnership emphasizes the importance of practical exposure to various career fields. Through the organization of Career Events, students can participate in career fairs and other activities. These events are crucial for introducing students to a wide range of career opportunities, helping them to align their personal aspirations with available labor market opportunities.

 

Furthermore, the Employability & Internships initiative will offer students direct access to QCDC’s Employability Skills program. This initiative aims to bridge the gap between education and the workforce by providing students with valuable transferable skills and internship opportunities. These internships will allow students to gain hands-on experience in their chosen fields, enhancing their employability upon graduation.

QCDC Concludes the “EmpowerAbility” Program with Honors and Celebrations

Recognizing Achievements in Empowering Youth with Learning Difficulties

QCDC Concludes the “EmpowerAbility” Program with Honors and Celebrations

 

As the inaugural edition of the “EmpowerAbility” program draws to a close, Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC), founded by Qatar Foundation (QF), celebrated the successful culmination of the innovative initiative dedicated to empowering people with learning difficulties.

The first edition of “EmpowerAbility” included workshops, interactive educational activities, and orientation sessions and concluded with the 16 participants contributing significantly to the National Sport Day 2024 activations at three locations across Doha, in collaboration with institutions such as Qatar Foundation, the Ministry of Labor, Qatar University, 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum, Katara, Qatar Society for Rehabilitation of Special Needs, The Dana Center for Girls, and Qatar Manpower Solutions Company “Jusour.”

On February 15, the closing ceremony at Multaqa in Education City honored the participating institutions, trainers, volunteers, and most importantly participants. Top three achievers received token awards, while all participants were presented with certificates acknowledging their commitment and acquired skills.

Saad Al-Kharji, QCDC’s Career Programs and Services Manager, beamed with pride at the ceremony, marking the program’s successful completion. “Seeing our participants graduate from EmpowerAbility fills me with immense satisfaction,” he said. “This program’s significance lies in its profound impact on their lives. By equipping individuals with learning difficulties with practical experience and essential skills, we not only prepare them join the labor market but empower them to truly excel in it. We are deeply grateful to our dedicated partners, participants, and collaborators, and I look forward to continuing and expanding this impactful initiative together.”

Designed to foster inclusive environments and cultivate essential employability skills, “EmpowerAbility” leverages national days to integrate youth with learning difficulties. Participants gain practical experience and crucial job-related skills like communication, teamwork, and social interaction, preparing them for seamless integration into the workforce.

The program reflects QCDC’s commitment to the principles of inclusive employment and accessible career development. Feedback from participants and families will inform future iterations of the program, ensuring it continuously evolves and meet the needs of individuals facing learning difficulties.

Ministry of Sports and Youth and Qatar Career Development Center launch the Second Edition of “Get Ready” Program

Ministry of Sports and Youth and Qatar Career Development Center launch the Second Edition of “Get Ready” Program

 

Doha, Qatar – February 4, 2024 –The Ministry of Sports and Youth (MSY) and Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC), founded by Qatar Foundation (QF), launched on Sunday the second edition of “Get Ready” program.

The program offers high school students comprehensive academic and career guidance. It is designed to introduce them to both local and international universities, as well as various scholarship opportunities. Moreover, it trains them on how to build professional networks and capabilities, empowering them to select a suitable major and secure career opportunities that align with their interests, skills, and the future job market’s requirements. Its ultimate goal is to positively impact their future, enabling them to achieve their goals with confidence and competence.

Training sessions take place daily until February 8, 2024, from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Multaqa (Education City Student Center) under the supervision of MSY’s Youth Development and Affairs Departments and QCDC’s experts.

Commenting on the launch of the second edition, Saad Al-Kharji, Career Programs and Services Manager at QCDC, said: “Facilitating a seamless transition from secondary education to university is of utmost importance for comprehensive development and future success of our youth. This program is a strategic initiative in this regard, enabling students to navigate this critical phase of their academic lives with confidence; as informed academic decisions that align with students’ interests, capabilities, and inclinations lay the foundation for a successful career life.

“Get Ready is the result of collaborative efforts between the Ministry of Sports and Youth and QCDC, and it reflects the commitment of both parties to benefit from cooperation opportunities and partnerships with various governmental and private entities, contributing to our goal of providing career guidance and development for the youth in the state, fostering career culture, and serving the local community”, Al-Kharji added.

Mr. Fawaz Al-Musaifiri, Director of Youth Affairs at the Ministry of Sports and Youth, emphasized the significance of this partnership and the implemented program, confirming the importance of the “Get Ready” program in empowering Qatari youth: “It aims to enhance their capabilities in line with the vision and strategic goals of the Ministry of Sports and Youth, fostering active and responsible youth with a strong national sense.”

 

This program is a contribution from the Ministry of Sports and Youth to raise awareness among youth about the importance of informed academic decision-making in preparing them to become active and responsible contributors in their communities.

The training program covers a wider range of key areas that are essential for academic and career development.  These areas include self-discovery, work values, resume writing, introduction to international and local universities, scholarships, building networking skills, and utilizing artificial intelligence tools for academic and career development.

The week-long program will conclude with individual consultation sessions with professional counselors, where participants will utilize QCDC’s electronic Career Advising System, developed in collaboration with the leading U.S. career development incorporation, “Kuder”. The system provides a variety of self-assessment and personality analysis tools to help participants plan their careers.

“Get Ready” program aligns with Qatar’s efforts to in establishing a globally competitive education system, enhance its pioneering role in the region, and achieving top international indicators in educational quality.

This aligns with the MSY’s focus on uplifting Qatari youth, fostering their capabilities, and highlighting their role in fulfilling their duties. The program aims to equip students and graduates with new skills needed for their transition to university life, guiding them to choose a study specialization that aligns with their individual capabilities and introducing them to available career opportunities that match their academic achievements.

QCDC Unveils 14th Edition of Career Guide Magazine01 Jan 2024


Latest issue offers insights into artificial intelligence and its impact on the future of work.

1, January, 2024 – Doha, Qatar: Qatar Career Development Center, founded by Qatar Foundation, has announced the release of the latest issue of its flagship Career Guide magazine. The 14th edition caters to readers from various backgrounds, with the particular aim of empowering school and university students and recent graduates to efficiently plan and develop their career paths. Packed with insightful articles and expert advice across various industries, Career Guide sheds light on the necessary skills needed to embark on a successful career journey. It also offers academic advisors, decision-makers, parents, and professionals from various fields a wealth of valuable information on job market dynamics and trends, best practices in career guidance, and the vital role it plays in fostering human development and Qatar’s prosperity.QCDC Director Abdulla Al-Mansoori expressed pride in this latest edition, praising its role in furthering the Center’s mission. “Since its inception over a decade ago, Career Guide has empowered thousands of students to recognize their potential and understand the prerequisites for success in different fields before committing to specific career paths. It has also sparked dialogue on career guidance and education, offering insights into the latest job market trends to help policy and decision-makers, experts, academics, career advisors, and practitioners in advancing career guidance and development. We are driven by a relentless pursuit of progress, and seeing individuals thrive is the ultimate reward.”

Wrapping a year during which emerging technologies fueled a massive revolution across various industries, and ushered a new era of innovation and change, the latest Career Guide delves the fascinating world of generative artificial intelligence (AI) through a series of articles on its potential impact on the job market and the future of work. The issue also takes the reader on a journey into the metaverse, examining the the impact of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) on various fields, and sheds light on Qatar’s rapidly growing fintech industry, highlighting its challenges and opportunities for Qatari youth.

“This year, the world’s focus on AI demanded our attention,” Al-Mansoori explained. “History has proven that people will eventually have to deal with emerging technologies that become entrenched in everyday life, and artificial intelligence is no exception. This issue equips readers with insights into generative AI and leveraging AI tools for career development. On behalf QCDC, I extend my appreciation to the experts and specialists who enriched this issue with their experiences, advice, and inspiring stories, and invite everyone to thoroughly read it. We will also continue our efforts in helping individuals build successful careers for a prosperous nation.”

The new edition features a variety of captivating articles and exclusive interviews with inspiring figures and experts. Readers will gain valuable knowledge to advance their academic and career paths, exploring careers in ecology,

petroleum engineering, and physical medicine and rehabilitation. Students will also learn about success in journalism through an exclusive interview with Dr. Khalid Al-Shafi, Editor-in-Chief of The Peninsula newspaper, and will journey the magical world of musical performance and theater through a conversation with renowned Qatari musician Dana Al Fardan.

Beyond individual journeys, the magazine tackles broader themes shaping Qatar’s future. HEC Paris in Qatar’s assessment of Qatar’s entrepreneurial ecosystem is featured, alongside the Qatar Women Engineers Association’s (QWEA) crucial role in supporting women’s engineering careers. A dedicated section on career guidance explores job market dynamics, the role of innovation in fostering career development, and QCDC’s efforts in this regard, while examining the outcomes of the first edition of the Arab Career Development Conference (ACDC).

The bilingual issue also offers practical guidance for students through a collection of articles introducing them to clear-cut guides to university admissions, expert tips for acing English proficiency tests, and valuable information to jumpstart their academic and career journeys with confidence.
Career Guide magazine, licensed by the Ministry of Culture and Sports, is released in collaboration with Qatar Foundation’s Communication Directorate. Since its launch, QCDC has been keen to further its reach within Qatar, providing free copies across schools in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education. Hard copies can be obtained at designated stands located throughout Education City, while the digital edition is readily accessible on QCDC’s website and mobile application on the App Store and Google Play.

QCDC Participates in HRALS-EXPO in Riyadh2023

Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC) participated in the fifth edition of the Human Resources and Labor Services Expo (HRALS-EXPO) held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, over four days. This groundbreaking forum brought together HR and workforce institutions to share insights and best practices in this crucial sector.
Throughout the event, engaging panel discussions and symposiums addressed vital topics such as the future of the HR sector and its recent transformations, successful regional experiences and cases of effective workforce investments, as well as the challenges and opportunities of integrating artificial intelligence in HR processes and practices and its role in analyzing data and supporting decision-making in institutions. QCDC actively contributed to these discussions, emphasizing its commitment to knowledge exchange and collaboration with experts and stakeholders from around the globe.
QCDC’s participation stems from a deep dedication to sharing its extensive experience and knowledge in career guidance and development, highlighting its role in guiding and developing a highly skilled workforce and talents capable of driving the economic growth of the Arab region.

Navigating Global Changes: Career Counselors Hub 2023 Takes Center StageSeptember 26th, 2023
altIn partnership with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE) and U.S. Embassy Doha, Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC), founded by Qatar Foundation (QF), kicked off the 2023 Career Counselors Hub (CCH) at Multaqa in Education City.This year’s two-day event brought together around 250 career practitioners for a comprehensive program featuring workshops, presentations, and practicums designed to meet the evolving demands of student guidance.

The Opening Ceremony featured several dignitaries from QCDC’s partner institutions, including the United States Ambassador to Qatar, His Excellency Timmy Davis, the Director of Education Supervision Department at MoEHE, Ms. Maryam Noman Al-Emadi, along with Mr. Francisco Marmolejo, President of Higher Education at QF, Dr. Hayat Abdullah Marafi, Executive Director of Qatar Debate, and QCDC’s Director, Mr. Abdulla Al-Mansoori.

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During his opening remarks, Abdulla Al-Mansoori, Director of QCDC, highlighted the significance of the Career Counselors Hub 2023, saying: “The Hub has evolved into a dynamic force that unites career practitioners from diverse backgrounds. It’s a bridge where experience meets innovation, and where seasoned professionals collaborate with emerging talents. This synergy is vital for our counselors as well as for the entire career development ecosystem in the State of Qatar. The Career Counselors Hub 2023 has become the catalyst for forging connections, fostering mentorship, and driving the evolution of career guidance practices. It’s an indispensable asset to our nation’s sustainable human capital growth.”

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His Excellency, Mr. Davis, stressed the importance of such collaborations to the bilateral relation of Qatar and the U.S. saying: “Today, I’m proud to say that our relationship is stronger than ever thanks to our shared values, interests, and goals. Education is a key component of this relationship, and I want to acknowledge everyone here today for your steadfast commitment to enhancing educational programs and opportunities for students in both Qatar and the United States.”

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In her opening speech, Ms. Al-Emadi emphasized the significance of this gathering, stating: “The aim of our meeting is to enhance the quality of academic and career guidance in Qatar’s schools, elevate the proficiency of academic counselors, improve the level of guidance and career awareness services provided by MoEHE to our students, prepare them for higher education, guide them towards academic paths that suit their abilities and interests, and introduce them to the future professions that Qatar will need in the present and future.”

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Participants engaged in diverse workshops and presentations in Arabic and English on topics such as “Effective Communication with Parents”, Technology and Career Counselling, and “Tips on Managing Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).” Additionally, participants attended a networking exhibition for local universities, government, and educational institutions to explore admission requirements, national service updates, scholarship, internship, and volunteer opportunities.

The Career Counselors Hub, jointly orchestrated by QCDC, MOEHE, and U.S. Embassy Doha, underscores these institutions’ profound commitment to the educational and professional well-being of the nation’s students.

Qatar Career Development Center hosts high-level delegation from EduCluster Finland

Qatar Career Development Center hosts high-level delegation from EduCluster Finland

19 June 2023 – Doha, Qatar:

Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC), founded by Qatar Foundation (QF), has recently received a high-level delegation from the EduCluster Finland Group at its headquarters in the Education City to explore strengthening mutual collaboration and knowledge-sharing in the field of career development.

The meeting brought together QCDC’s Director Mr. Abdulla Al-Mansoori, and representatives of EduCluster Finland Group as well as international experts from Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. Both parties discussed strategies, best practices, and innovative approaches in the field of career development, building on QCDC and Educluster Finland Group’s long-standing partnership and cooperation to implement effective career development initiatives.

This collaboration between EduCluster Finland Group, a global leader in education and innovation, and QCDC, Qatar’s pioneer institution in the field of career development, brings unique perspectives and expertise and is an important step towards realizing Qatar’s National Vision 2030.

 

QCDC’s “My Career – My Future” Job Shadowing Program Concludes Activations with a University Exhibition18 June 2023

Latest edition attracted 90 high-school students and 13 partner organizations

Doha, Qatar – June 17, 2023: Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC), founded by Qatar Foundation (QF), concluded the fifth edition of the highly acclaimed “My Career – My Future” program, following its success in attracting 90 high-school students in Qatar who gained valuable hands-on experience in 13 organizations.

The program’s closing day was marked by a prestigious closing ceremony, during which participating students were honoured and celebrated in the presence of the QCDC’s leadership and representatives from the program’s partner organizations. Concurrently, a university fair was held to familiarize students with the academic programs, degrees offered by universities in Qatar, application requirements, and admission criteria.

Mr. Abdullah Al-Mansoori, Director of Qatar Career Development Center, emphasized the program’s successful outcomes in developing students’ skills, stating, “My Career – My Future has been instrumental in equipping our students with practical expertise and industry-specific knowledge. Through immersive job shadowing experiences in various sectors, students have gained a profound understanding of the demands and intricacies of different professions.”

“This program has effectively bridged the gap between academic learning and real-world application, empowering students to make informed decisions about their academic and career paths. We are proud to witness the growth and capabilities these young individuals have acquired, and we remain committed to providing them with the necessary resources to excel in their chosen fields.” Al-Mansoori concluded.

 

Participating students also expressed the extent of their benefit from the ‘My Career- My Future’ program. In this regard, student Sarah Naama Al Naama said, “Participating in ‘My Career – My Future’ has been a transformative, eye-opening, and enriching experience. I had the privilege to shadow professionals in the field of medicine, which has solidified my aspiration to pursue a career in healthcare. This program has assured me of how this sector is uniquely aligned with my personal skills and values, and I am grateful to QCDC for providing me with the opportunity to explore my passion in a real work environment. I am confident that this experience has reinforced my decision to major in medical education.”

The program provided students with a full week of opportunities to experience real work environments in various sectors within the country, explore multiple potential career paths, and crystallize their professional aspirations. Additionally, it empowered them to make informed decisions regarding their academic and professional futures.

 

The program engaged more than 13 leading organizations in Qatar, including: Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), Qatar Airways, Amlak Holding Corporation, Public Works Authority ‘Ashghal’, Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation ‘Khahramaa’, Katara Cultural Village, Qatar University, Vodafone Qatar, Qatar Tourism, Commercial Bank, Nama Social Development Center, and Qatar General Insurance and Reinsurance Company.

 

A Comprehensive Look at Qatar Career Development Center’s Work in 2022

Empowering Qatar’s Next Generation: A Comprehensive Look at Qatar Career Development Center’s Work in 2022

 

Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC) has released its annual report for the year 2022 showcasing the Center’s tireless efforts to provide a comprehensive range of specialized career guidance and development services and activities.

As part of its ongoing series of publications, the report aims to inform the public about the QCDC’s commitment to preparing human capital and assisting young people in Qatar to identify and achieve their educational and professional goals.

The report highlights the center’s accomplishments over the course of 12 months, detailing its provision of support and knowledge to targeted groups of young people, allowing them to make informed decisions and develop sound career plans to achieve their personal aspirations.

It also documents the launch of Qatar’s first “Majors Guide,” and the first collection of Career Games for children.

In addition, the center organized 20 programs and initiatives that helped 334 individuals shape their career paths and provided detailed reports and statistics on all programs and media activities.

 

QCDC Annual Report 2022_English

Autism Spectrum Disorder: Challenges and Opportunities

Qatar Career Development Center Leading Efforts Locally and Regionally

For decades, Qatar has been at the forefront of efforts to raise awareness about “autism spectrum disorder” (ASD) and has made enormous efforts at all levels to integrate people with disabilities (PWDs) into society and give them the opportunity to achieve their professional aspirations and become a fundamental component in the comprehensive development process on the path to achieving Qatar National Vision (QNV) 2030.

In 2007, Qatar proposed to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) that 2 April be declared World Autism Day, which was later expanded to the whole month of April being about autism awareness. This initiative has brought global attention to the challenges faced by individuals with ASD in fully integrating into society, receiving appropriate education, and entering the labor market.

Equals, but unique

Individuals with ASD exhibit various symptoms that vary in type and severity, and they often think, handle situations, and communicate differently from others. Despite these differences, many successful people from various fields have ASD, including Albert Einstein, Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg, and Elon Musk.

 

QCDC’s diligent efforts to integrate individuals with ASD Into the job market

When discussing the efforts being made to integrate those with autism into the Qatari workforce, it is important to take a moment to acknowledge the accomplishments of Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC), a member Qatar Foundation (QF), in integrating individuals with ASD into the Qatari workforce. QCDC’s programs and services are focused on developing the career guidance system in Qatar and enhancing the role of career development in building human capital that can sustainably achieve Qatar’s national vision.

In collaboration with Awsaj Academy, a member of QF, QCDC implemented the “Career Readiness” program in 2017, targeting students with mild to moderate learning difficulties and equipping them with key employability skills. The program included workshops, discussions, field trips, and other activities aimed at preparing them for their professional lives. Later, the program was incorporated into the academy’s curriculum.

In April of the previous year, QCDC launched the “Inclusive Internship Days” Initiative at QF, enabling students to gain practical experience and learn about the work environment while applying the skills they learned during the Career Readiness program. QCDC aims to expand this initiative on a broader scale in the coming years to develop a more inclusive employment culture and engage more individuals with disabilities in training institutions at the national level.

 

Career guidance stakeholders, national and regional cooperation frameworks in place

Efforts to promote inclusive employment were a major focus of the “Career Guidance Stakeholders Platform,” which was organized by QCDC in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, the International Labour Organization’s Qatar Project Office, and the Higher Education Sector at QF. This platform brought together various stakeholders involved in career guidance in Qatar to share knowledge and best practices that support career guidance as a means of achieving personal, social, educational, and economic success for Qatari youth and the broader community.

One of the platform’s primary objectives was to develop an overarching framework that involves all relevant stakeholders to enhance the transition of persons with disabilities from secondary education to the workforce.

 

Continuous awareness of an inclusive workplace

QCDC’s efforts to promote inclusivity in the workplace extend beyond strategic and institutional levels. They also seek to raise awareness among all sectors of society about the importance of an inclusive work environment through online and digital platforms.

Over the past two years, QCDC has organized a series of specialized webinars during Autism Awareness Month. These webinars featured inspiring international figures who have lived with autism and built successful careers, such as Dr. Temple Grandin, a University of Colorado Animal Sciences Professor, and Adelphi University Special Education Professor Dr. Stephen Shore. The webinars also featured leading experts in the field, such as Dr. Robert Naseef, a Psychologist and Autism Spectrum Expert, and provided families of people with disabilities and employers with the opportunity to share their experiences and perspectives on how to create a more inclusive work environment.

 

An innovative program to support the employment of PWDs

This year, QCDC collaborated with Dr. Shore, Dr. Naseef, and a team of experts in career guidance and development to launch a program supporting the employment of people with disabilities. The program aimed to train professional counselors, educators, and human resource professionals to use international best practices adapted to Qatar’s unique context in supporting individuals with mild to moderate learning difficulties and cognitive challenges. Participants in the program included school counselors, parents, community partners, professional development partners, employers, and families of neurodiverse students from across the country.

 

Research paper with regional acclaim

QCDC’s efforts have not only been limited to the national level, as many of the center’s programs have attracted specialists from the Gulf and Arab countries. Additionally, many of its initiatives welcome participation from people all over the Arab world and beyond. Recently, QCDC presented a research paper titled “Enhancing the Inclusion of People with Disabilities in Qatar’s Labor Market” at the first Arab Career Development Conference in Aswan, Egypt. The paper highlighted QCDC’s intensive efforts in promoting a culture of inclusive employment in Qatar, successes achieved, and challenges faced.

 

Optimistic outlook

All these accomplishments give rise to an optimistic outlook for the future of individuals with ASD in Qatar. To overcome current challenges, stakeholders must step up their efforts to produce results that contribute to maximizing the potential of every member of society, starting with families of individuals with ASD, employers, and the broader community.

The First Arab Career Development Conference

At the Conclusion of the First Arab Career Development Conference

Regional Acclaim for Qatar Career Development Center’s Research Paper Highlighting National Efforts in Career Guidance and Development

 

 

Doha, Qatar, 21 March, 2023: Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC), member of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science, and Community Development (QF), concluded its participation in the 2023 Arab Career Development Conference (ACDC), held from February 27th to March 1st in Aswan, Egypt.

During the conference, the Center’s delegation presented a research paper that highlights Qatar’s leading capabilities in the field of career guidance and development, to a group of senior experts and specialists from all over the Arab world. The conference’s workshops, numbering over 30, provided them with a unique platform to exchange experiences and knowledge related to the field of career development, discuss international best practices, and explore ways to develop and coordinate career development efforts across the Arab world, among the conference’s 1000 expert attendants and representatives of 42 governmental and nongovernmental entities from across 12 Arab countries 

QCDC’s participation in the conference is a testament to the center’s commitment to promoting career development and fostering an inclusive employment culture in Qatar. Mr. Saad Al-Kharji, Career Programs & Services Manager at QCDC, presented the case study entitled:” Enhancing the Inclusion of People with Disabilities in Qatar’s Labor Market: A Case Study,” that reviewed the intensive efforts made by the center to promote an inclusive employment culture in Qatar, the successes they have achieved, and the challenges still facing this endeavor.

The center has long provided inclusive career development services, with facilitated access for people with disabilities, through the “Inclusive Career Development Initiatives” cluster, which represents a qualitative leap in the field of career development for people with disabilities. Therefore, Mr. AlKharji also discussed transferring the knowledge and experience behind these programs to the wider region and applying them within bespoke Arab contexts.

“We are honored and thrilled to have the opportunity to participate in the 2023 Arab Career Development Conference, a pivotal platform for experts and practitioners in career development from around the Arab world to come together and exchange knowledge, experiences and best practices, and to explore new horizons and innovative ideas to enhance career development, education and employment prospects in the region,” said Mr. Abdulla Al-Mansoori, Director of QCDC.

“Our participation in this prestigious event was an opportunity to represent Qatar on an international platform and showcase the country’s achievements in promoting inclusivity in career development, and we were proud to present our successful initiatives in this regard. We believe that by collaborating with other stakeholders in the region, we can continue to promote positive change in the labor market and create more opportunities for all individuals to reach their full potential,” he concluded, calling the event “a true landmark in the strive to link up career guidance and development efforts across the region and the Arab World,” he concluded.

Mr. Ahmad Kamal, President of the Arab Career Development Conference, said: “Considering that this conference was organized to be a bridge between Arab career development experts and practitioners, I can confidently say that QCDC’s participation was crucial to the success of the conference. We were delighted to know more about career development inclusivity efforts in Qatar, and the career development landscape in general. The insightful case study presented by QCDC’s delegation warrants deep reflection on their experience, and how it can enrich career development in the whole region.”

QCDC’s representatives were accompanied by a delegate of the Civil Service and Government Development Bureau, Mrs. Dhabya Al Buainain, Director of Nomination and Replacement, who gave a presentation that discussed the bureau’s efforts in providing career guidance and development for job seekers through the National E-Recruitment Portal (Kawader). These efforts include organizing counseling sessions and personal interviews with job seekers, offering training courses focused on resume preparation and job interview skills, providing a free electronic training platform to promote e-learning culture among job seekers registered on the platform, and other efforts made by the Civil Service and Government Development Bureau to enhance the Qatari labor market with qualified national competencies.

QCDC’s participation in the ACDC conference is part of the center’s ongoing efforts to promote career development and to support the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030, a development plan which aims to create a diversified and sustainable economy that provides opportunities for all members of society. By participating in events like the ACDC conference, QCDC is demonstrating its commitment to building a brighter future for Qatar and the Arab world.

Supported Employment for People with Disabilities

With Internationally Renowned Expertise QF’s Qatar Career Development Center Trains Practitioners on Supported Employment for People with Disabilities

 

Doha, Qatar, 03 March, 2023: Qatar Foundation’s Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC) successfully conducted the Supported Employment Training Program: Soft Skills from March 5-9, 2023. The program, which aimed at enhancing career guidance services provision for students with mild and moderate learning challenges, was based on adapting international best practices in the field to the local context.

The program was divided into three main pillars: enhancing career guidance provision, promoting an inclusive employment culture, and mobilizing key stakeholders to bring meaningful employment opportunities for people with disabilities, particularly those affected by neurodiverse and cognitive conditions; aggregated into various training modules and workshops.

Professionals from various sectors participated in the program, including school counselors, parents, social partners, industry partners, employers, managers, job coaches, teachers, and family members of neurodiverse youth. 

The program aimed to train participants on various soft skills related to employment, including hidden curriculums, social skills, stress management, self-awareness, self-management, communication, self-regulation, and self-advocacy.

The program was facilitated by two internationally recognized experts in supported employment for people with disabilities, Dr. Stephen Shore, and Dr. Robert Naseef. Dr. Shore, a professor at Adelphi University, specializes in matching best practice to the needs of people with autism. Dr. Naseef, a psychologist with over 30 years of experience, specializes in families of children with disabilities.

Upon the conclusion of the program’s activities, Abdullah Al-Mansoori, Director of QCDC, said, “I am delighted by the success of the Supported Employment Training Program, the turnout and participation were beyond our expectations. We have a responsibility to ensure that everyone has equal access to career development opportunities, regardless of any disabilities or cognitive conditions they may have.”

“We are particularly proud of this program that we have put together to enable practitioners and teachers in providing the best possible assistance to people with disabilities. The program provided them with tailored training and support to help them overcome any challenges they may face in reaching out to their students. It also helps us to localize the immense expertise provided by our guests by transferring them to our professionals,” Abdullah added.

At the conclusion of the program, each participant received a certificate of completion that acknowledges their appreciated participation, in addition to copies of all the educational materials provided and covered during classes, to ensure they are able to carry on with this enriching experience and transfer it in turn to their immediate circles, towards the overall improvement of our career guidance and development capabilities.

Qatar Career Development Center Celebrates Careers Competition Winners

 

QF member saw more than 250 students and teachers from schools across Qatar participate

Doha, Qatar, 6 March, 2023: Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC), a member of Qatar Foundation, recognized the achievements of the students who participated in the Careers Competition at the closing ceremony for its second iteration at Multaqa in Education City.

Aimed at primary, preparatory, and high school students in Qatar, the competition was designed to increase awareness of career guidance and to give students the opportunity to explore their career ambitions at an early age.

Through the competition, students gained a better understanding of the various career paths available to them, and were encouraged to reflect on their professional aspirations. The competition was also a platform for students to showcase their skills and creativity, and to further develop their teamwork and other soft skills. In addition, the competition also targeted career counselors and teachers who participated in the game design category to assist them in developing interactive tools and resources to enhance students’ understanding of career development and its necessity.

The competition was divided into three categories – writing and drawing for students, and game design for teachers and school specialists – and saw over 250 students and teachers from schools across the state taking part. A panel of QCDC representatives and experts in each competition category evaluated the submissions, and the winners from each school level in each category were announced at the closing ceremony.

Reflecting on the successful conclusion of the Careers Competition, Abdulla Al-Mansoori, Director of QCDC, said: “We are honored to celebrate today the fruit of our students’ efforts as a tribute to their hard work. We designed the competition to help students of all academic levels gain a better understanding of the various career paths available to them, and to encourage them to think about and plan for their future careers from an early age, making it easier for them to achieve their future aspirations.”

“We believe that inspiring the youth to think about their future careers is of the utmost importance, as they are the future workforce of Qatar, and it is their responsibility to ensure the success of sustainable social and economic development in the future. Therefore, we have organized this ceremony not only to congratulate and honor their efforts, but also to motivate them to continue on this path and to pursue their professional ambitions and work towards achieving them.”

 

The competition is part of QCDC’s commitment to providing students with the necessary resources and guidance to plan for their optimal professional future and contribute to the sustainable development of Qatar’s economy and society. This ongoing process involves exploring diverse career options, acquiring knowledge and skills, and developing professional networks, all of which are crucial factors in personal success and achieving one’s professional aspirations.

QCDC Celebrates National Sports Day

 

On the 14th of February 2023, Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC) took part in the National Sports Day activities at Oxygen Park, organized by Qatar Foundation (QF). This event was designed to encourage individuals of all ages and abilities to engage in physical activities and live a healthy lifestyle. QCDC organized a range of fun and engaging activities that were suitable for children of all ages. The activities were aimed at promoting physical activity and its positive impact on career performance, team building, social interaction, and career awareness.

Apart from promoting physical activity, QCDC used the event as an opportunity to showcase its Career Games Collection, a set of interactive games designed to help young people identify their interests and discover the various careers available for them in the future, thus building early career awareness and promoting career culture. Through these games, QCDC aims to help young people understand the importance of choosing the right career and making informed decisions that will lead to a fulfilling career path.

QCDC’s participation in the National Sports Day reflects QF’s successful efforts to build an active, sports-loving community and encourage healthy lifestyles. QF has been at the forefront of promoting sports and fitness in Qatar, as a part of the foundation’s community development efforts, aiming toward a culture of wellness and social responsibility across the population.

QCDC Launches the Third Edition of the ‘Little Employee’ Initiative

QCDC Launches the Third Edition of the ‘Little Employee’ Initiative

The initiative aims to enhance the role of parents in the career guidance of their children

 

 

Doha, Qatar, 31 January, 2023:  Qatar Career Development has opened registration for the third iteration of its ‘Little Employee’ initiative, a program designed to provide children with an immersive hands-on experience of a real-life workplace, in order to encourage them to think about their professional interests and future career paths in a fun and engaging way.

The third edition of the initiative by Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC), a member of Qatar Foundation (QF), will provide students aged between 7 and 15 with practical experience to learn what working life is really like, by accompanying a parent or relative to their workplace and assisting them in their duties. This year’s edition is promising to be the biggest, most inclusive, and most flexible edition since the initiative launched in 2021, as registration will be open to participants from Qatar and around the world, and parents will have the chance to take their kids to work in the day that best fits their work schedule and company regulations between 19 February and 19 May, 2023.

Parents will have the opportunity to host their children at work and participate with them in the various activities designed to encourage open discussion about their academic and career goals, and to empower them to plan their career path early on. The initiative is highly flexible in regards to time and implementation and employs a unique approach to achieving its goals.

The initiative has been designed to encourage early conversations between parents and their children about their future academic and career goals, which is a vital factor in the career development of students. Abdulla Al-Mansoori, QCDC Director, said: “The ‘Little Employee’ initiative is a testament to the importance and necessity of programs that can foster a career-driven mindset in students. This aligns with our mission to empower parents in shaping their children’s career identity and underscores our belief in the instrumental role parents play in this endeavor.”

By engaging with parents during their workday, students will acquire a range of life skills through observational learning, as Al-Mansoori explained: “The initiative aims to instill in children the fundamentals of working life, helping them develop a rough idea of their future career goals and motivating them to actively plan their career path from an early age. As parents, we play a crucial role in creating a suitable environment that supports children in developing essential organizational skills and positive behaviors. Through this initiative, children will learn the value of hard work and gain valuable insights into the world of work.”

A number of Qatar’s most prominent organizations joined the initiative last year and demonstrated enormous support for its goals. They included Qatar Red Crescent Society, Qatar Charity, Qatar News Agency, Qatar Museums, Doha Film Institute, and more. “The participation of these organizations and the efforts they put to encourage their employees to engage with its activities were vital for the success of the initiative and achieving its goals. We welcome the participation of all organizations and companies from the public and private sectors, as we aim to make the 2023 edition the biggest ever,” Al-Mansoori said.

His Excellency, Ambassador Ali bin Hassan Al Hammadi, Secretary General of Qatar Red Crescent Society, expressed his gratitude to QCDC for organizing this initiative, saying: “Qatar Red Crescent, along with other participating state organizations, were very keen to participate in the 2022 edition of the ‘Little Employee’ initiative, organized by Qatar Career Development Center. The initiative gave us the opportunity to host the children of several staff members and officials in our headquarters.

“On this visit, the children were taken on a tour between our various departments, and listened to a brief introduction about each department and its role in the organization, as well as the professional skills needed to work in them. Our young guests were received with open arms from the Qatar Red Crescent Society family, and we were pleased to award them participation gifts, and extend them a warm welcome to encourage them to learn about the professional lives of their parents and relatives, and to start building career awareness and experience at an early age.”

To take part in the 2023 Little Employee initiative, please visit the QCDC website: Click Here or send an email to qcdc@qf.org.qa. Registration is open for companies as well as individuals, and after completing the process you will gain access to the ‘Participant Guide’ and the ‘Corporate Guide’ which provide all the initiative details and offer a range of practical ideas to help your children get the most out of their participation in the program.

Majors Guide: A Comprehensive Guide of University Majors in Qatar

Majors Guide: A Comprehensive Guide of University Majors in Qatar

 

Since its inception, Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC) has pursued efforts to support youth and students throughout the various stages of their education. Through these efforts, QCDC seeks to bolster human development in line with Qatar Foundation’s mission to invest in human capital and quality education to empower youth.

Today, QCDC is proud to compile a first-of-its-kind detailed reference of the various majors offered by universities and higher education institutions across Qatar, in addition to an overview of the industries and professions related to each major. The guide provides a valuable tool for youth, parents, and career/academic advisors to learn about Qatar’s higher education landscape.

 

About the Majors Guide

The bilingual guide helps youth make informed academic and career decisions based on reliable information that they can leverage to choose the optimal career path that aligns with their abilities and aspirations, empowering them to contribute to the Qatar National Vision 2030.

The Arabic-English bilingual guide provides comprehensive and detailed information about the various industries in Qatar, with a focus on the majors offered by accredited universities and higher education institutions, such as engineering, medicine, energy, sustainability, and environmental studies, and others.

The guide also maps out Qatar’s higher education landscape, enabling students to look up any major, search the index of universities and higher educational institutions and find contact information and weblinks to admission offices.

 

The Majors Guide Content

The Majors Guide provides comprehensive and detailed information about the various majors and industries in Qatar, indexing the various disciplines in each sector and the accredited universities and higher education institutions that offer these majors.

The guide also features tips and guidance for youth on how to choose the most appropriate academic and career path, as well as information about the Government Scholarship Program offered by the Ministry of Education and Higher Education.

 

The Majors Guide features six sections:

  1. Introduction
  2. Criteria for choosing a university major
  3. Industries, majors and professions related to each sector
  4. Information about the Government Scholarship Program
  5. Index of majors and universities in Qatar
  6. Contact information of universities and colleges in Qatar

 

The guide also indexes the majors available in Qatar, with a focus on the following sectors:

  • Media
  • Engineering
  • Medicine
  • Tourism, Hospitality, Museums and Event Management
  • Science
  • Law, Public Policy, and International Relations
  • Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts
  • Sharia and Islamic Studies
  • Arts and Design
  • Educational Studies
  • Management, Economics, Banking, and Financial Sciences
  • Aeronautical Sciences
  • Military
  • Energy, Sustainability and Environment

 

Why should you get a copy of the Majors Guide?

The Majors Guide maps out Qatar’s higher education landscape, providing valuable resources for youth, parents, career advisors and academics to explore specialties and universities in Qatar.

The guide also offers information and contact details for admission offices, saving readers time when it comes to searching for information about the different majors and comparing them.

 

Price

The Guide is priced at 70 QAR.

 

How to purchase the Majors Guide?

You can purchase the Guide directly from Jarir Bookstore branches, or you can order it online through the Education City Marketplace via the following link: Click Here

 

 

QCDC’s Career Games for Children

Introduction

Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC), a member of Qatar Foundation, seeks to help students from different educational paths and stages achieve their career aspirations through a high-level set of career development programs, services, and specialized activities, which have been devised by a group of distinguished career guidance and development experts. QCDC also works to provide the support and knowledge that young people need to develop career plans, take sound decisions, and achieve the career growth and development they aspire to.

In 2017, QCDC began offering several programs and initiatives targeting children aged four and above, as QCDC believes in the importance of providing career guidance for children from a young age. Through these programs and initiatives, QCDC seeks to introduce children to the concept of career planning and help them explore their optimal future career path, in a way that is both educational and entertaining, in addition to allowing them to discover career options that align with their interests and capabilities.

Releasing the career games is part of a new QCDC initiative dedicated to children. It aims at introducing them to the different professions, the role of workers in each profession, and the importance of their roles in society – an endeavor that would expand children’s future career options and help them realize the importance of each profession.

QCDC offers two interesting games suitable for children aged four to 10, namely:

  • ‘Career Heroes’ Card Game
  • ‘What do I want to be when I grow up?’ Puzzle

 

About the Games:

  • ‘Career Heroes’ Card Game

The game consists of 50 cards, each of which includes the name of a career and an image associated with it, as well as a question. Players must answer the question and guess the profession that the card represents to get it. At the end of the challenge, the winner is the one who collects the most cards.

During the game, the youngest player draws a card and reads the question thereon, to be answered by the player sitting to their right. If the player answers the question correctly, they keep the card. If the answer is incorrect, the card is returned to the bottom of the deck. The next player draws a card to ask the next player to their right, and so on until the cycle is completed and it repeats until all the cards have been drawn.

When the cards in the game are finished, each player counts the total number of cards collected, and the winner is the one with the most cards.

  • ‘What do I want to be when I grow up?’ Puzzle

The game contains three wooden puzzle sets, with pictures and names of different professions. Each puzzle consists of 48 disassembled pieces. The player must collect these pieces to complete the puzzles to be able to see the picture and name of each profession.

 

Price:

The card game is priced at 49 QAR and the puzzle (x 3 boards) is priced at 129 QAR.

 

Get the game:

You can purchase your favorite game directly from Kiddy Zone toy stores and Education City Gift Shop, or you can order them online through the Education City Marketplace via the following links:

‘Career Heroes’ Card Games:

https://market.educationcity.qa/en/career-heroes-card-game.html

‘What Do I Want to be When I Grow Up?’ Puzzle:

https://market.educationcity.qa/en/career-puzzle.html

13th issue of the Career Guide

Career Guide’s World Cup Special Edition Released

We are glad to announce the launch of the 13th issue of the “Career Guide” magazine: World Cup Special Edition.

The pioneering magazine of Qatar Career Development Center features an array of stories and interviews that cover topics of interest to students, fresh graduates, parents, educators, and career guidance professionals.

Amid the cheerful atmosphere brought on by the impeccable organization of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022TM, we are taking this opportunity to shed light through our Career Guide on the social, economic, and most importantly, the human development legacy the World Cup has created in Qatar. The featured in-depth interviews with prominent figures in the World Cup preparations will tell you a lot about how the past years will shape the country’s future!

You will also learn more about important careers that played critical roles in the preparations leading up to the tournament, in addition to a variety of useful career-related topics and valuable tips to help our readers reach their full professional and personal potential.

To read the new issue, please download the Career Guide app on Apple Store or Google Play Store. You can also visit our Publications section to download the issue in PDF format.

Career Counselors Hub Hosts Discussions on Emerging Trends in Career Guidance20 September 2022

CAREER COUNSELORS HUB HOSTS DISCUSSIONS ON EMERGING TRENDS IN CAREER GUIDANCE

Annual event focuses on innovation, collaboration, and sustainability to meet Qatar’s needs

 

 

Doha, Qatar- September 20, 2022: The recent Career Counselors Hub offered more than 180 career counselors and academic advisors’ valuable insight into the necessary tools and knowledge needed to support the career development of their students. A professional development platform for career practitioners in Qatar, the event builds upon the Annual Career Counselors Training Program, which launched in 2015, and was hosted by Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC), in partnership with the U.S. Embassy Doha and the Ministry of Education and Higher Education.

 

The event which took place at Education City, brought together more than 180 career counselors and academic advisors from all public and international schools in Qatar. Career counselors had also the chance to network with representatives of 36 organizations and institutions relevant to students’ career development, such as governmental agencies, foreign missions, universities, industry representatives that offer scholarship programs, and NGO partners.

 

 

QCDC’s Director Abdulla Al-Mansoori commented on how the event provided an opportunity for career guidance experts to engage in activities that contribute to their personal development as well as Qatar’s sustainable development. “Today, our world is more interconnected than ever thanks to the tremendous technological advancements. We firmly believe that career guidance practices should follow suit, especially in terms of developing new approaches to meet the demands of the labor market and achieve Qatar’s sustainable development goals. For that reason, we were keen to add new themes to this year’s edition of the Career Counselors Hub, focusing on innovation, collaboration, and sustainability.”

This year’s program focused on the theme of innovation, collaboration, and sustainability, with sessions including skills’ builders, panel discussions, workshops, and case studies among others. Speakers presented on a unique range of topics, from ‘Using Data to Support High School Students’ to ‘Career Trends and Market Needs’ and ‘Engagement with Students for College and Career Choices’.

Dr. Abdulla Al-Marri, Director of the Curriculum and Learning Resources Department at the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, said: “I’m pleased to be part of the Career Counselors Hub. I would like to thank Qatar Career Development Center and the US Embassy Doha for co-organizing this event which is of significant importance for students. The training and development provided to the academic counselors throughout the event empower them to act as a link between schools and universities to help students choose their future majors and career paths as well as overcome any challenges they may encounter.”

Michael Schreuder, Deputy Chief of Mission at U.S. Embassy Doha, agreed, saying: “Qatar’s economic influence in the region and beyond cannot be understated, and the United States welcomes its efforts to diversify and transition to knowledge-based economy.  This requires Qataris to seek education and expertise from around the world. Enhanced education exchanges are imperative to ensure that future generations become responsible leaders and advocates to strengthen collective prosperity and security in the Gulf, MENA region and internationally.”

Also expressing his gratitude to QCDC and its partners for organizing this flagship event, Dr. Nayef Alyafei, Associate Professor at Texas A&M at Qatar, said: “It was a great opportunity to network with experts and specialists to discuss our shared objectives and how we can leverage career counseling to guide students toward the university majors that best align with their interests and skill sets. We also discussed the challenges we face today and shared insights on how to tackle them. ”

Career counselors came together again on September 14 for the 2022 Doha Counselors Day when QCDC, a member of Qatar Foundation, collaborated with Education City partner universities, who hosted the event, to deliver two workshops.

QCDC added to QNL’s Directory of Research Institutions in Qatar

 

It is now possible to access all information about the Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC) through the Qatar National Library (QNL) Directory of Research Institutions in Qatar, available on the QNL’s website. The Directory helps individuals interested in research to view the websites of research institutions and centers in Qatar, and to learn about their services, thus facilitating communication with them.

QCDC’s research efforts focus on ways to develop Qatar’s career guidance sector and look into means to cooperate with the various relevant stakeholders in Qatar, to instill career guidance mindset among young people in particular. Moreover, it aims to help them plan their future careers in a manner that aligns with their ambitions and potential and meets the future needs of the Qatari labor market.

The ‘Directory of Research Institutions in Qatar’ provides all the basic information about QCDC including its location and working hours, contact information (email and phone number), and the relevant contact person’s name.

 

To view the publications and research papers issued by QCDC, you can visit the Publications section on our website: Click Here

 

QCDC’s ‘My Career – My Future’ program offers students an opportunity to take future career for a test drive

QCDC’s ‘My Career – My Future’ program offers students an opportunity to take future career for a test drive

Latest edition of the program empowers high school students to go through real work experience at organizations of their choice

 

Doha, Qatar- June 8, 2022: The fast-paced technological developments of the past decade, marked by the rise of artificial intelligence, robotics and job automation among other emerging innovations, have left a profound impact on the global job market.

Some jobs have since slowly faded while others have gained ground, leaving many students undecided over which career path best aligns with their skills and aspirations.

In line with its mission to instill a career guidance culture among youth, Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC), a member of Qatar Foundation, has opened registration for the fourth edition of its flagship ‘My Career – My Future’ program – an initiative that introduces high school students to real work environments in several industries across Qatar.

The program, which takes place physically from June 26-30, 2022, will see students gaining first-hand insights into jobs at organizations of their choice, allowing them to identify the professions that best match their interests and skills.

‘My Career – My Future’ will be held in Arabic only, and will cover numerous disciplines including aviation, medicine, veterinary medicine, media, filmmaking, event management, tourism, agricultural engineering, banking, transportation and shipping, business management, social work, and library management.

Shaheen Hamad Al-Sulaiti, Senior Career Programs and Services Officer, QCDC, said: “Our aim is to incentivize creativity, enlighten youth, and empower them to make the right academic and career choices. The program offers students an unprecedented opportunity to learn the concepts of self-reliance and responsibility through providing them with hands-on experience to chart their own academic and career paths.

“We encourage students in Qatar to sign up for the program, as this experience will serve as a starting point to pursue their future academic and career ambitions. The previous editions were an incredible success, and we look forward to welcoming students once again on-the-ground to this exciting initiative.”

On the first day, participating students will meet representatives from various organizations, and will join the organization they chose over the following days to learn about professions in this organization and the extent to which they match their skills and potentials. These organizations include Qatar Airways, Hamad Medical Corporation, Equine Veterinary Medical Center, Al Kass Sports Channels, Doha Film Institute, Qatar National Convention Centre, Katara Cultural Village, Quranic Botanic Garden, Commercial Bank, QTerminals, Social Development Center – Nama, Qatar University and Qatar National Library.

To help students plan for their academic paths in an informed manner, and in line with their career aspirations, the last day of the program will bring them together with representatives of various universities to discuss the academic programs and majors they offer, the application process, and admission requirements. Moreover, participating students will be offered a free license to use QCDC’s online Career Advising System (CAS), the most comprehensive career planning system in Qatar and the region, to help them identify their most appropriate academic and career options using psychometric and personality assessment tools. They will also have the chance to book a free virtual career advising session to discuss the results of the assessments and seek advice from a QCDC’s professional career expert.

All students who successfully complete the program will be awarded participation certificates outlining the working hours they spent at the participating organizations.

The deadline to apply closes on June 20, 2022. To learn more about QCDC’s ‘My Career – My Future’ program, or to register, please visit the QCDC website or send an email to qcdc@qf.org.qa.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Employability Skills Program

 

 

Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC), a member of Qatar Foundation, has wrapped up the 2022 edition of its Employability Skills Program, equipping 15 university students with the necessary skills to gain improved access to the job market.

The program was focused on helping students:

  • Become more self-aware of their interests and values
  • Have a clear understanding of career development and its importance
  • Be able to develop a strategic plan for their career development
  • Manage and maintain their careers through lifelong learning
  • Build effective networks with people who can support their career development

The program featured a series of weekly workshops that used an interactive and practical approach to provide students with comprehensive and hands-on career guidance.

Students learned how to develop a strategic plan for their career development and how to build networks with people who can support their progress.

The workshops also featured practical training on writing an effective resume and cover letter, using LinkedIn to search for jobs, crafting an elevator pitch, and conducting a job interview.

Career Guidance Stakeholders Platform

Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC), a member of Qatar Foundation, has organized the third edition of its “Career Guidance Stakeholders Platform” under the theme “Accelerating Human Capital Development through Career Guidance under the QNV2030”, in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, the International Labor Organization’s office in Qatar, and Qatar Foundation’s academic institutions, to address the strategic and tactical issues through seven thematic areas:

  • National Career Guidance Policies and Strategies
  • Multi-Channeled Career Guidance Services
  • Middle-High School Transition of People with Disabilities
  • K-12 Career Guidance in Schools
  • Employability of Higher Education Graduates
  • Transition and Upskilling of Adult Workforce
  • Harnessing Labor Market Intelligence

Representatives of key ministries and stakeholder institutions operating in public, private, and mixed sectors participated in the event to reflect on these themes as active participants. And building on what has been achieved, the 2022 Platform edition aimed to reflect on the progress of the 2018 Platform’s recommendations and propose action steps over the next five years to support the realization of QNV2030’s human development pillar objectives through career guidance.

The 12th issue of the Career Guide is now available

We are glad to announce that the 12th issue of the Career Guide magazine is now out.
The pioneering magazine of Qatar Career Development Center features an array of stories and interviews that cover topics of interest to students, fresh graduates, parents, educators, and career guidance professionals.

Amid the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, the new issue sheds the spotlight on important topics like the future of aviation careers, the rapid development of the nursing sector in Qatar, and the challenges facing career guidance in the country.
Our young readers will learn about skills that can help them develop and better plan their careers though special features, and will read interviews with inspiring personalities from various fields to know about their career journeys and get their advice for anyone who wants to walk in their footsteps.

To read the new issue, please download the Career Guide app on Apple Store or Google Play Store. You can also visit our Publications section to download the issue in PDF format.

 

QCDC launches the “Little Employee” program05 October 2021

  Doha, Qatar- October 5, 2021: Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC), a member of Qatar Foundation (QF), has launched the Little Employee program to develop young people’s skills, provide them with a stimulating environment, and increase their information about work environments by observing the different aspects of the workday.

 

 

A wide number of QF employees’ children, aged from nine to 15, attended this program. The participants spent one working day, from 8 am to 1 pm, working remotely from home with one of their parents. This experience gave them the opportunity to learn about the nature of different professions, and to become familiar with the daily events of professional life.

 

Commenting on this event, QCDC’s Director, Mr. Abdulla Al-Mansoori said: “This type of program is different from the ‘traditional’ ones. By engaging with parents during their workday, students will learn a range of life skills acquired through observational learning. The children also receive practical advice from their parents about the nature of the profession and become familiar with its hands-on procedures.

 

Moreover, the children spent joyful hours during the event, and discovered the secret of time management. Mr. Abdulla Al-Mansoori added: “Our children are neither chaotic nor random in managing their lives. We have a great role as parents in creating a suitable environment so that children can complete the process of their training and acquire organizational skills and positive behaviors. Therefore, it is important to explain our time management system and how to align the tasks that need to be done with the time allocated for each task.

 

“Children may not always understand why parents sometimes prioritize work. However, when they become aware of the tasks that their parents accomplish throughout the day, children will better understand when the parents are required to work late sometimes, or to go to work early at other times.

 

“As we talk to our children about our pursuit of a work-life balance, they will understand the importance of setting these limits for themselves, applying them later in college, or when they embark on their future careers.”

 

This virtual program is part of QCDC’s ongoing efforts to help students experience the actual work environment and explore their career interests in a fun and engaging way. Additionally, this program encourages parents to communicate with their children and discuss their current and future educational path, as well as their career goals. Moreover, this experience offered both parents and children the opportunity to look at the available career options and the chance to spend cheerful times, which they will cherish in their memories for a long time. Also, the Little Employee program strengthened the role of parents in the field of career guidance and counseling to align with QCDC’s belief in the role of the family as one of the key factors in determining an individual’s professional identity.

 

The Little Employee program aims to introduce young people to the value of work, to help them benefit from the experiences of their parents, and to learn the basic concepts of the professional life and the available career possibilities. All of this helps them paint a clear picture of what their future career might look like, and thus make informed and sound academic decisions to achieve their desired professional objectives by planning early for their career journey. Observing the different aspects of a parent’s workday from home helps children develop their emotional skills – and perhaps see their parents in a new way.

10 January 2022

Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC), a member of Qatar Foundation (QF), is pleased to announce the launching of the Facilitating Career Development (FCD) Training Program, from the internationally reputed National Career Development Association (NCDA), offered in an initiative that is the first of its kind in Qatar and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region.

Delivered by NCDA-qualified trainers over the course of four months, the FCD training follows an international, culturally adaptable program, while applying hands-on and interactive teaching methods suitable for a variety of work settings. Through a diversified, active learning approach, the FCD Training Program offers participants a comprehensive and intensive instruction in the main areas of career development. Moreover, the program provides an in-depth understanding and knowledge in 12 key career development competencies. Upon successful completion of the training, participants will be eligible to apply for two internationally recognized credentials, namely:

  • Certified Professional Services Provider Certification (CCSP), from NCDA;
  • Global Professional Development Facilitator Certificate (G-CDF), from the Center for Credentialing & Education (CCE).

Program graduates can work in various career development areas, such as working as a career group facilitator, job search coach, career resource center coordinator, career coach, career development manager, career information and labor market expert, Human Resources career development coordinator, recruitment specialist or workforce development officer.

The training will be provided virtually in English, from January 10, 2022, until April 25, 2022.

Learn more about it via the following link : Click Here 

You can register for the FCD Training Program through the Education City’s application via the following official link: https://ecapp.educationcity.qa/class/431

Download the Application to open the link: Android  || IOS

For more information and inquiries, please contact us via: qcdc@qf.org.qa , or by calling: 44546815.

Two Career advisors complete pivotal program12 July 2021

 QF’s QCDC Reaches Major Training Milestone in First for Qatar and GCC Region

Two career advisors complete pivotal program enabling them to deliver major training course

 

Doha, Qatar – July 12, 2021: Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC) is celebrating a milestone in its dedicated efforts to support the career aspirations of students in the Gulf state, with two of its career advisors – Effrosyni Parampota and Paige M. McDonough, both experts in career guidance and professional development at QCDC – having received the Facilitating Career Development (FCD) Instructor Certificate.

Ms. Parampota and Ms. McDonough were each awarded the credential after successfully completing the FCD Instructor Training program. Both have now been handed the opportunity to deliver the renowned FCD Training Program that leads to the Certified Career Services Provider (CCSP) credential through the highly esteemed National Career Development Association (NCDA) and the Global Career Development Facilitator (G-CDF) credential from the Center for Credentialing and Education (CCE).

The FCD Training Program provides individuals with relevant skills and knowledge to assist others in planning careers and obtaining meaningful work. Participants will receive in-depth training in key areas of career development in the form of up to 22+ instructional hours.

This is a major milestone for QCDC, a Qatar Foundation (QF) member, as it is the first time that the Center will be able to deliver training that leads to an internationally recognized accreditation. QCDC is preparing for the FCD Training Program to be offered to the public this October, and the training has been customized to the Qatari and GCC contexts.

In another first for QCDC, QF, and indeed the nation, both instructors are the first to be accredited in Qatar and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. In itself, this is a major moment in terms of human capital development which can be offered locally without the need to use consultants from outside the Gulf state.

“I am delighted to have passed the FCD Instructor Training Program,” Ms. Parampota said. “It is an important milestone, not just for myself, of course, but for what will hopefully follow in being able to deliver the FCD Training here in Qatar with QCDC. That is a great privilege and honor for me.”

Ms. McDonough added: “This is an exciting opportunity. The potential future impact of delivering the FCD Training Program is compounded, as both the participants and the clients they serve will benefit from the FCD Training Program whether directly or indirectly. This is an exciting step for career development in Qatar and I look forward to delivering the FCD Training Program on behalf of QCDC.

QCDC Virtual Career Advising Sessions for Students22 Jun 2021

Students from 60 Schools Benefit from QCDC Virtual Career Advising Sessions

16 specialized mentors and mentees participate in Arabic and English sessions organized by QF member

Doha, Qatar, June 22, 2021: More than 190 students from nearly 60 schools across Qatar have benefited from the free Virtual Career Advising Sessions provided by Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC) to support students in planning their academic and career paths during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

The topics of the sessions, which were presented by 16 specialized career mentors and mentees, included job opportunities, university requirements, career path guidance, resume guidance, determining the best major, choosing the best university, studying abroad, identifying interests and strengths, and establishing academic and career goals.

Saad Al-Kharji, Head of Career Programs and Services, QCDC – a member of Qatar Foundation – said: “During these Virtual Career Advising Sessions, which ran from January to May 2021, students received free professional support to help them determine their educational and career paths and follow the best practices when applying for a job or writing a CV, as well as other employment-related aspects.”

On the purpose of these sessions, Al-Kharji explained: “We have launched this initiative to address the challenges created by the coronavirus pandemic outbreak, and its repercussions on the education sector locally and globally. Through this initiative, we seek to support students’ career planning and development, and we strive to reach the largest number of Qatar-based young people.

“Regardless of the individual’s age, academic qualifications, or professional level, it is necessary that they persist with enriching their knowledge and developing their skills to perform their work functions optimally. In our time of knowledge and technological revolution, personal and career development is any promising youth’s first step toward success, and a continuation of our nation’s course of growth.”

This initiative targeted all Qatar-based high school students, pre-university students, university undergraduates, and graduates up to two years after graduation. The sessions are provided by professional career advisors who are keen to offer personalized career advice to help participants determine the academic and career paths most appropriate for each of them. They also guide students to the best practices in the recruitment process, as well as answer any inquiries they have regarding their future career and entering the labor market.

The sessions were offered in cooperation with volunteer career mentees as part of the Career Advisor Mentoring Program.  The program aims to build the capacity of budding practitioners through hands-on experience under the supervision of an experienced advisor. The mentoring program is under the umbrella initiative of the Virtual Career Advising Sessions, which provides career guidance to youth in Qatar.

Fatima Chaudhry, one of the career mentees who volunteered to participate in the sessions, said: “This was a great opportunity to volunteer as a career advisor and make a difference in society. Many students have had to change their studying schedules and lifestyles over the past year, and it is a pleasure to be able to provide a service that they can access virtually from the comfort of their homes. I had amazing discussions with students about their goals and how to stay motivated during these times.

“As mentees, we had an excellent team of English and Arabic advisors to support us from the very beginning, and we received mentoring and guidance throughout the program. We hope to be a part of this wonderful initiative in the upcoming academic year, and we aim to make our services even more accessible to meet the needs of the academic community.”

On his participation in the Virtual Career Advising Sessions, Hamad Mohammed Al-Mutawah, student, said that QCDC had provided him with important information, helping him find unique opportunities and the career path that best suited him. “They have also taught me how to set my goals and priorities, and prepare myself for the future career path,” he added.

The sessions take place virtually, building on QCDC’s growing online offerings since the outbreak of the pandemic. Students can directly book appointments with specialized career advisors to receive personalized career advising services, and gain access to other career planning and guidance resources QCDC offers. Students can book one 45-minute career advising session at a time, and follow-up sessions can be scheduled later if needed. Appointments are offered in both Arabic and English.

New Online Edition of “My Career – My Future” Program15 June 2021

 

 

QCDC organizes new online edition of “My Career – My Future” program

Guests from different professions and disciplines share their experiences with high school students

 

Doha, Qatar- June 15, 2021: Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC) is continuing to provide career and academic guidance programs virtually, giving students the opportunity to learn about the requirements of different professions from the safety of their homes, in light of the precautionary restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In this context, QCDC is organizing a new online edition of “My Career – My Future” program for this year. Targeting high school students, the program consists of six interviews streamed live via Instagram, with the participation of people from different professions and disciplines. During the sessions, each guest will elaborate on their profession and academic background before taking questions from participating students.

Mr. Shaheen Hamad Al-Sulaiti, Senior Career Programs and Services Officer, QCDC, said: “In this program, we focus on the professions in which the country needs to increase the number of employees in the future. We therefore host people from various professions, specializations, and sectors – such as media, health, energy, industry, social work, and technology entrepreneurship. We hope that the interviews encourage students to explore these specializations and pursue them to fill future vacancies in Qatar.”

From the media field, interviewees are director Shoug Shaheen and broadcaster and reporter Abdulrahman Saleh al-Ashqar, from Al-Kass Sports Channels. The program will also host resident doctor in the Department of Internal Medicine at McGill University, Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Abdulmalik, to talk about his experience in the medical field. Additionally, on the energy and industry sector, Ghaffan Faraj Al Abdullah will share with the students his experience as a Safety and Health Officer at Qatargas, and Malika Al Shraim, Head of Public Relations and Communications at Katara Cultural Village, will tackle business management in the tourism sector. Regarding the field of social work, Nayef Al-Shahrani will talk about his experience as the Head of the TAMM Volunteer Network program, Nama. The technology entrepreneurship sector will be addressed by Saleh Al-Safran, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Subol Products Design, and Abdulrahman Saleh Khamis, Founder and CEO, Thakaa Technologies.

 

On the importance of these interviews, Mr. Al-Sulaiti explains: “They introduce students to the actual experience of the speakers from various professional fields, and this enables students to discover these professions, learn about the requirements, and as correct any misconceptions they may have about them. Students will discover the nature of these professions by listening to the guest speakers’ personal experiences and having the opportunity to ask questions.”

 

Interviews will be streamed live via Instagram every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from June 14 until June 23, 2021, at 1.00 pm. Participation can be done through QCDC’s official Instagram account, @QCDCQatar. 

Career Advising System

Career Advising System

Qatar Career Development Center, a member of Qatar Foundation, presents the ‘Career Advising System (CAS)”, an electronic career planning system developed in collaboration with Kuder Inc., a world leader in career planning services. It aims to assist students with their academic and career planning and help them make sound career decisions in line with their interests, skills, abilities and future labor market needs in Qatar.

CAS seeks supporting students’ career planning and development across Qatar, as well as providing parents – alongside career and academic advisors – with tools and solutions to deliver the best guidance and advising for students on their future paths.

You can purchase a CAS license for QR200, valid for one year, via the Education City App through this link: Click Here.
Please download the Education City App from “App Store” or “Google Play” to open the registration link.

After subscribing and paying the fees, you will receive an email containing the activation code within two working days. Afterwards, you can log into the system and enjoy all of its features.

After you do all the assessments and obtain your results, you can book a free virtual career advising session with one of our career experts to discuss the results via: Click Here.

Raise awareness of Autism Spectrum Disorder17 April 2021

 

QCDC organizes webinar series to raise awareness of Autism Spectrum Disorder

 Discussions hosted by prominent international speakers

 

 

Doha, Qatar- April 17, 2021: April is Autism Awareness Month, and the Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC), a member of Qatar Foundation (QF), has organized a webinar series to raise awareness of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

QCDC will hold the next live webinar via Zoom in English, titled ‘Autism Awareness Month: Ordinary Heroes – Nurturing People with Autism’. Taking place on Monday, April 19, at 8:30pm, it targets parents and young men and women with autism.

Special guests Ms. Sara Coleman, Special Education Teacher at Awsaj Academy; Ms. Samantha Campion-Gibson, Autism Specialist at the Learning Center; and Mrs. Sabika Shaban, a parent of two neurodiverse children, will speak at the webinar. They will tackle the blessings and challenges of raising and educating children diagnosed with ASD, speaking about experiences and lessons learned. The webinar will additionally include a Q&A session, followed by a dialogue.

QCDC’s Director, Mr. Abdulla Al-Mansoori said: “QCDC is committed to empowering all segments of the Qatari society, and actively contributes to the realization of Qatar’s vision for economic, human, and social development. We are working to implement this through many programs targeting groups with special needs, groups facing learning challenges and others. These programs aim at helping these groups join the labor market and integrate into Qatar’s social and economic fabric.

“For example, in 2018, we launched the Career Readiness Program, in cooperation with Awsaj Academy, one of the schools operating under the umbrella of QF’s Pre-University Education. The program aims at supporting career guidance efforts for students who face minor to moderate learning challenges, by making use of available international expertise, adapting the best models, and adopting them locally, as well as meeting national needs.”

A previous webinar was held on April 5, titled ‘Autism Awareness Month: Ordinary Heroes – Living with Autism’. The webinar provided an in-depth perspective of what it means to have ASD. It touched on topics such as providing job opportunities for this group, and the steps that should be taken by employers to integrate people with ASD into the labor market. The webinar further looked at the importance of diversifying the workforce in Qatar to include these groups.

The webinar hosted American-born academics Dr. Stephen Shore and Dr. Temple Grandin. They are internationally acclaimed for their extensive experience in ASD, as despite both being on the spectrum, they each lead successful and prosperous lives.

World Autism Awareness Day was first proposed by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation, to the United Nations in 2007. And April 2 became the World Autism Awareness Day, highlighting the need to help improve the quality of life for people with autism.

Career Advisor Mentoring Program

The Career Advisor Mentoring Program allows budding practitioners to gain practical experience delivering career guidance under the supervision of an experienced practitioner. The program is under the umbrella program of the Virtual Career Advising Sessions, a program which provides career guidance to the youth in Qatar.

This program is intended to enhance the capacity of Qatar-based practitioners seeking to upskill themselves and strengthen their abilities in the field of career guidance through a structured and practical mentoring program. Experienced practitioners are encouraged to apply to be a mentor to guide and support the mentees.

Participants in the mentoring program are eligible to deliver virtual career advising sessions through a platform where students can book a one-on-one, 45-minute career advising session. These sessions allow the student to gain expert guidance from an advisor about how best to maximize their career potential.

 

 

 

Program Benefits

Benefits for Mentees:

 

  • Enhancing your ability to provide effective career development support to students.
  • Joining a support group that provides you with personal and career support.
  • Further promoting, optimizing, and increasing the use and understanding of career guidance and development.
  • Providing ongoing professional development and individual support and guidance from a practitioner.

 

Benefits for Mentors:

  • Enhancing your leadership skills.
  • Giving you a sense of fulfillment and growth through supporting others.
  • Reinforcing your own knowledge and expertise of career development.

 

How the Program Works

The program runs for one full academic year, from September until May. Both mentors and mentees are expected to participate in the following activities:

  • Monthly group mentoring meetings.
  • Monthly individual mentoring meetings.
  • Virtual Career Advising Sessions
    Participants should expect to devote a minimum of 1-2  hours weekly for this program, and are encouraged to engage beyond this minimum expectation as schedules allow.

 

Applying to the Program

If you’re interested in serving as a mentor, please fill out the Mentor Expression of Interest Form through this link: Click Here

If you would like to join as a mentee, please fill out the Mentee Expression of Interest Form through this link: Click Here

Annual Report 202025 March 2021

We are pleased to release our 2020 Annual Report. The report covers the details of the events, initiatives, and programs we organized, as well as our publications, campaigns, and most important statistics until the end of 2020.

Annual Report 2020

‘My Career – My Future’ Live on Instagram14 June 2021

Qatar Career Development Center is pleased to invite you to participate in the latest edition of My Career-My Future, which aims to raise awareness and instill a culture of career guidance among high school students.

The program will introduce high school students to various career tracks and in-demand jobs across the Qatari market to help youth better plan their academic and professional future and make informed decisions.

The program will consist of six interviews streamed live via Instagram, with the participation of people from different professions and disciplines.

During the sessions, each guest will elaborate on his/her profession and academic background before taking questions from participating students.

Date: Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 14 to 23 June 2021

Time: 1 pm

Guests: Professionals from various industries

Language: Arabic

Platform: Instagram

Join us  @QCDCQatar

 

QCDC Concludes the 10th Edition of CATC26 Jan 2021

171 graduates from across the region have benefited from the course to date

 

Doha, Qatar, 26 January 2021: Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC), a member of Qatar Foundation (QF), has concluded the 10th edition of its Career Advisor Training Course (CACT), which was delivered in both Arabic and English.

CACT brought together individuals interested in career advising, from different specializations and professional backgrounds, from public and private bodies, as well as educational institutions in Qatar and further afield. The course was held in English from November 22 to 26 and in Arabic from December 6 to 10.

Exclusively offered by QCDC in Qatar and the GCC region, the pioneering program focuses on nine key areas; helping skills, career development and choice theory, assessment and career planning, the role of information in career planning, ethical guidelines, working in groups, using technology, employability  skills, and program planning and implementation.

QCDC’s Director, Mr. Abdulla Al-Mansoori, said: “QCDC has been keen to deliver this program since 2015, regardless of the circumstances and difficulties we face. The importance of this program lies in its ability to provide individuals with the knowledge and skills they need for career planning and advising, and to equip them with the tools and activities required to help young people in Qatar embark on the career paths commensurate with their abilities, aspirations, and the nation’s future needs.”

Dr. Amna Al-Shatti, who traveled from Kuwait specifically to participate in the program, stated: “As a specialist in quality of life intelligence, I need accurate answers on career advising. I was having a hard time finding specialized content and guidance in Arabic due to a lack of resources and studies available in the Arabic language.

When I read about this distinguished course, I did not hesitate for a moment to register and participate. I was keen to overcome all the challenges stemming from the circumstances the pandemic is imposing, so as to attend the program, which has answered all my questions about career advising. The information was sufficient, extensive, and based on accurate scientific foundations. Moreover, it was presented in a manner that was easy to understand for all participants of various professional disciplines. I am happy to have attended this excellent course, and I look forward to attending more QCDC programs.”

The 10th edition of CACT was once again delivered by experienced instructors, including Mr. Khalifa Al-Salahi, a certified career counselor with extensive experience in the field of higher education, and working with students in the areas of professional and educational counseling, and Mr. Bilal Solwa, a talent acquisition executive and educator with over 12 years of international experience working with major institutions in Qatar and throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

Mr. Khalifa Al-Salahi, who delivered the Arabic version of the program, said: “The special aspect of this program is that it allows individuals from all disciplines to take part, learn about the most important theories in the field of career advising, and explore the employability skills needed in the labor market. I advise all those interested in the field of career advising and professional development to join this program because of its many benefits that help young people achieve their future professional goals.”

 

Ahead of CACT, QCDC offered an “Introductory Course on Career Advising”, in both Arabic and English. Attracting more than 50 participants, the course was open to all those interested in career advising and guidance. Attendees were introduced to the basics of career advising and guidance, the career advisor’s role, as well as the basic features of the Career Advisor Training Course.

Digital Access Accreditation from Mada14 Jan 2021

 

In a special ceremony held at Mada Center on Thursday, January 14 , Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC) received an honorary shield and a certificate of Digital Access Accreditation, in the presence of officials from both centers. Under this accreditation, QCDC’s website has become accessible to all members of society, including those with special needs and the elderly. The ceremony also featured handing out certificates of participation to 10 trainees who participated in the Facilitating Career Development (FCD) Training, which was previously launched by QCDC, in cooperation with Mada. Accordingly, the National Career Development Association (NCDA) offered a comprehensive training to qualify participants in the field of career advising and facilitation for people with disabilities. NCDA hence provided program graduates with a license to practice career advising as professional service providers.

 

The 11th Edition of the Career Guide is Out Now12 Jan 2021

Check out the 11th edition of QCDC’s Career Guide, which features articles, interviews, and useful tips from experts in career guidance and development. The new issue discusses the future impact of the COVID-19 crisis on education and labor market, through interviews with experts from Qatar Foundation, in addition to specialists in fields like human resources, economics, future studies, and entrepreneurship.

Students of all ages will also find interviews with inspiring Qatari figures and various stories that will help them develop their skills and benefit from the current crisis to plan and build a successful career.

You can download the Career Guide app on Apple Store and Google Play Store.

An electronic version of the Guide is also available on the Publications section of this website.

National Service Academy Recruits Participate in QCDC Career Advising Program20 Dec 2020

 National Service Academy Recruits Participate in QCDC Career Advising Program

QF members helps 239 recruits explore possible career options

Qatar Career Development Center recently hosted the National Service Academy as part of its Career Advising System program, with the 239 recruits taking assessments to help identify interests, skills, and possible career paths.

The recruits underwent two types of assessments with Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC), a member of Qatar Foundation – Kuder Career Interests Assessment and Super’s Work Values Inventory – designed to help young people identify their professional interests and potential before receiving a list of possible career choices.

Abdulla Al-Mansoori, Director, QCDC, said: “This cooperation is an extension of QCDC’s path toward enhancing and activating youths’ role in building the nation. As the academy recruits are going through a transitional stage in their academic and professional lives, it is important to provide them with the means to make sound career decisions after graduation.

“We are certain that the National Service Academy’s cooperation with specialized centers such as our own will contribute to the recruits’ professional development process, and help to better create Qatari youths capable of advancing our country at the levels of security, development, and all other areas.”

First Lieutenant Jassim Muhammad Al-Jaber, Public Relations Director at the National Service Academy, Miqdam Camp, stated: “Despite the health emergency this year, we have been keen to maintain our cooperation with QCDC by conducting Career Advising System assessments for our recruits, while applying all precautionary measures and procedures.

“We value this cooperation as it helps our recruits choose the career paths they can pursue in the future. The National Service Academy believes in the importance of concerting the efforts of civil and military institutions to rear capable and effective Qatari youths, who can contribute to the growth of our nation.”

QCDC’s Career Advising System is a unique career advising and planning system aligned with the socioeconomic system in Qatar, and was created in cooperation with Kuder. Inc. –  a world leader in career planning services.

The Career Advising System contains psychometric and personality assessment tools, as well as six innovative and diverse modules that cover all areas related to proper career planning, including identifying personal capabilities, exploring professions, planning educational and work paths, and explaining how to search for the right profession. The system also allows students’ parents or academic advisors to view the results, so that they can help the young people make appropriate decisions.

Based on the results of the assessments taken by the recruits, a subsequent counseling session was held with a group of top QCDC professionals in the field of career advising and guidance. The session featured a thorough analysis and consideration of the results designed to help recruits determine the academic and career paths most appropriate for them upon finishing their service, and which align with the country’s future needs.

Launching Meshkat Initiative9 Dec 2020

 

QF Unveils Initiative to Boost Future of Qatar’s High School Students

QSTP and QCDC join forces to launch ‘Meshkat’ pilot program for 2020-2021 academic year

 

Doha, Qatar, X November 2020: High school students across Qatar will have access to a new support package when making important choices regarding their career options in the highly competitive world of technology development and entrepreneurship. Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP) and Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC) – both members of Qatar Foundation (QF) for Education, Science and Community Development – have come together to develop and launch ‘Meshkat’ as a pilot program for high school students for the current academic year 2020-2021.

Wadha Al Adgham, Program Manager for Education, QSTP said: “Meshkat is the perfect word for this program, as it is the Arabic word for a wall niche that used to feature lamps. So, it carries a beautiful connotation, suggesting that this scheme offers an accommodating space that embraces inventors and sponsors innovations that will contribute to positive change and scientific breakthroughs beneficial to society at large.

Al Adgham continued: “We are delighted to be offering all high school students in Qatar a chance to become involved in Meshkat. This initiative will raise awareness among our nation’s young people of the various career options that technological innovation and entrepreneurship offer. It will also equip them with the necessary knowledge to explore the digital entrepreneurship world and highlight the ideal environment Qatar provides for budding tech entrepreneurs. We at QSTP are extremely proud to be at the forefront of an environment which helps transform innovative ideas into successful projects, businesses, products and services that provide effective solutions to various existing challenges, as well as contributing to Qatar’s economic diversification.”

Three distinct activities have been created under Meshkat: workshops targeting school students; academic clinics aimed at scholastic advisors; and an introductory seminar on the significance of and opportunities in entrepreneurship and technological innovations, along with a visit to explore QSTP’s facilities, to take place in accordance with the prevailing health and safety guidelines at the time. Pilot workshops have been so far delivered in both Arabic and English languages in three schools: Qatar Technical High School, Ali bin Jassim High Schools and Qatar Academy for Science and Technology School.

Mr. Abdulla Al-Mansoori, Director, QCDC, said: “The pandemic has brought with it real challenges that have dealt a strong blow to companies that failed to embrace remote work, highlighting the importance of embracing technological innovation in these difficult circumstances.”

“Our latest initiative, Meshkat, embraces and empowers young innovators to contribute their novel digital-first solutions for local and global challenges, taking advantage of Qatar’s role as a hub for technological innovation in the region. Through workshops and insights, the initiative will encourage high school students to embark on their digital entrepreneurship journeys and transform their innovative ideas into successful projects that contribute to Qatar’s economic diversification and prosperity.”

QSTP is part of Qatar Foundation Research, Development, and Innovation (QF RDI). QF RDI is tasked with playing a pivotal role in recognising and dealing with challenges and openings presented in Information and Communications Technology (ICT), energy, environment, and healthcare in adherence to the country’s RDI strategy and priorities.

The project aims to engage students through virtual and digital platforms and, via field trips to schools, QSTP’s headquarters, and Multaqa  (Education City Student Center). More workshops are yet to be delivered throughout the ongoing academic year, and all schools interested in participating in the project are invited to get in touch with QCDC at qcdc@qf.org.qa .

QCDC Engages Arabic-Speaking Career Guidance Experts15 Nov 2020

Qatar Career Development Centre (QCDC) has taken another step toward engaging Arabic-speaking career guidance experts through its development of the Arabic edition of the Asia Pacific Career Development Association (APCDA) Glossary of Career Development Terms.

The Arabic edition of the glossary, which was first compiled by a team from several English-speaking countries in 2014, will be dynamic and will change and grow as people suggest improvements or additions.

Through this latest initiative, QCDC makes an important contribution to the promotion of the Arabic language and the dissemination of knowledge to empower local experts to better guide the youth in Qatar and the Arab World on their ambitious career journeys.

Check and download the Arabic glossary on: Click Here

Website Accreditation of QCDC06-Oct-2020

 

The outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted industries around the globe and weighed on the education sector, prompting QCDC to spearhead the e-learning trend in Qatar.

In this context, QCDC has obtained the digital accessibility accreditation from Mada Center, making its platform accessible to all community members including people with special needs and the elderly.

Over several months, QCDC worked hard to meet all the global standards for digital access to web content (WCAG 2.1) to promote digital inclusiveness and empower people with special needs and support their independence.

White Army’ Video Series20 August 2020

News White Army Image 2

 

In collaboration with Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC) has produced a series of video clips that shed light on medical professions at the forefront of the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and the role that health professionals play in containing the virus and protecting society.

The video series, titled “The White Army: The First Line of Defense Against Coronavirus”, features short interviews with over 15 doctors, nurses and healthcare workers, who discuss aspects of their daily life and tasks, advise students who are interested in pursuing the same profession, and share vital tips on prevention measures.

 

White Army Series Promo: Click Here

Episode 1 of the White Army Series: Click Here

Episode 2 of the White Army Series: Click Here

Episode 3 of the White Army Series: Click Here

Episode 4 of the White Army Series: Click Here

Episode 5 of the White Army Series: Click Here

Episode 6 of the White Army Series: Click Here

Episode 7 of the White Army Series: Click Here

Episode 8 of the White Army Series: Click Here

Episode 9 of the White Army Series: Click Here

Episode 10 of the White Army Series: Click Here

Episode 11 of the White Army Series: Click Here

Episode 12 of the White Army Series: Click Here

Episode 13 of the White Army Series: Click Here

Episode 14 of the White Army Series: Click Here

Thank You White Army: Click Here

QCDC unveils live webinar series to engage students, parents amid pandemic outbreak24 June 2020

Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC), a member of Qatar Foundation, has launched its live webinar series, an initiative aimed at informing and educating the local community on best local and international career guidance practices.

The initiative builds on QCDC’s success in digitally engaging parents and students across Qatar during the COVID-19 pandemic to facilitate access to valuable tools and information that help youth make informed career choices.

The initiative contributes to QCDC’s long-time efforts to develop a sustainable career ecosystem and to create new relationships with local, regional and international stakeholders.

QCDC Launches Career Café30 May 2020

QCDC has launched the Career Café, an initiative featuring virtual professional development sessions that facilitate the provision and sharing of information with relevant career professionals on career development topics during the time of COVID-19.

It also provides an opportunity for career professionals to discuss current trends, challenges and opportunities they are currently facing which can further inform QCDC’s service offerings.

You can watch previous sessions here:

Session 1: Click Here

Session 2: Click Here

Session 3: Click Here

Session 4: Click Here

QCDC Releases 10th Edition of Career Guide19 May 2020

Latest issue includes advice on keeping up career development during COVID-19 pandemic

Doha, Qatar, May 19, 2020: Qatar Career Development Center has unveiled the 10th edition of its Career Guide magazine, which celebrates a decade of career guidance and professional development.

The magazine features a wealth of information, advice, inspirational interviews, and articles to help young people explore their potential, develop their skills, and choose the academic and career path that suits the needs and dynamics of the Qatari job market.

The 45-page bilingual English-Arabic issue features over 15 sections, including highlights of QCDC’s activities, special reports, and exclusive interviews with Qatari youth who have excelled in their career.

As part of its efforts to further engage youth, all content can be accessed through QCDC’s website and the Career Guide application, the first free interactive app for a magazine published by Qatar Foundation.

The app offers a unique interactive experience that enables users to access the latest career news in Qatar and around the world, including the COVID-19 pandemic. It can be downloaded from the Apple Store and Google Play.

Commenting on the release of the new issue, Mr. Abdullah Al Mansoori, QCDC Director, said: “We are proud to publish the 10th issue of the Career Guide, in which we chose to celebrate innovation, one of the most in-demand skills of the 21st century in today’s labor market.

“Countries that will succeed in instilling a culture of innovation among their youth will occupy a leading position in the future. Because creativity fuels innovation, you will find in this guide a variety of topics that will inspire you to be creative and motivate you to explore your untapped skills.”

Elaborating on what this edition offers, he said: “The Career Guide has become a reference for professional knowledge, advice, and career guidance. We urge youth to take advantage of the rich information the magazine provides – especially in light of these exceptional circumstances amid the outbreak of COVID-19 – to learn from the experience of other professionals to better assess their career options, and to choose the track that aligns best with their skills and aspirations.”

The release of the new issue coincides with a series of unprecedented measures taken in the context of the pandemic outbreak, which has forced many countries to shut their borders and impose emergency measures that have affected the lives of billions of people and had an impact on businesses around the world. To keep pace with this changing landscape, the latest issue of the Career Guide offers tips on remote working, and how to efficiently manage time to stay productive. Students may also take advantage of this isolation period to browse the online learning sites outlined in the issue and find information on the importance of distance education.

In a rapidly changing world, the guide provides an overview of emerging technologies that will impact various industries and professions in the future and offers learning material to guide youth during the different stages of their academic and professional career. The magazine sheds light on the efforts of Qatar Science & Technology Park, part of Qatar Foundation Research, Development and Innovation, in supporting innovation and encouraging entrepreneurs to launch successful businesses that contribute to the development of a knowledge-based economy.

The new issue features interviews with successful individuals in various fields, including Ramzan Rashid Al Nuaimi, Creative Director at Al Jazeera Media Network, who takes readers on a journey into the world of visual identity; and Qatari writer Buthaina Al-Janahi, who discusses the Qalam Hebr project launched in 2018 to help youth develop creative writing skills.

The 10th edition also sheds light on Qatar’s promising tourism industry. With Qatar being well-equipped to become a leading tourist destination, the industry can create job opportunities for thousands of youth, while promoting economic diversification.

For more information about QCDC – a member of Qatar Foundation – please visit: https://qcdc.org.qa/

Preparatory meeting for the establishment of Qatar Career Development Association14 Jan 2020

wb-Qatar-Career-Development

 

Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC), member of Qatar Foundation (QF), held the preparatory meeting for the establishment of Qatar Career Development Association, which brought together representatives of various sectors and industries in the country.

 

The association seeks to promote cooperation and the exchange of knowledge and expertise among various stakeholders in the career development field, in a bid to empower all segments of society to achieve their professional aspirations in line with the requirements and needs of the labor market.

 

The association aspires to become a distinguished platform that contributes to the transformation of the Qatari economy into a knowledge-based economy through the advancement of career guidance and professional development.

 

 

Launch of Career Readiness Program13 Jan 2020

Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC), member of Qatar Foundation (QF), has launched its Career Readiness Program for this year in partnership with Awsaj Academy.

 

 

wb-CareerReadinessPro

 

 

The program aims to enhance the delivery of career guidance services to students with mild to moderate learning challenges by drawing on international expertise and adapting the best international career guidance models into the local context.

 

This year, the program featured the introduction of project-based learning activities that have been integrated in the school’s curriculum. Activities included workshops, motivational talks, field trips, volunteering opportunities, and social responsibility projects.

 

Students in their last year of studies participated in training activities and had the opportunity to apply the professional skills they have acquired.

This week’s activities featured the participation of Awsaj students in a QCDC-led workshop on the work environment and relationships among co-workers.

 

QCDC also provided practical training to empower and equip participating students with the required skills and tools to join the labor market. As part of this week’s program activities, participants took part in a field trip to Al Sulaiteen Agricultural Complex.

 

QCDC’s Exclusive Program Graduates New Cohort24 Nov 2019

Forty-five participants have graduated from the regionally exclusive Career Advisor Training Course held by Qatar Career Development Center, representing the 8th and 9th batches of the program.

 

En_CATC-image

 

Qatar Career Development Centre (QCDC) – a member of Qatar Foundation – awarded certificates to all the graduates who recently completed the program that was delivered separately in both Arabic and English, at Education City. The Arabic sessions were attended by 25 participants, while the English edition had 20 participants.

“Today marks a new milestone with the graduation of these batches, bringing the total number of graduates to 155 professionals, who have acquired the knowledge and skills to offer career guidance to students and youth across Qatar,” said Mr. Abdulla Al-Mansoori, Director, QCDC.

“We are committed to supporting and guiding youth into choosing the most appropriate career paths. We will continue our efforts to advance our objectives by working hand in hand with our students, who will carry the torch of Qatar’s development.”

The program was offered in collaboration with Kuder Inc., a world leader in career planning services and brought together public and private sector employees, as well as representatives from educational institutions in Qatar.

Mr. Musaad Saeed Al-Hajjaji, a human development consultant and media advisor at Alafdalia Training and Consulting Center was one of the participants in the program.

“I participated in the program to expand my experience and exchange expertise with those interested in this field,” he said. “The program is accredited and the lecture delivered by Mr. Khalifa Al Yafei, was one of the best I have attended. Additionally, the organization of the event was outstanding.”

Lecturers included Mr. Khalifa Al Yafei, a certified career counselor with extensive experience in the field of higher education; Mrs. Anita Abraham, a Professional Development Specialist of Science at the National Center for Educational Development, College of Education, Qatar University, with more than 25 years of experience in the field of education; and Mrs. Susanna Mascarenhas, a Professional Development Specialist at the National Center for Educational Development, College of Education, Qatar University.

Al Yafei said the program offered participants high-quality training and the opportunity to gain insight into the theoretical and practical aspects of career guidance.

“Participants also learned how to design and implement career guidance programs targeting the country’s various segments. We thank QCDC for organizing and organizing this course,” Al Yafei added.

Ahmed Al Malki, a participant in the program working at Qatar National Library, said he joined the CATC to develop his skills in the career guidance field to be able to better assist students.

“Due to the nature of my work, I am highly engaged with the youth,” Al Malki said. “I intend to apply what I have learned in this program to young people who need to choose their career paths. The program provided us with extensive information about identifying the appropriate careers and specialties for these students. We thank QCDC for providing such useful programs.”

QCDC had initially organized an Introductory Career Advisory Course that familiarized participants with the basics of career guidance and advising, and created awareness on the role played by career counselors. And 65 participants took part in this course, which also introduced them to the basics of the CATC.

Students with Functional Limitations to Benefit from New QCDC-Mada Services30 Oct 2019

Collaboration highlights role of digital access in empowering various sections of society

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Students with functional limitations will now be able to get better access to education through new services in information and communication technology (ICT) provided by Qatar Foundation’s Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC) and MADA Center.

In a recently announced partnership, QCDC and MADA Center will work together to develop career education, and development services by promoting counseling and capacity building in the career guidance field.

The aim of this collaboration is to promote digital inclusiveness and build a digital community for people with functional limitations, including those with disabilities. It will seek to empower and help students with disabilities in identifying their goals beyond the education phase so that they can develop their skills, as well as, raise community awareness about the role of digital access in empowering and integrating people with disabilities into the society.

“The signing of this agreement falls in line with QCDC’s objectives to instill a career culture among members of the Qatari community through awareness building programs and platforms, the implementation of effective career policies, and by cooperating with concerned authorities in Qatar in order to develop the educational system through career guidance tools and professional technological services,” Mr. Abdulla Al-Mansoori, Director, QCDC said.

Under this agreement, digital accreditation will be granted to a number of QCDC digital platforms, most notably QCDC’s website.

The agreement will also enable the provision of training on best practices in the job-access project, as well as comprehensive vocational and career education and development guidance for people with disabilities.

Accreditation of 10 counseling specialists who provide career guidance for people with functional limitations will be also tasked under this agreement.

The signing ceremony took place on Wednesday, October 30, 2019, at MADA Center’s booth at the Qatar Information Technology Conference and Exhibition (QITCOM), which is currently taking place at the Qatar National Convention Centre. The event was attended by Mr. Abdulla Al-Mansoori and Ms. Maha Al-Mansouri, CEO, MADA Center, along with officials from both parties.

QCDC and KidZania Doha Aim to Instill Culture of Career Guidance29 Oct 2019

 

 

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QCDC and KidZania Doha Aim to Instill Culture of Career Guidance

 

A special recreational education center named the “Career Development Center” has opened in Doha where children will be introduced to the concept of career planning while exploring various career options in an educational and entertaining way. The new Career Development Center comes as a result of a partnership between Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC), a member of the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, and KidZania Doha, and will be affiliated to QCDC.

The Career Development Center is based in KidZania’s interactive city for children, and is aimed to empower children, between the ages of 4 and 14, in enabling them to identify career options that align with their interests and abilities.

“It is important that we instill a culture of career guidance among children from an early age so that they grow up aware of their potential and future career orientations,” said Mr. Abdulla Al-Mansoori, Director, QCDC.

“This cooperation with KidZania Doha lies at the heart of Qatar Foundation’s efforts to promote a culture of career guidance among members of the community, in partnership with those contributing to the achievement of these goals for the benefit of the Qatari youth,” he added.

The center will host career-related events that include educating children on how to write and print CVs in line with their career interests and aspirations.

 

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“Our partnership with QCDC is an important addition to KidZania Doha and contributes to advancing its mission of developing children’s ambitions,” said Mr. Khalid Ali Al-Mawlawi, Board Member of Qatar Entertainment (Tasali).

“Promoting awareness of a professional work culture to help children identify their orientations and hone their skills in line with their abilities through role-playing is what KidZania is offering in an interesting educational context,” he added.

The inauguration and signing ceremony, which was held today at the KidZania Doha Theater, brought together Mr. Abdulla Al-Mansoori, Mr. Khalid Ali Al-Mawlawi, and senior officials, including Mr. Mohammed Khalifa Al-Suwaidi, CEO of Aspire Zone Foundation, and Mr. Ric Fearnett, Governor of KidZania Doha.

KidZania Doha opened its doors on April 30, 2019, providing a unique educational and entertainment experience with 42 establishments. Children aged between 4 -14 years old are able to role play ‘adult jobs’ in up to 60 pretend roles, learning a variety of values, including self-reliance, teamwork, honesty, integrity, and giving back to society.

QCDC’s Career Village Attracts More Than 4,000 Visitors7 Oct 2019

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More than 4,000 visitors attended the latest edition of the Career Village, which Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC), a member of Qatar Foundation (QF), this year organized in cooperation with the Social Development Center, ‘Nama’.

The three-day event, held at Multaqa (Education City Student Center), welcomed preparatory and secondary school students from 100 public and private schools from across Qatar, who learned about various professions, as well as the academic disciplines that lead to these career paths.

The event was attended by His Excellency Mr. Yousuf Mohamed Al Othman Fakhroo, Minister of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs, and Mrs. Buthaina Ali Al Nuaimi, President of Pre-University Education, QF.

His Excellency Mr. Fakhroo showed significant interest in how participating entities were showcasing career opportunities, and praised the event’s practical approach to promoting professional awareness and reaching out to visitors, particularly students.

Mr. Abdulla Al Mansoori, Director, QCDC, said: “We are delighted with Career Village’s continued success, and are pleased with the meaningful outputs that these comprehensive, useful, and enjoyable events produce. QCDC places strong emphasis on promoting a culture of career planning among youth without putting any kind of psychological pressure on students. Rather, we must provide youth with all the tools to help them choose the most appropriate career paths in line with their qualifications and ambitions, in a favorable atmosphere that ensures their future success and contribute to the nation’s prosperity.”

On the sidelines of the event, Nama launched its ‘Tamakkan’ campaign, an initiative designed to raise awareness among the youth of the importance of career development in line with the needs of the Qatari job market, drawing on the expertise of experienced professionals and retirees to equip young people with the skills to contribute to their community.

Mrs. Amal A. Al-Mannai, CEO of Qatar Foundation for Social Work and Acting Executive Director of Nama, said she was pleased with the center’s participation in Career Village, noting that Nama’s participation has enabled social entrepreneurs and members of Tamakkan’s campaign to connect with school and university.

Mrs. Al-Mannai added that Nama not only succeeded in educating youth on how to benefit from the project while raising awareness of the importance of professional development, but has also set examples of how hard-working youth can identify the needs of the community and contribute to its development.

 

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The event brought together representatives from 35 leading Qatar-based organizations and institutions from numerous industries including education, business and finance, energy and manufacturing, communication and transportation, health, security, media, and culture.

Entities included the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labor and Social Affairs – Institute of Public Administration; the Ministry of Interior – Human Resources Department, General Directorate of Civil Defense, Traffic Department, General Directorate of Coasts and Borders Security, and Police College – Hamad Medical Corporation; and Qatar Airways.

Noora Ali Al-Kuwari, Qatar University Student Enrollment Development Specialist, said: “The purpose of our participation is to attract students to the new College of Dentistry that we recently inaugurated. We have noticed a lot of interest from students in this specialization, and we have provided them with the admission guidelines. Through our participation, we aim to support Qatari secondary school students who seek to join science programs by familiarizing them with the admission requirements because these specialties are of great importance to the future of Qatar.”

Students met with representatives of participating institutions and universities to inquire about job opportunities and took part in interactive activities that provided insight into various professions.

Sheikha Saeed Al Nuaimi, a student at Al Maha Academy for Girls, said: “During my visit, I was able to learn in a relatively short time about the large number of academic and career opportunities available in Qatar. I also learned about the scholarship and training opportunities offered by various institutions in the country, which made me reconsider the academic track I want to pursue.”

The event also featured a caricature exhibition organized by Nama to highlight the challenges faced by youth when it comes to professional development.

QCDC Offers Introductory Course on Career Advising3 Sep 2019

 

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Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC), a member of Qatar Foundation, has organized an introductory course on career advising on Tuesday, September 3, 2019, at Education City Clubhouse. The course aimed at introducing the participants to the basics of career guidance and advising, and creating awareness on the role played by career counselors and advisors, in addition to introducing them to the basics of the Career Advisor Training Course, offered by QCDC.

The course was delivered by Mr. Khalifa Al Salahi, a certified career counselor with extensive experience in the field of higher education.

This course is part of QCDC’s efforts to instill a career development culture in Qatar and to raise awareness about the importance of career guidance.

 

 

QCDC Opens Registration For Upcoming Career Advisor Training Course5 Sep 2019

Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC), a member of Qatar Foundation, has opened registration for the next edition of its Career Advisor Training Course (CATC), which aims to equip participants with the skills and tools to provide career guidance to young people.

 

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Launched by QCDC in 2015, CATC is the first customized training program for careers advisors in Qatar and the Gulf region. It is offered in collaboration with Kuder Inc., a world leader in career planning services.

The course will be delivered in both Arabic and in English during separate sessions held at Education City. The Arabic edition will run from September 8-12, from 8am to 2pm, while the English edition will run from November 10-14, from 8am to 2pm.

Mr. Abdulla Al-Mansoori, Director, QCDC, said: “Participants in this edition of the CATC will represent the eighth and ninth batches of graduates, and will join more than 110 participants who have already acquired the knowledge and skills that this program exclusively offers; skills that cannot be acquired elsewhere in Qatar or the region.”

The course will bring together career advisors, academic counselors, HR personnel, mentors, and professors, as well as parents. Participants will acquire skills that will equip them to serve as potential career advisors, and will gain insight into their own career development and those of the young people they advise.

A number of different topics will be covered throughout the program, including ‘Helping Skills’, ‘Career Development and Choice Theory’, ‘Assessment and Career Planning’, ‘The Role of Information in Career Planning’, ‘Ethical Guidelines’, ‘Working with Groups’, ‘Using Technology’, ‘Employability Skills’, and ‘Program Planning and Implementation’.

Applicants will also learn how to guide and follow up with students or clients using a career planning system, and will also gain knowledge of technology-based applications that benefit career development.

Participants will be given the opportunity to use the new Career Advising System (CAS), a career planning system developed by QCDC designed to assist students in planning their academic future. QCDC rolled out CAS across public secondary schools in Qatar during the second semester of the 2017-2018 academic year, within the framework of an MoU between QCDC and the Ministry of Education and Higher Education.

As part of the new CAS, participants will be able to employ diverse and innovative psychometric and personality assessment tools to explore their personal skills and potential career tracks.

Lecturers include Mr. Khalifa Al Yafei, a certified career counselor with extensive experience in the field of higher education, who was recently appointed both Director of Academic Affairs and Lecturer at Northumbria University in Qatar. The course will be moderated by Mrs. Anita Abraham, a Professional Development Specialist of Science at the National Center for Educational Development, College of Education, Qatar University. Mrs. Abraham, who has more than 25 years of experience in the field of education, will be joined by Mrs. Susanna Mascarenhas, a Professional Development Specialist at the National Center for Educational Development, College of Education, Qatar University, who has seen first-hand the role of education in the growth of Qatar over the past 28 years.

To register for the Career Advisor Training Course or lean more about the program,  call 44546815, or e-mail qcdc@qf.org.qa.

 

QCDC Participates in 9th International Symposium on Career Development and Public Policy30 June 2019

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Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC), a member of Qatar Foundation, has participated in the 9th edition of the International Symposium on Career Development and Public Policy. The symposium brought together policy makers, career counsellors, researchers, and professionals to discuss global efforts to promote career development.

The three-day symposium, which was organized by the International Centre for Career Development and Public Policy (ICCDPP) and Skills Norway, Ministry of Education and Research, Norway, took place in Tromso. Held under the title of ‘Leading career development services into an uncertain future: Ensuring access, integration and innovation,’ it was inaugurated by Tom Erlend Skaug, State Secretary from the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research.

The symposium brought together delegations from 34 countries. Participants explored changes in how individuals are pursuing careers across the world, and how governments are providing career development help and integrating various forms of support within wider policy aims.

Each delegation produced a paper outlining key issues for their countries in relation to the conference’s four themes: ‘The Context and Challenges for Career Development Policy’; ‘The Aims for, and Access to, Career Development’; ‘The Integration of Career Development into Wider Society’; and ‘Leading Innovative Change for the Future.’

QCDC was represented by Mr. Abdulla Al-Mansoori, Director, and Dr. Tajalsir Kardaman, Career Programs and Services Manager. During the conference, QCDC presented a paper showcasing the center’s efforts in contributing to the development and implementation of a well-integrated and cross-sector career development policy that links the needs and aspirations of Qatari professionals, among various other topics.

Commenting on QCDC’s participation in the conference, Mr. Al-Mansoori emphasized the importance of engaging with delegates from other countries to explore the future of global career development and exchange knowledge and expertise.

“Through our participation in such an event, we hope to expand our knowledge and align what we learned with Qatar’s policy aims, ultimately contributing to the development of high-quality human capital to assist Qatar in its transition toward a diversified economy,” Mr. Al Mansoori said.

 

 

Mr. Al-Mansoori and Dr. Kardaman also attended panel discussions with representatives from five leading international organizations. These included the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development; the Education and Training Foundation; the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training; the European Commission; and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Discussions focused on how Nordic countries, including Norway, are working to promote lifelong career guidance.

QCDC’s participation in the ICCDPP symposium followed its involvement, for the second consecutive year, in the Asia Pacific Career Development Association’s (APCDA) conference – an international forum for sharing career development ideas and expertise in the Asia Pacific region.

The 2019 APCDA annual conference, titled ‘Navigating Career Development in the Age of Industry 4.0,’ was hosted by the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

 

QCDC Opens Registration for Inaugural ‘Career Academy’21 May 2019

Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC), a member of Qatar Foundation (QF), has opened registration for the first edition of its ‘Career Academy’ program, which aims to take high school students on an educational journey that explores career opportunities – within the private and public sectors – and jobs that are in high demand.

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‘Career Academy’, which will be delivered in Arabic, will take place over the course of two weeks, from June 30 – July 11, 8am – 1pm at Multaqa (Education City Student Center). Students can register for the two-week program, or may choose to register for one week only. All students who successfully complete the program will be awarded participation certificates.

Mr. Abdulla Al-Mansoori, Director, QCDC, said: “It’s important for students to engage in activities that help them explore their personal abilities and potential in order to identify career paths that best align with their skills. QCDC endeavors to offer various programs and activities that provide our youth with the opportunity to gain insight into career paths that serve the needs of the country and enable professionals to contribute to Qatar’s development.

“The program features a variety of activities – including field trips, workshops, and recreational and educational activities – to help students prepare both mentally and practically to embark on the career path that best suits them.”

The program will include field trips to both private and public institutions in Qatar, including Hamad Medical Corporation, Qatar Airways, and Es’hailSat. These field trips will offer participants the opportunity to connect with professionals and learn to which extent these jobs match their skills and potential, and what to expect from each profession.

Students will also be given the opportunity learn about Qatar-based universities, such as Qatar University, QF member Hamad Bin Khalifa University, and QF partner universities. Representatives of these institutes will provide students with overviews of the academic programs and admission requirements, helping participants to make informed academic choices.

The program will also include a number of character-building workshops designed to help prepare students for university, featuring topics such as ‘Preparations to study abroad’, ‘How to write a resume’, and ‘How to introduce yourself to society’, as well as sessions to empower participants to become independent.

A variety of recreational and educational activities will also be on offer. Participants will attend a series of practical workshops that aim to equip students with a wide range of personal and life skills, as well as to improve their self-confidence, communication, public speaking, and teamwork abilities.

To learn more or to register, please visit Career Academy

 

Recruits of National Service Academy undergo evaluation to identify career interests20 March 2019

 

The National Service Academy, in cooperation with Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC), a member of Qatar Foundation, has embarked on a series of evaluations to help the latest batch of its recruits identify their career interests and explore their skills and potential.

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The assessments are being undertaken through QCDC’s Career Advising System (CAS), a unique career advising system, which provides tailor-made solutions that factors in Qatar’s social and economic conditions. CAS was developed by QCDC in co-operation with Kuder Inc., a world leader in career planning services. The new career advising system features psychometric and personality assessment models as well as diverse and innovative tools to facilitate career planning and guidance by helping users explore personal skills and professional tracks and planning career paths.

Recruits undertook two assessments including Kuder Career Interests Assessment, and Super’s Work Values Inventory. Both assessments enable recruits to identify their professional interests and potential before suggesting aligned career choices.

After completing the evaluation and reviewing the results, the user is presented with a list of suggested professions.

QCDC’s cooperation with the National Service Academy kicked off in 2018 within the framework of the academy’s collaboration with various specialized organizations across Qatar to support the development of recruits.

This cooperation reflects the firm belief that Qatar’s national security and development go hand in hand, which requires the empowerment of talented Qatari youth who will shoulder the responsibility of protecting the nation and supporting its development.

Civil and military institutions must therefore join efforts to mobilize and empower youth to make valuable contributions to the Qatari society.

Based on the results of the assessments, QCDC will organize subsequent training sessions that will bring together experts in career guidance to analyze the outcomes and help recruits identify the academic and professional tracks that best align with their interests and the future needs of Qatar.

 

QCDC Celebrates Completion of First Edition of Career Readiness Program5 May 2019

Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC), a member of Qatar Foundation (QF), has wrapped up the first edition of its Career Readiness Program, which aims to enhance the delivery of career guidance services to students with mild to moderate learning challenges from Awsaj Academy, also a member of QF.

 

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Adapting the best international career guidance models into the local context, the program bolsters the confidence of students, creating more opportunities to grow their skills and help them make informed choices about their professional future. It also attempts to establish effective local career eco-systems and reshape society’s approach to education and learning.

At the same time, the program tackles three key challenges, the first of which is assuring families their child’s education is leading to a valued outcome. The second challenge is to bring awareness to the larger community about barriers students are facing and how these can be lifted. A third challenge that will be further addressed in the next academic year is to educate employers on how to integrate the concerned population in their operations.

During a ceremony held recently at Awsaj Academy in Education City to celebrate the completion of the program, students shared their journey with parents, counselors, and members of both QCDC and Awsaj Academy.

Commenting on the initiative, Mr. Abdulla Al-Mansoori, Director, QCDC, said: “The Career Readiness Program represents more than just another career guidance-related project. It is an important initiative that reflects our strong commitment along with our partners to empowering all segments of society to make a meaningful contribution to the advancement of Qatar National Vision 2030.”

Mr. Mark Hughes, Director, Awsaj Academy, said: “Our objective is to support our students on functional, social, and academic levels with programs that prepare them for beyond school, college, or career pathways. At Awsaj Academy, our students receive support in outlined areas, and collaborating with QCDC during the Career Readiness Program helps make services available for our students with an emphasis of meeting diverse learning needs. As we integrate students back into the community, they are equipped with a combination of academics and functional skills aligned with their personal capabilities and professional interests.”

The Career Readiness Program was piloted last year within the framework of a Memorandum of Understanding signed between QCDC and Awsaj Academy.

The program featured weekly cross-structural interventions and project-based learning activities that have been integrated in the school’s curriculums. Activities included workshops, motivational talks by Qatari entrepreneurs, field trips to different industries, volunteering opportunities, and social responsibility projects that highlight the ethical values of the Qatari society, and connects the larger community with students.

The program also featured practical internship opportunities. QCDC created individual internship plans that capitalized on the strengths and interests of students. The internships ran on a weekly basis, with tasks gradually increasing in complexity and intensity.

Through such activities, the program empowers students to become active members of society by seeking career paths that align with QNV 2030, and contribute positively to the diversification of the Qatari economy.

 

The First Edition of My Career – My Future14 April 2019

Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC), a member of Qatar Foundation (QF), recently wrapped up the first edition of its new program, ‘My Career – My Future’. The program, which ran from April 7-11, is aimed at guiding high school students to better plan their future career paths.

The closing ceremony, held on April 11 and attended by parents, the media, and members of Qatar’s community, recognized the group of students enrolled in the program, who were presented with certificates of attendance.

 

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Addressing the gathering, Mr. Abdulla Al-Mansoori, Director, QCDC, said: “We are pleased that Qatari youth have shown great enthusiasm and interest in learning about the best approach to plan their future careers. We must vigorously work to ensure a better future for our youth by contributing to Qatar’s progress and prosperity.”

The week-long program dedicated one full day to exploring various professions, and featured site visits to leading companies and organizations, including Qatar Airways, QF – where students visited QF member Sidra Medicine and QF partner university Northwestern University in Qatar – and College of the North Atlantic – Qatar. These visits allowed students to gain first-hand insights into the work environment at these organizations, the extent to which particular jobs matched their skills and potential, and what to expect from each profession.

“I was confused about which career to pursue in the future and, as a Grade 11 student, I had only one year to decide on my university track,” said Madawy Naif, one of the students who participated in the program.

“Thanks to the ‘My Career – My Future Program,’ I decided that I want to join the airline industry after gaining first-hand insight into the sector during our visit to Qatar Airways.”

Using an edutainment-based approach, the program engaged students through interactive activities, training workshops, and the field visits to help participants discover their skills and unique talents, and empower them to make the best career choices.

The program featured a variety of stimulating professional activities and training workshops, designed to raise awareness of the importance of academic and career guidance among participants and equip them with the practical skills to succeed. Students participated in workshops on decision-making, problem-solving, and creative thinking, aimed at bolstering their personal skills; building their confidence; and instilling a spirit of entrepreneurship, perseverance, and teamwork.

 

QCDC’s Career Village Attracts Over 4,000 Visitors

Three-day event organized by QF member opens up potential career paths

 

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Doha, Qatar, March 02, 2019:Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC), a member of Qatar Foundation (QF), has wrapped up the 2019 edition of its Career Village. The three-day event saw over 4,000 visitors – including high schools students from 114 public and private schools, university students, and parents – flock to Multaqa (Education City Student Center) to learn about possible career paths.

The event was attended by His Excellency Mr. Yousuf Mohamed Al Othman Fakhroo, Minister of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs. A number of media professionals and journalists also visited the Career Village, including Hassan Al-Saai, Journalist and Presenter at Qatar TV, and Asma Al-Hammadi, Presenter at Al-Jazeera Media Network.

Through various interactive activities, over 35 exhibiting institutions familiarized visitors with professions in their respective industries and various job requirements. The event also featured workshops and lectures aimed at equipping students with necessary life skills.

Mr. Saad Al-Kharji, Head of Career Programs and Services, QCDC, said that empowering students to choose the career path that best suits their potential and skills is a priority for QCDC, which seeks to promote a culture of career guidance among all members of Qatar’s community.

“We are always keen on organizing educational events and initiatives, such as the Career Village, to introduce students to various career paths and academic programs that empower youth to achieve their personal and career aspirations, and contribute to Qatar’s development,” Mr. Al-Kharji said.

 

The Career Village provides students with insight into both job opportunities and the academic tracks that can lead them toward particular careers, and enable youth to achieve their personal and professional aspirations while contributing to Qatar’s development.

The latest edition of the Career Village was designed for children aged five years and older, middle school and high school students, parents, career counselors, academics, and experts. A Mini Career Village was the latest addition to this year’s edition, welcoming children aged between 5-10 years to learn about various careers and professions in an entertaining and interactive way.

The event brought together representatives of leading organizations from across different industries in Qatar, including education, culture, finance and business, energy, manufacturing, transportation, communications, health, media, and security.

Exhibiting institutions included representatives of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education; the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs – the Department of Government Scholarships; Ministry of Interior (MoI) – Human Resources Department, General Directorate of Civil Defence, Traffic Department, General Directorate of Coasts and Borders Security, and the Police College; among others.

First Lieutenant Fahad Al-Musallmani, from the General Directorate of Coasts and Borders Security, MoI, said: “As a specialized department, we aim – through our participation in Career Village – to familiarize students with our duties, functions, and the important role that we play in maintaining our country’s security.

“More than 80 percent of Qatar’s borders are maritime, and we are keen on encouraging students and new graduates to join us and participate in maintaining the security of their homeland.”

Ali Al Hashemi, a student at Qatar Banking Studies and Business Administration school, said: “The Career Village familiarized me with various future career opportunities, universities and public sector institutions, as well as specialized secondary schools, reflecting the government’s efforts to support its citizens across all age groups.”

Anexhibition featuring a selection of photographs provided by participating institutions was also organized on the sidelines of the event. The images showed the stages of development of these institutions, as well as the professions they offer, and images of key figures who contributed to establishing and developing the institutions and sectors.

QCDC Releases 8th Edition of CAREER GUIDE

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Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC), a member of Qatar Foundation (QF), has released the 8thedition of its annual Career Guidemagazine. The magazine, which in 2016 became the first specialized publication by QF to feature a smartphone application, sheds light on a variety of interesting topics that reflect Qatar’s ambitious drive to develop existing and future careers.

The 84-page bilingual Career Guideoffers valuable articles and career tips to inform and educate Qatari youth, parents, and experts in the fields of career guidance and human development.

This year’s edition features a series of articles that highlight QCDC’s achievements, in addition to career development-related priorities in Qatar. The magazine outlines the programs and initiatives that QCDC undertook over the past months to achieve its objectives, empower Qatari students, and promote a national ecosystem that inspires and incentivize youth to innovate and propel Qatar forward.

Commenting on the release of the magazine’s latest issue, Mr. Abdulla Ahmed Al-Mansoori, Director, QCDC, said: “We celebrate the release of a new issue of our Career Guide, an annual magazine that aims to inspire future generations to seek excellence and achieve their desired goals. The magazine guides youth through the first steps of their career journey so that they can achieve their ambitions and contribute to Qatar’s growth and prosperity.

“In designing our programs and initiatives, we have concentrated our efforts on research to help Qatar’s residents unleash their potential and creativity. In this guide, you will find the results and recommendations of a comprehensive study conducted by our center to highlight issues of priority regarding professional development in Qatar, and ways to contribute further to our national vision by acquiring a deeper understanding of the labor market dynamics.

“This study will not only contribute to the development of our strategy and programs, but it will also serve as a reference for those concerened with promoting human and career development in Qatar. ”

The Career Guideoffers valuable career tips and a wealth of information to assist parents and guide Qatari youth into choosing the most appropriate career path. The magazine features five interviews with Qatari professionals, who discuss their work experience in the fields of nursing, agricultural engineering, cybersecurity, radio and television, and academic counceling. By sharing their experiences, these professionals provide an overview of the skills required in each profession, and offer advice to young people looking to pursue a career in one of these fields.

The latest issue of the Career Guidealso includes a special report on career guidance. The report outlines challenges and efforts to improve Qatar’s current career guidance system, while providing insight by international experts on career guidance and development.

Experts include Dr. Raimo Vuorinen; Associate Professor at the Finnish Institute for Educational Research at the University of Jyväskylä, Finland, and Vice-President of the International Association for Educational and Vocational Guidance (IAEVG). The special report elaborates on the Finnish career guidance model – its importance and requirements –  and highlights the latest resources on guidance and development.

This issue also features a special interview with Hadfah Muhammad Al Marri, Senior Co-Pilot, Qatar Airways, which sheds light on the success of Qatari women whose ambition knows no limits. In the interview, Al Marri recalls her pursuit of her goal of becoming a pilot, and how she managed to overcome the obstacles and difficulties she faced to realize her childhood dream.

The magazine will be distributed to universities and educational organizations, ministries, government and private institutions, and other youth clubs and entities across Qatar, while QCDC will arrange regular visits to schools across the country to introduce the magazine to students, teachers and counselors. QCDC representatives will brief students and school staff on the center’s mission and work mechanisms, in addition to the objectives behind the launch of the Career Guide.

 

QCDC Celebrates Qatar National Day

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Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC) is celebrating the Qatar National Day with Qatar Foundation’s (QF) centers by participating in the QF tent at Darb Al Saai. QCDC is offering 3 edutainment activities for children that aim to promote career awareness and introduce them to different careers:

1. The Board of Wishes: Children engage in solving puzzles to discover different careers.

2. My Future Career: Children choose their favorite profession from among several professions available, and then take a picture of them wearing its costume, through an interactive 3D electronic screen.

3. Children’s CV: Children get to create and print a professional CV for themselves.

These activities are open to the general public during the morning and evening schedules of Darb Al Saai, until it concludes on December 20, 2018.

QCDC Unveils New Career Advising System Across Public Secondary SchoolsApr 03, 2018

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Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC), a member of Qatar Foundation (QF), in partnership the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, announced that it will roll out its new Career Advising System (CAS) across public secondary schools in Qatar during the second semester of the 2017-2018 academic year.

QCDC made the announcement on the sidelines of the Career Guidance Stakeholders Platform 2018, organized under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation, in partnership with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Doha Office and the Ministry of Education and Higher Education.

Mr. Abdulla Al-Mansoori, Director, QCDC, said: “Today, we are delighted to witness a new milestone in QCDC’s journey, expanding our reach to provide all students across public secondary schools in Qatar with career guidance services that will have a lasting impact on their academic and career journeys.

“The new career advising system is unique, as it provides a tailor-made solution that factors in Qatar’s social and economic conditions. The CAS features diverse and innovative components as well as psychometric and personality assessment tools to help students identify the most appropriate academic and career paths in line with the future needs of Qatar.”

The implementation of CAS comes within the framework of the MoU that was inked last year between QCDC and the Ministry of Education and Higher Education with the aim of establishing a strategic partnership in promoting academic, career development, and career guidance-related activities.

Ms. Fawzia Al-Khater, Assistant Under-Secretary for Educational Affairs, Ministry of Education and Higher Education, said: “Career guidance plays an important role in the academic and career journeys of students, helping youth discover their talents and develop their skills to meet the demand for skilled professionals in various sectors. The MoU between the Ministry and QCDC culminated in several training programs including intensive career guidance trainings targeting academic and career counselors across public schools in Qatar. The agreement eventually laid the foundations for implementing a new Career Advising System developed by QCDC to guide 10th grade students into planning their academic and career paths. The nationwide implementation of the new CAS, which was designed to meet the requirement of Qatar’s education environment, is a first of its kind initiative in the Middle East.”

Al-Khater also hailed the active partnership between QCDC and the Ministry, represented by the Academic and Career Guidance Division of the Department of Educational Guidance, praising the latter for its efforts in following up on the implementation of the joint programs with QCDC.

Within the framework of its ongoing cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, QCDC has trained more than 70 academic counselors on the use and integration of CAS across secondary schools in Qatar to offer career guidance services for students.

CAS was developed by QCDC in co-operation with Kuder Inc., a world leader in career planning services, and various government entities, for the purpose of integrating specialized IT solutions into the career guidance framework in Qatar.

QCDC and National Service Academy Organize Awareness Lecture for Recruits’ ParentsOct 16, 2018

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Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC), a member of Qatar Foundation, in partnership with the National Service Academy, part of the Ministry of Defense, has organized an awareness lecture entitled “How to Help Your Son Choose his University Specialty”, on Tuesday, 16 October, 2018, at the National Service Academy.

The lecture, which brought together 500 parents of recruits who joined the academy in 2018, falls in line with QCDC’s efforts to instill a strong career guidance culture in Qatar and guide students into choosing the right academic and career paths.

The lecture addressed the impact of parenting on children’s career-related decisions and educated parents on how to effectively assist children in choosing an academic or career path after completing their national service. The lecture also offered guidance to parents of recruits who gained first hand experience in military training and are considering a career change to the military field after completing their national service.

The lecture also familiarized parents with the elements that impact their children’s personal attitudes, such as their personal preferences, priorities, interests, values ​​and aspirations, as well as the factors that may influence youth decisions, such as career counselors, peers, the socio-economic conditions, cultural context or role models.

The lecture also shed light on the contribution of youth to national interests after completing their national service, which combines military and civilian education, whether scientific or professional, to strategically contribute to the protection and development of Qatar.

The lecture was delivered by Mr. Abdulla Al-Mansoori, Director, QCDC, who recalled His Highness the Emir’s words in his opening speech.

“We require diligence, creativity, independent thinking, constructive initiatives and interest in academic achievement in all disciplines, selfreliance and fighting indolence and dependency,” Al-Mansoori said, quoting His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of the State of Qatar.

“These are the Emir’s words, which have guided our journey toward building a modern Qatar and the pillar upon which QCDC’s strategies, decisions, programs and awareness initiatives rest in a bid to accomplish the Qatar National Vision 2030 and its strategic objective of building a knowledge-based economy,” Al-Mansoori added.

“Career guidance plays a key role in promoting a diverse and skilled national workforce in line with Qatar’s aspirations to meet the current and future needs of its people and the entire nation. QCDC works hand in hand with students and parents to assist youth in exploring the appropriate academic and career paths, and to highlight the importance of parenting in influencing children to make the appropriate academic and career decisions to the benefit of both Qatar and our future generations,” Al-Mansoori explained.

QCDC is seeking to accomplish these objectives through tools such as the Career Advising System (CAS), Al Mansoori said. CAS was developed by QCDC in co-operation with Kuder Inc., a world leader in career planning services, and various government entities, for the purpose of integrating specialized IT solutions into the career guidance framework in Qatar.

The Career Advising System features diverse and innovative components as well as psychometric and personality assessment tools to help students identify the most appropriate academic and career paths in line with the future needs of Qatar. CAS was rolled out across secondary schools in Qatar during the second semester of the 2017-2018 academic year.

QCDC Organizes Advanced Training Program for Academic Counselors Across QatarOct 15, 2018

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Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC), a member of Qatar Foundation, has organized an advanced training program on the use of its Career Advising System (CAS). The one-week program, which kicked off on October 8 at the Qatar National Convention Centre, was implemented in partnership with the U.S. Embassy in Qatar and the Ministry of Education and Higher Education to provide training to over 90 academic counselors and career practitioners.

The program familiarized academic and career counselors with the use of CAS, a unique career advising system which provides tailor-made solutions that factor in Qatar’s social and economic conditions. QCDC developed CAS in co-operation with Kuder Inc., a world leader in career planning services, and various government entities, to integrate specialized IT solutions into the career guidance framework in Qatar.

QCDC rolled out CAS across public secondary schools in Qatar during the second semester of the 2017-2018 academic year within the framework of a memorandum of understanding between QCDC and the Ministry of Education and Higher Education.

Commenting on the program, Mr. Abdulla Al-Mansoori, Director, QCDC, said: “This advanced training program builds on our achievements last year, including the training of 70 academic counselors from different schools across Qatar.

“Today, QCDC, in collaboration with the U.S. Embassy in Qatar and the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, is working to promote capacity building and instill a culture of career guidance at the core of our schools’ objectives. As Qatar pursues its journey toward promoting a knowledge-based economy, a balance must be struck between the demands of the labor market and youth aspirations,” Al-Mansoori added.

Carissa Gonzalez, Public Affairs Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Qatar, said: “We are proud to support QCDC and the Ministry of Education and Higher Education in delivering this important training program to Qatar’s academic and career advisors. A comprehensive career and academic advising program is an integral part of any education system, and we are thrilled that QCDC has chosen a leading American company – Kuder Inc. – as their service provider.”

The training program brought together nearly 90 participants, including 70 academic counselors from public schools across Qatar, as well as participants from the Academic Bridge Program – under Pre-University Education at QF – which recently inked a partnership with QCDC to use and activate CAS.

Mrs. Noor Al- Maadheed, Head of Academic Counseling, Ministry of Education and Higher Education, said: “The Ministry of Education and Higher Education dedicates a great deal of attention to career guidance, given the key role it plays in guiding students throughout their academic and professional journeys and in supporting youth in developing their talents and acquiring new skills. These efforts will reflect positively on Qatar in terms of graduating youth who meet the state’s need for qualified professionals.

“We believe in the great role that academic counselors play in the career guidance process. Through our various partnerships, we seek to provide specialized training to promote career guidance across schools in a bid to prepare students ahead of going to university,” she added.

The training program was delivered by J. Clayton Kennedy, a certified senior business consultant and a Global Career Development Facilitator.

As Vice President of Global Client Relations at Kuder Inc., Kennedy is responsible for devising strategies in alignment with career programs and initiatives in the public and private sectors. Before joining the organization, he spent over ten years as a global business leader coach.

The new career advising system features diverse and innovative components as well as psychometric and personality assessment tools to help students identify the most appropriate academic and career paths in line with the future needs of Qatar.

QATAR CAREER DEVELOPMENT CENTER WRAPS UP SUMMER CAREER CAMP 2018Jul 15, 2018

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Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC), a member of Qatar Foundation (QF), has wrapped up the fifth edition of its Summer Career Camp, which saw around 50 secondary school students take part.

The camp, which ran from July 1-12 at the Education City Student Center, offered students a stimulating and educational environment designed to equip them with the skills and knowledge necessary to make informed academic and career decisions.

Mrs. Machaille Al-Naimi, President of Community Development, QF, attended the final day of the camp and congratulated students on their participation in the program’s activities, while wishing them success in their academic and professional choices.

Urging participants to promote a culture of career guidance, Al-Naimi said: “You are the ambassadors of the future, and we count on you to assist your colleagues in choosing the appropriate academic and career paths that will shape their lives.

“On this occasion, I would like to assure you that QCDC and QF will always stand by you, the youth, ready to support you on your journey.”

The two-week camp featured a variety of activities and educational programs, as well as stimulating workshops designed to provide students with practical skills and knowledge to help them plan their academic and career paths.

During the camp, students were introduced to QCDC’s Career Advising System (CAS), which features diverse and innovative components, including psychometric and personality assessment tools, to help students identify the most appropriate academic and career paths in line with the future needs of Qatar. As part of the camp, Stenden Qatar University of Applied Sciences (Stenden Qatar) conducted a day-long training session for students, teaching them a range of life skills designed to prepare them for university, in addition to offering practical advice for use when traveling for study programs abroad.

Commenting on the camp’s fifth edition, Mr. Abdulla Al Mansoori, Director, QCDC, said: “I am pleased that the fifth edition of the Summer Career Camp has had a strong impact on the lives of these students.

“Over the last two weeks, they participated in an intensive program of activities that provided them with insight into the professional world, enabling them to make well-informed academic and career choices. At QCDC, we motivate young participants to believe in their abilities, explore their interests and pursue their ambitions in line with the aspirations and objectives of the job market in Qatar.”

The camp featured site visits and job-shadowing programs at leading organizations in Qatar, providing participants with real-world insight into workplace environments with the aim of helping them to match their abilities and skills with various career choices. The site visits also provided an opportunity for students to familiarize themselves with the dynamics of Qatar’s labor market across various industries, and the future needs of the nation.

Six days were dedicated to site visits at institutions operating across various sectors in Qatar. These included a ‘Medical Day’ sponsored by Hamad Medical Corporation; an ‘Agriculture Day’ sponsored by the Qur’anic Botanic Garden, a member of QF; an ‘Engineering Day’ jointly sponsored by College of the North Atlantic – Qatar and Msheireb Properties; a ‘Banking Day’ sponsored by Qatar National Bank; a ‘Media Day’ sponsored by Northwestern University in Qatar, a QF partner university; and a ‘Transport Day’ sponsored by Qatar Airways.

Sharifa Mohamed Al-Qasimi, one of the participating students, said the camp deepened her understanding of the labor market, and provided insight into the educational and career opportunities that best align with her skills and abilities.

“The Summer Career Camp offered me new experiences and the opportunity to make new friends, but most importantly, I gained a better understanding of chemical engineering, the major I want to study and pursue in the future,” she said. “As well as getting a glimpse into the realities of a workplace, I learned more about the nature of work in this specialty and even had the chance to try my hand at operating factory machines.”

The final day of the camp featured an introductory session on universities in Qatar, such as QF partner universities Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar and Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar; Qatar University; and Stenden Qatar. Representatives of these universities provided students with an overview of their academic programs, admission processes, and entry requirements, designed to help students make informed academic decisions and prepare them for university life.

All students who completed the program were awarded participation certificates.

QCDC SETS GLOBAL PRECEDENT WITH NEW CITY-BASED EDUTAINMENT CENTER TO PROMOTE CAREER AWARENESS AMONG CHILDREN AND YOUTHJul 04, 2018

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Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC), a member of Qatar Foundation (QF), and KidzMondo Doha, the leading children’s edutainment city in Qatar, have signed a partnership agreement to launch a Career Awareness Center, the first of its kind worldwide.

The edutainment city-based center will familiarize children and youth with career guidance concepts, and offer training to guide its young visitors toward career choices that align with their interests and skills.

Mrs. Machaille Al-Naimi, President of Community Development, QF, participated in the signing ceremony and welcomed the agreement, saying: “This partnership marks a milestone for QCDC, which works to raise awareness of, and promote, career guidance among young people across Qatar.

“It is an initiative that aligns with the overarching goals that QF strives to achieve through its ongoing community development efforts, and its vital role in instilling a culture of career guidance among Qatar’s youth and the wider public.”

Mr. Abdulla Ahmed Al-Mansoori, Director, QCDC, said: “We are delighted to sign this agreement and join efforts with KidzMondo Doha for the benefit of today’s children and tomorrow’s youth. We will capitalize on every opportunity to engage with youth in a bid to achieve our mission of promoting career awareness and guidance.

“Through this QCDC-affiliated Career Awareness Center, we will be able to engage children whom we previously had no contact with, and help them to explore their optimal career paths by using an an approach that is both educational and recreational. Children will learn how to write a successful CV and gain insight into different disciplines, supporting them to choose the career path that best matches their qualifications and skills as they engage in activities and games that we have specifically designed to suit different age groups.”

Mr. Ali Kazma, CEO, Aura Lifestyle, the owning company of KidzMondo Doha, said: “Our partnership with QCDC will add value to our mini edutainment city and provide an opportunity for children to engage in exciting and interactive educational activities at KidzMondo.”

The recreational environment at KidzMondo Doha will offer children an integrated learning experience that enhances their abilities and skills, and reflects QCDC’s efforts to build national capacities and help young people plan their careers based on the future dynamics of Qatar’s labor market.

KidzMondo Doha features an interactive edutainment park developed for, and managed solely by, children between the ages of two and 14. It has been designed to provide a fun-filled and holistic learning experience, supporting children’s physical and mental growth while helping them to boost their self-esteem and confidence.

The self-sufficient city – which has its own ‘economy’ and ‘currency’ – includes over 80 establishments across a diverse range of business environments, and allows children to dress up and role-play realistic tasks in a safe, interactive, and educational environment. Through its management, facilities, and public services, it provides an integrated and interactive experience that unlocks children’s imagination and creativity and empowers them with knowledge, essential skills, and life-lessons, preparing them for their professional careers.

QCDC TAKES PART IN ASIA PACIFIC CAREER DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION ANNUAL CONFERENCEJun 03, 2018

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Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC), a member of Qatar Foundation (QF), participated in the recent 2018 Asia Pacific Career Development Association’s (APCDA) conference, an international forum for sharing career development ideas and expertise in the Asia Pacific region.

The 2018 edition of the annual conference, entitled ‘Connecting Career, Family and Society,’ was hosted by Tsinghua University on 15–19 May 2018, in Beijing, China.

QCDC was represented by Mr. Abdulla Al-Mansoori, Director, and Ms. Effrosyni Dimitrios, Senior Career Programs and Services Officer. During the conference, QCDC presented a paper on aligning career development objectives with the needs of the Qatari market.

The paper, titled ‘Aligning the Aspirations and Skills of Qatar’s Youth with the Needs of the Qatari Economy,’ is based on a series of research activities conducted from 2015 to 2017 in an attempt to document current career guidance practices in Qatar, identify opportunities and constraints, and offer recommendations for improvements to help align the aspirations and skills of Qatar’s youth with the needs of the Qatari economy.

On the sidelines of the conference, Al-Mansoori and Dimitrios engaged in site visits to key career organizations in China and met with many international experts to discuss global best practices and exchange expertise on career development strategies.

Through its participation in the APCDA conference, QCDC seeks to advance career development practices in Qatar further, Al-Mansoori explained.

“By drawing on our international engagement and collaborating with distinguished foreign experts, QCDC seeks to further promote Qatari capacity-building and empower youth to better plan their career paths in line with their potential, the future needs of Qatar’s labor market and the requirements of Qatar National Vision 2030,” Al Mansoori said.

APCDA, a non-profit association incorporated for educational purposes in the state of Maryland, USA, provides training to professionals engaged in facilitating career development in the Asia Pacific region by organizing conferences, workshops, and networking events that bring together career development professionals to exchange expertise, share ideas, and collaborate on professional projects.

QCDC OPENS REGISTRATION FOR SUMMER CAREER CAMP 2018May 07, 2018

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Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC), a member of Qatar Foundation (QF), has opened registration for the fifth edition of its Summer Career Camp, which welcomes high school students from across the country. The camp is designed to involve students in a stimulating experience that will assist them in making informed academic and career decisions.

The camp takes place at the Education City Student Center from July 1-12, from 8am to 2pm with separate classes held for boys and girls.

The two-week camp will feature a variety of activities and educational programs, as well as stimulating workshops designed to provide students with a practical skill set and knowledge that can help inspire them when planning their career and academic paths. Students will also have access to QCDC’s Career Advising System (CAS), which features diverse and innovative components as well as psychometric and personality assessment tools to help students identify the most appropriate academic and career paths in line with the future needs of Qatar.

A full day will be dedicated to training students on a range of life skills designed to prepare youth and shape their personalities before joining universities. These include ‘Getting Ready for University’, ‘How to Prepare your Resume’ and ‘How to Introduce Yourself to Society’, in addition to training on a set of practical skills that students will find useful when traveling for a study abroad program.

The camp also offers opportunities for site visits and job shadowing programs at leading organizations in Qatar, providing students with first-hand knowledge of workplace environments to give them a glimpse into career and professional life and help them match their abilities and skills with various career choices. The site visits will provide an opportunity to familiarize students with the dynamics of Qatar’s labor market across various industries and the future needs of the state.

Six days will be dedicated to site visits at institutions operating across various sectors in Qatar. These include a ‘Medical Day’ sponsored by Hamad Medical Corporation, an ‘Agriculture Day’ sponsored by the Quranic Botanic Garden, an ‘Engineering Day’ sponsored by Qatar Petroleum, a ‘Banking Day’ sponsored by Qatar National Bank, a ‘Media Day’ sponsored by Northwestern University in Qatar, and a ‘Transport Day’ sponsored by Qatar Airways.

Mr Saad Al-Kharji, Head of Career Programs and Services, QCDC, said: “The Summer Career Camp is a unique program that introduces students to the different segments of Qatar’s labor market as well as various career challenges. The camp adds value by providing students with first-hand insight into career life, equipping Qatar’s emerging generation with the skills to take the nation’s labor market towards prosperity.”

The camp will feature a variety of recreational, sports, and educational activities. Participants will attend a series of handicraft workshops such as painting and photography, which will enable students to produce handmade crafts for at a special exhibition before the end of the camp. Students will also participate in a visit to AL SHAQAB, while a full-day field trip to the Visual Art Center will allow students to develop their talents and explore their artistic skills.

These workshops aim to equip students with a wide range of personal and life skills as well as to bolster their self-confidence, communication skills, and teamwork among other skills that will come in handy when entering the labor market.

The final day of the camp will include an introductory session about universities in Qatar, such as Qatar Foundation’s universities in Education City and Qatar University, among others. Representatives of these universities will provide students with an overview of their academic programs and admission requirements, which will help students to make informed academic decisions and prepare for university life.

All students who complete the program will be awarded participation certificates. The camp’s activities and programs will be delivered in Arabic only.

Students can register for the Summer Career Camp 2018 through QCDC’s website starting from the first week of May to June 26.

To ensure their participation and guarantee a seat in the Summer Camp, students are encouraged to register at their earliest convenience. Registration fees are reduced to QR 1,500 if applicants register before June 15 or if more than one sibling student is registered.

To learn more about QCDC’s Summer Career Camp 2018, please send an email to qcdc@qf.org.qa or call us on 4454 6815.

QCDC AND AWSAJ ACADEMY SIGN MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDINGApr 03, 2018

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Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC) and Awsaj Academy, both members of Qatar Foundation, today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at enhancing the delivery of career guidance services at Awsaj Academy.

The MoU, which was signed on the sidelines of QCDC’s Career Guidance Stakeholders Platform 2018, will contribute to the efforts aimed at instilling a career guidance culture within Qatar’s socioeconomic fabric.

QCDC has tailored the initiative to students who are eager to learn outside the classroom. The program will unfold in two stages: the pilot phase, designed for the remainder of the 2018 academic year, will bring together 20 senior students from the Awsaj Prime program – launched in February 2015 as Qatar’s first blended learning program; while the second phase is planned for the next academic year 2018-2019, and will target more students.

QCDC will work with Awsaj Academy on enhancing its delivery of career guidance services through a four-step process that falls in line with the best international practices and adapts specially selected models into the local context in a bid to help guide youth into making informed choices about their future. The initiative will also create more opportunities for students and graduates to grow their skills, reshape society’s approach to education and learning, and establish local career ecosystems that work.

Awsaj Academy is a K-12 specialized school that addresses the needs of students with mild to moderate learning challenges. Awsaj Academy is the only school of its kind in Qatar and one of only a handful of schools dedicated to working with students who have demonstrated aptitude in certain areas while facing academic challenges in others.

QCDC WRAPS UP SECOND EDITION OF CAREER GUIDANCE STAKEHOLDERS PLATFORMApr 03, 2018

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Under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation (QF), Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC), a member of QF, has wrapped up the second edition of its Career Guidance Stakeholders Platform.

The event, which took place at the Qatar National Convention Centre under the theme ‘Moving Operationally to Strategically Enhance Career Guidance in the State of Qatar’, brought together a large number of senior government officials and ministers.

These included H.E. Salah bin Ghanem Al-Ali, Minister of Culture and Sports; H.E. Dr. Issa Saad Al Jafali Al Nuaimi, Minister of Administrative Development, Labour And Social Affairs; and H.E. Dr. Mohammed Abdul Wahed Ali Al Hammadi, Minister of Education and Higher Education. Additionally, Omran Al-Kuwari, Acting CEO, Executive Director-CEO Office, Qatar Foundation, and Mrs. Machaille Al-Naimi, President of Community Development, Qatar Foundation, were also in attendance.

The event, organized in partnership with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Doha Office and the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, comes within the framework of QCDC’s commitment to delivering on the priorities stipulated by His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in his address to citizens and residents of Qatar in July 2017, when he stressed the importance of investing in the development of national human capital.

In his opening speech, Mr. Abdulla Al-Mansoori, Director, QCDC, said: “Nation-building requires a diverse set of competencies, skills, and jobs to ensure self-sufficiency when it comes to the local labor force required to bolster the state’s economy at present and in the future. Many professions that young people may choose to pursue in the future have yet to exist. Raising awareness about various options and how to obtain more information about future careers are key elements of national career development and are at the core of QCDC’s mission.

“Qatar is currently well positioned to develop career guidance programs and initiatives that instill career guidance within the nation’s social and economic fabric. QCDC is collaborating with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, UNESCO, and public and private institutions represented today, to create a framework for the development of standards and policies for career guidance at the national level and to identify the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders in the implementation of this strategy inspired by the Qatar Education and Training Strategy 2017-2022. This event highlights the importance of integrating technology-based career guidance services and resources and applying UNESCO’s technical and vocational education and training (TVET) standards,” Mr. Al-Mansoori added.

The event brought together more than 250 participants from Qatar and around the world. Participants included policy-makers, decision-makers, and senior executives from international organizations such as UNESCO and government institutions such as the Ministry Education and Higher Education, the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics, and the Ministry of Transport and Communications.

Representatives from educational institutions including QF, Qatar University, Community College of Qatar, College of the North Atlantic – Qatar, and national talent development committees in institutions like Hamad Medical Corporation, Qatar Petroleum, Sidra Medicine, and Qatar Airways also participated in the event.

The keynote speaker, Dr. Raimo Vuorinen, Associate Professor at the Finnish Institute for Educational Research, at the University of Jyväskylä, Finland and Vice-President of the International Association for Vocational and Educational Guidance, said: “After this event, we will first seek to agree on a strategy and standardized policies that will identify how different government sectors and agencies could work together in harmony for a common goal. As we move forward, such strategies would serve as catalysts that would speed up the development process.”

In her speech, Dr. Faryal Khan, Programme Specialist for Education, UNESCO Doha Office, emphasized that “Qatar, alongside its partners on the national, regional, and global levels, is a leading country in promoting career guidance in accordance with a well-planned agenda that falls in line with its national strategies and vision.”

The opening ceremony also featured a plenary session, which brought together Professor Sheikha Abdulla Al-Misnad, Former President, Qatar University; Mr. Saif Al-Kaabi, Human Resources Department Manager, Public Works Authority; and Mrs. Fawzia Abdulaziz Al-Khater, Assistant Under-Secretary for Educational Affairs, Ministry of Education and Higher Education, and was moderated by Mr. Jaber bin Nasser Al Marri, Managing Editor, Al Arab newspaper.
During the discussion, Mrs. Al Khater stated: “The Ministry of Education and Higher Education is fully aware of the importance of promoting career guidance and has long sought to advance this objective, preparing students to easily access the labor market or universities. In a first step towards achieving this objective, the ministry has designated academic counselors across secondary schools in Qatar and established an academic guidance department to train and empower counselors. The ministry has also ratified agreements with various government agencies to develop the Basic Skills course that is being taught to 10th grade students to equip youth with the necessary skills for post-public education.”
Participants were then divided into 10 focus groups including four roundtable discussion groups and six knowledge and practice exchange groups.

Roundtable discussion groups were aimed at developing concrete actions needed to operationally move towards development of career guidance in Qatar along four strategic dimensions. Expressed in terms of topical discussion areas, these dimensions aim to provide the foundational work needed to develop: (1) national level career guidance framework, standards, and policies; (2) stakeholders’ roles in, and responsibilities for, implementing Qatar’s career guidance strategy for 2017-2022; (3) technology driven career guidance services and resources; and (4) UNESCO’s career guidance standards related to TVET.

The six knowledge and practice exchange groups, on the other hand, touched on cases of best career guidance practices in Qatar. The six cases included: (1) maximizing the impact of career guidance on national talent development programs, (2) employability skills development program for university students, (3) further development of entrepreneurship practices in Qatar, (4) career development framework for students with special abilities, (5) integrated career guidance in the secondary education curriculum – the Finnish experience, and (6) assessing the life-skills program implemented across secondary schools in Qatar.

Group members also took part in valuable discussions on how to address strategic and national career-guidance related issues before making a number of key recommendations on the development of an organizational structure for career guidance and career development in Qatar.

QCDC Offers Workshops to Secondary School StudentsMar 15, 2018

Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC), a member of Qatar Foundation, has organized two career development workshops aimed at helping students develop their skills and capabilities and acquire the knowledge and practices necessary to manage their future career paths, by instilling the concept of career development and raising career awareness among youth.

QCDC delivered the first workshop, entitled “University Readiness” on March 13, 2018, for secondary school students at the Community Private School for Girls, while the second workshop, entitled “Developing Positive Self-Image”, was delivered on March 14, 2018, for high school students at Rawdat Rashed Independent School for Girls.

The two workshops are part of the “Workshop Series”, organized by QCDC for secondary school students, in order to lay the foundations of a supportive and stimulating environment that empowers youth in line with QCDC’s belief in their fundamental role in the advancement of society.

QCDC Offers Workshops to Students of Al-Ghuwayriyah Girls SchoolFeb 25, 2018

Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC), a member of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, organized two career development workshops, titled “Discover Your Dream Career” and “Positive Self-Image”, on February 12 and 14, 2018, for high school students at Al-Ghuwayriyah School for girls.

The workshops aimed at helping students to develop their skills and capabilities and to acquire the knowledge and practices necessary to manage their future career paths, by instilling the concept of career development and spread professional awareness among them.

The two workshops are part of the “Workshop Series”, organized by QCDC for secondary school students, in order to provide a supportive, stimulating environment for them to build their own capabilities, in line with QCDC’s belief in their fundamental role in the advancement of society.

QCDC Delivers Workshop at Awsaj AcademyFeb 25, 2018

Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC), a member of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, organized a workshop titled ‘The Role of Parents in Guiding their Children’s Career Paths’, which discussed the impact parents have on their children’s career-related decisions, and the importance of introducing career guidance to both parents and their children.

The workshop, which was delivered by Mr. Abdulla Al-Mansoori, Director, QCDC, presented the ‘Career Decision-Making Paradigm’, a tool that aims to assist individuals, particularly young people, to identify optimal academic and career paths.

This workshop is part of a joint program between QCDC and Awsaj Academy, which will be revealed soon.

QCDC Celebrates National Sport DayFeb 19, 2018

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Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC), a member of Qatar Foundation (QF), has participated in the National Sport Day by organizing a range of football activities designed for people of all ages and athletic abilities, at QF’s Oxygen Park.

This participation is part of QCDC’s contribution to QF’s efforts to help build an active, sports-loving community and encourage various members of the community to make long-term changes for a healthy lifestyle.

QCDC participates in the Education City Career Fair 2018Feb 06, 2018

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Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC), a member of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF), is participating in the Education City Career Fair 2018 organized by Hamad Bin Khalifa University, on February 6 and 7, 2018, at the Education City Student Center.

QCDC’s participation in the Fair is in line with its efforts to support national capacity-building and help young people plan their careers according to their capabilities and to the future labor market needs in Qatar.

The Fair allows students and graduates to connect with potential employers, know more about the various available career opportunities, and inquire about opportunities for training, sponsorship or full-time employment.

QCDC WRAPS UP ITS WINTER CAREER CAMPFeb 05, 2018

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Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC), a member of Qatar Foundation (QF), has successfully completed the fourth edition of its Winter Career Camp with a closing ceremony at the Education City Student Center. During the event, participating students were awarded certificates of completion in the presence of their parents, along with press and community members.

The week-long camp provided an integrated educational and recreational experience for secondary school students, who learned many life and practical skills.

Mr. Abdulla Al-Mansoori, Director, QCDC, said: “Our Winter Career Camp is designed with a very simple, yet effective, approach: young participants are given the opportunity to reflect and learn about their abilities, skills, and professional preferences in a simple, enjoyable, and uncomplicated way, with the aim of choosing the career that best suits their talents.”

Al-Mansoori also added that “the camp is in line with the various events and activities held by QCDC, with the aim to instill the basics of a strong career culture in our society and spread awareness about how important it is to create a better future for young people and the country as a whole.”

During the camp, students visited institutions operating across various fields including tourism, transportation, culture, and media; as they listened to specialists in these fields and gained first-hand knowledge about the nature of the professions available in these institutions and a realistic understanding of professional life.

The students began the camp with a visit to QF Headquarters and were introduced to the Qatar National Library, Education City, and QF’s partner universities. On the second day, students went to Katara to learn about its cultural centers, and also visited Sawt Al Khaleej radio station, the Visual Art Center, the Youth Hobbies Center, and Brooq Magazine. Northwestern University in Qatar also hosted the participants at its studio in Katara, where they participated in a live demonstration for TV presentation, and were introduced to various specialties within the media industry.

On the third day, Qatar Tourism Authority introduced the students to the field of tourism and the professions available to them, with a site visit to a hotel to learn about hospitality. Following this, the students went to the Qatar Railways Company, commonly known as Qatar Rail, and learned about careers in the field of transport and public transportation. On the fourth day, students went to Qatar Airways, where a group of aviation specialists introduced them to aviation and the Cadet Pilot Programme. The students then conducted live demonstrations for taking off and landing in a flight simulator.

The final day of the camp included an introductory session about universities in Qatar, such as Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar University, Community College of Qatar, Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Stenden University Qatar, among others. Representatives of these universities provided students with an overview of their academic programs and admission requirements, which will help students to make informed academic decisions and prepare for university life.

“My goal was to gain diverse experiences and learn about the various disciplines and career options available to me. Through the visits we made during the camp and the various live demonstrations we participated in, such as the exercise at the radio station, I managed to overcome my fear of public speaking. I enjoyed this experience a lot,” said Khadija Ali Al Khayat, a participant in the Winter Career Camp 2018.

Students also participated in various educational career activities, programs, and interactive training workshops to increase their awareness about the importance of academic and professional planning for their future. The activities and workshops were designed to provide students with a range of useful practical skills, enhance their self-confidence, and instill entrepreneurship, perseverance, and teamwork.

On the closing day, the students attended a workshop titled ‘The Role of Parents in Guiding their Children’s Career Paths’, where they explored how parents influence their children’s decision-making and the importance of introducing the concepts of career guidance to families. The workshop also examined the Career Decision-Making Paradigm, which is a practical tool and a mental probing exercise that aims to assist individuals, particularly young people, in identifying suitable academic and career paths.

REGISTRATION OPENS FOR QCDC’S CAREER ADVISOR TRAINING COURSEJan 09, 2018

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Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC), a member of Qatar Foundation (QF), has opened registration for the fifth edition of its Career Advisor Training Course (CATC). The initiative aims to provide participants with essential career guidance and planning skills to assist young people in their professional development journeys.

Launched in 2015, CATC is the first customized training program for careers advisors in Qatar and the Arabian Gulf region. This year it is set to take place from March 4–8, from 8:30am to 3:30pm, at the Education City Clubhouse.

The course, offered only in English, brings together career advisors, academic and vocational counsellors, human resources personnel, professors, instructors, scholars, and parents who play a key role in their children’s career decisions.

Mr. Abdulla Ahmed Al Mansoori, Director, QCDC, said: “Following the success of the previous editions of the Career Advisor Training Course, we are delighted to once again offer it to those interested in developing key career guidance skills. During the five-day program, participants will learn how to use technology-based applications that benefit career development and how to make better-informed choices about post-secondary majors in order to help students or adults with their career choices and planning. The course plays a crucial role in shaping the future of the country as it provides participants with the necessary skills to guide young people in Qatar.”

Course instructors include Anita Abraham, Professional Development Specialist of Science, National Center for Educational Development, College of Education, Qatar University, who has worked in the field of education for 25 years; and Susanna Mascarenhas, Professional Development Specialist, National Center for Educational Development, College of Education, Qatar University, who, with a career spanning 28 years in Doha, has seen first-hand the growth of education in Qatar.

The course will focus on nine areas, including ‘Helping Skills’, ‘Career Development and Choice Theory’, ‘Assessment and Career Planning’, ‘The Role of Information in Career Planning’, ‘Ethical Guidelines’, ‘Working with Groups’, ‘Using Technology’, ‘Employability Skills’, and ‘Program Planning and Implementation’.

Additionally, throughout the duration of the course, and six months thereafter, participants will have access to an online interface for the course, which will serve as a knowledge bank.

Registration fees for the CATC is QR 5,000, and can be paid at QCDC offices located at the QF Housing Maintenance Building, adjacent to the Education City Clubhouse. Those who register before February 5 will be offered a discounted rate.

To register, or learn more about CATC, please visit www.qcdc.org.qa, call 4454 6815, or email qcdc@qf.org.qa.

Qatar Career Development Center Participates in Darb Al SaaiDec 24, 2017

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Qatar Career Development Center invites you to participate in the activities hosted by Qatar Foundation’s tent at Darb Al Saai, between December 9 and 20, 2017.

QCDC is offering an activity that features an interactive variant of the traditional game “Snakes and Ladders.” The game, intended for primary and preparatory school students, features career and educational dimensions. To win, students would have to correctly answer questions related to various careers across Qatar.

The recreational activity aims to promote career awareness among students and introduce youth to various careers that Qatar has to offer in the transport, media, entrepreneurship and medical fields.

REGISTRATION OPENS FOR WINTER CAREER CAMP 2018Dec 21, 2017

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Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC), a member of Qatar Foundation, has opened registration for the fourth edition of its Winter Career Camp. The career guidance initiative provides secondary school students with an ‘edutainment’ experience and enables them to explore various professions through site visits to leading organizations in Qatar.

The camp, which takes place from January 28 to February 1, 2018, will see students visit a number of leading organizations to learn more about different career paths, allowing them to explore the professions that best match their interests and skills. It is open for male and female students, with separate classes held for each group at the Education City Student Center.

Commenting on the event, Mr. Abdullah Ahmed Al Mansoori, Director, QCDC, said: “The Winter Career Camp is one of our key career guidance initiatives at QCDC because of the great value it offers to participating students. The camp’s various activities and workshops assist students in choosing their future career path by gaining a first-hand insight into the nature of each profession.”

The Winter Career Camp 2018 will also introduce students to a number of universities in Qatar, including Qatar University, Community College of Qatar, Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar, and Weill Cornell Medicine – Qatar. Representatives from each of the academic institutes will provide students with an overview of their programs and admission requirements, which will help students to make informed decisions and prepare for university life.

Over the course of the five-day camp, students will participate in a variety of activities, stimulating workshops, and training programs that are designed to raise awareness about the importance of academic and career guidance among participants, equip them with the practical skills to succeed and instill a spirit of perseverance and teamwork among participants.

To learn more about QCDC Winter Career Camp 2018 or to register, please visit our website: www.qcdc.org.qa, call: 44546815, or e-mail: qcdc@qf.org.qa.

QCDC RELEASES 7TH EDITION OF CAREER GUIDENov 29, 2017

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Career Development Center (QCDC), a member of Qatar Foundation (QF), has released the 7th edition of its annual Career Guide magazine. The magazine aims to provide a wealth of information to Qatari youth, school and university graduates, parents, researchers, and experts in the fields of career guidance and human development.

The 68-page bilingual magazine offers valuable career tips to guide Qatari youth into choosing the career path that aligns best with their skills and aspirations, as well as the future needs of Qatar’s labor market.

The release of the magazine comes within the framework of QCDC’s comprehensive efforts to guide and empower Qatari youth to take their future in their own hands, a right that Qatar has long guaranteed to enable its youth to contribute to the country’s economic development.

Commenting on the release of the magazine’s latest issue, Mr. Abdulla Ahmed Al-Mansoori, Director, QCDC, said: “Our country has always sought to secure a better and prosperous future for its youth in line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, by supporting scientific progress and innovation across all fields in the interest of the nation and its people. We are honored today to follow in the footsteps of His Highness, by promoting youth development and guiding students into laying the foundations for a bright professional future that aligns with their potential and the requirements of Qatar National Vision 2030.

“We have adopted an approach based on three anchors of career guidance, comprising structured educational and training platforms, awareness and expertise exchange platforms, and knowledge creation and promotion platforms. The Career Guide offers an overview of the programs and services organized by QCDC throughout the year as well as the various activities aimed at engaging youth. The magazine also strives to promote a culture of career guidance among members of Qatar’s society,” Al-Mansoori said.

The magazine features reports on how to successfully spend the first day at work, the role of parents in their children’s success, how to regain confidence after a failed job interview, and how individuals should manage their finances, among other useful topics.

The magazine also includes five interviews with Qatari professionals, who discuss their work experience and provide valuable advice to youth. Professionals featured in this issue include a dentist, inspector, researcher, artist, and programmer. By sharing their experiences, these professionals provide an overview of the skills required in each profession, and offer advice to young people looking to pursue a career in one of these fields.

The latest issue of the Career Guide also includes a special feature on national service and its role in training human resources, as well as QCDC’s role in preparing youth who have completed their national service to resume their professional career. QCDC is offering a series of workshops to help professionals resume work, particularly those who had a break for national service reasons, but also for other reasons such as educational, medical, or pregnancy.

To introduce its Career Guide, QCDC is working with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education to arrange visits to various schools across Qatar, to distribute the magazine and brief students on its content. The 7th edition was distributed to various stakeholders including schools, universities, government and private institutions, embassies, sports clubs, and youth centers.

Since 2016, QCDC has distributed more than 10,000 copies of the guide to schools, universities, and educational institutions across Qatar in a bid to promote a culture of career guidance among youth.

QCDC has also launched the publication’s new smartphone application, the first by a QF publication, which reflects the organization’s ongoing efforts to promote youth engagement in Qatar.

QCDC PARTICIPATES IN DOHA LEARNING WEEK 2017Nov 22, 2017

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Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC), a member of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF), recently delivered two workshops as part of Doha Learning Week 2017.

The first workshop, titled ‘The Role of Parents in Guiding their Children’s Career Paths’, discussed the impact parents have on their children’s career-related decisions, and the importance of introducing career guidance to both parents and their children.

The workshop, which was delivered by Abdulla Al-Mansoori, Director, QCDC, brought together more than 45 parents and their children to learn about the ‘Career Decision-Making Paradigm’, a tool that aims to assist individuals, particularly young people, to identify optimal academic and career paths.

The second workshop, titled ‘Technology-Driven Career Advising Skills’, was aimed at introducing and training school counselors to use QCDC’s new Career Advising System across schools. The workshop attracted more than 30 public and private school counselors who received certificates of participation.

QCDC also participated in the TEDx Forum at the Qatar National Library, where the center set up a special pavilion highlighting the importance of career guidance as well as QCDC’s various programs and services. The pavilion attracted a large number of visitors, including Her Excellency Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, Vice Chairperson and CEO of Qatar Foundation.

Doha Learning Week, Qatar’s first education festival, was launched by the World Innovation Summit for Education, also an initiative of QF. The week-long festival was a collaboration of various local partners, and celebrated local education initiatives and resources.

QCDC hosts workshop on ‘Career Readiness Skills’Aug 14, 2017

Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC), a member of Qatar Foundation for Science, Education and Community Development (QF), organized on Saturday, August 12, 2017, a workshop on ‘Career Readiness Skills’ at Education City Clubhouse.

The workshop, which brought together more than 20 attendees from QF and QF-member universities, was organized in collaboration with QF’s Facilities and Community Services.

The workshop aimed at helping the attendees, aged 18 to 25, develop their personal skills and talents as to empower them to pursue academic studies in-line with their potential and career aspirations.

QATAR CAREER DEVELOPMENT CENTER SUCCESSFULLY CONCLUDES SUMMER CAREER CAMP 2017Jul 30, 2017

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Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC) has concluded the fourth edition of its Summer Career Camp, with 55 secondary school students taking part. The two-week camp featured a variety of activities and educational programs, as well as stimulating workshops that offered practical skills and knowledge to help inspire students as they plan their future academic and career paths.

A large number of Qatari students participated in the camp, which included site visits to leading organizations in Qatar such as Hamad Medical Corporation, Qatar Tourism Authority, Msheireb Museums, Qatar Development Bank, and Qatar Business Incubation Center. These visits offered a glimpse into different professions, and taught students about the career opportunities available at each organization. Students also participated in a number of workshops delivered by the organizations to help them match their abilities and skills with a variety of career choices.

Abdulla Al-Mansoori, Director of QCDC, said: “We’re pleased with the number of Qatari youth who have benefited from QCDC’s efforts, which aim to help young people make more informed career choices. The decisions they make today will not only shape their futures, but will also outline the future of the country. Therefore, we must ensure that these decisions are made in a mindful and informed manner, and identify the various associated factors.”

“Through this camp and all of its other programs and initiatives, QCDC aims to keep Qatar’s youth in mind and help them to make positive career choices, which, in turn, are in the best interest of Qatar and its future,” he added.

As part of the educational workshops, the students learned how to write resumes and prepare for university admissions; both important skills as they progress through their academic and career paths.

The Summer Career Camp 2017 focused on additional topics such as entrepreneurship and handicraft projects, in order to demonstrate careers outside traditional office jobs, including starting a business and making use of personal talents. Students also participated in a series of handicraft workshops, including a session on how to make perfume. The students were then given the opportunity to produce their own perfumes by mixing various oils and scents.

This year’s camp featured special guest Sheikha Al Wadaani, a Qatari psychology major at the University of Sussex in England. In 2013, Al Wadaani created a new game as part of her participation in the INJAZ competition, where she won the ‘Best Student Company in Qatar’ award. Later, she participated in the INJAZ Al-Arab regional competition, where she was nominated for the ‘Best Social Impact’ award. Al Wadaani’s game, titled ‘Learn and Enjoy,’ aims to teach students about different school curricula and subjects, and was inspired by the famous board game Monopoly.

Al Wadaani shared her success story with the students and invited them to modify her game to be more career-relevant. Students in turn shared what they learned during the Summer Career Camp 2017.

Additionally, QCDC and Al Wadaani have collaborated to develop a practical framework to launch a new version of the ‘Learn and Enjoy’ game focusing on four key areas: military, medicine, business, and tourism. The camp’s attendees were divided into different groups to add more areas, topics, and questions to the game. This new version of the game will be used by QCDC in its various trainings, workshops, camps, and programs.

Commenting on her experience, Mai Al Qubaisi, a participating student, said: “I would like to thank everyone who contributed to the camp, as we’ve benefited a lot from our participation. We learned how to decide on our academic choices and have a better understanding of our capabilities. I advise all students to join the coming editions of the camp, and urge them to work for the development of our country to achieve the Qatar National Vision 2030, because Qatar deserves the best from its people.”

The Summer Career Camp is one of several initiatives organized by QCDC, a member of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF), designed to help Qatari youth make decisions on their academic and professional potential.

QCDC LUANCHES SUMMER CAREER CAMP 2017Jul 09, 2017

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Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC) kicked off the fourth edition of its Summer Career Camp on Sunday, July 9, 2017, with the participation of more than 55 high school students from across the country. The camp is designed to give high school students a stimulating experience that will assist them in making informed academic and career decisions.

The two-week camp will feature a variety of activities and educational programs, as well as workshops that have been designed to provide the students with a practical skill set and knowledge that can inspire them when planning their career and academic paths.

It will also include site visits and job shadowing programs at leading organizations in Qatar to provide the participating students with first-hand knowledge of workplace environments and give them a glimpse into career and professional life. Students will also have the opportunity to engage in a variety of recreational, sports and educational activities.

QCDC SIGNS MOU WITH MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND HIGHER EDUCATIONJun 06, 2017

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Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, designed to promote educational and career guidance-related activities and support professional development in Qatar.

Mr. Abdulla Ahmed Al Mansoori, Director of QCDC, and Mrs. Rima Mohammed Abu Khadija, Director of the Ministry’s Educational Supervision Department, officiated at the signing ceremony.

Mrs. Abu Khadija described the partnership agreement as a crucial step towards the accomplishment of the objectives of the Qatar National Vision 2030 and the National Development Strategy 2017-2022.

“Qatar Career Development Center is one of the most active organizations in promoting national capacity-building and supporting Qatari youth to choose the career path that best fits their potential and future labor market needs. The center’s efforts are in line with the Ministry’s mission to provide diverse learning opportunities that empower students to contribute effectively to the Qatari workforce and community, and prepare them to join higher education institutions and the labor market.”

Mr. Al Mansoori said: “This partnership agreement is the culmination of our cooperation and coordination efforts with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education. It adds value to Qatar Career Development Center and represents a strategic step forward in our journey to support Qatar and its youth.”

“The agreement promotes cooperation between our center and the Ministry through the exchange of expertise and knowledge, and the organization of joint programs and initiatives. One of the most important cooperation aspects is the integration of QCDC’s Career Advising System (CAS) into the national education framework.”

CAS was developed by QCDC in cooperation with Kuder Inc, a world leader in career planning services. It is a comprehensive career assessing and planning solution that assists students in choosing an education and career path that best matches their skills and interests.

The ratification of the MoU will pave the way for further cooperation between the Ministry and QCDC, building on previous joint initiatives such as the Professional Career Counselor Program. The program, which took place last December, brought together more than 50 career counselors from independent schools across Qatar with the aim of developing the skills of academic and professional counselors by equipping them with the tools to provide students with professional support.

In another recent joint initiative, QCDC, a member of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF), concluded the third edition of its Career Counselors Training Program, an event organized in partnership with the U.S. Embassy in Qatar, and in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education.

The program was tailored to provide level-specific training to independent school counselors and provide them with the necessary tools to guide students into planning and choosing their education and career paths.

QCDC WRAPS UP THIRD EDITION OF CAREER COUNSELLORS TRAINING PROGRAMMay 15, 2017

DOHA, QATAR, May 14, 2017: Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC) has successfully wrapped up the third edition of its Career Counsellors Training Program. The annual event, organized in partnership with the U.S. Embassy in Qatar, and in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, was tailored this year to provide level-specific training to independent school counsellors.

More than 23 newcomers participated in beginner sessions on how best to guide young students to make informed academic and career decisions, while 33 experienced counsellors joined discussions on issues such as the impact of counsellor training programs and efforts to professionalize career guidance practices. A number of key presentations were open to both beginner and experienced counsellors.

Margo McCoy, a U.S. licensed Professional Counsellor, and Patrick Desbarats, head of the Counselling and College Placement at the American School of Doha (ASD), delivered more than 15 presentations over a five-day period on topics ranging from post-secondary school options for students, to identifying the pillars of career and educational counselling.

Mr. Abdullah Al Mansoori, Director of QCDC, a member of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF), said the latest edition of the program was designed to capitalize on its success in previous years.

“By tailoring sessions to match school counsellors’ level of experience, QCDC sought to ensure that all participants gained the most from taking part in this important program, enabling them to empower Qatari youth to better serve the nation,” Al Mansoori said.

Echoing Mr. Al Mansoori, Mrs. Noor Al-Maadheed, Head of Academic Counseling, Department of Educational Supervision at the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, highlighted the workshop’s contribution to unlocking human potential among academic counsellors.

“The program lays the foundations for the promotion of a career guidance culture in Qatar. It aims to provide counsellors with the necessary knowledge to guide students into choosing the right career path that will ultimately enable the local students to contribute to the creation of a sustainable, competitive and diversified economy in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030,” Mrs. Al-Maadheed said.

“I would like to thank QCDC and the U.S. Embassy in Qatar for their efforts in organizing this program and hope for further collaboration in the coming years.”

Nahid Lawson, Education Advisor at the U.S. Embassy in Qatar, said: “We are very pleased that for the third consecutive year we were able to collaborate with QCDC and the Ministry of Education and Higher Education to provide much-needed training for school counsellors. Our trainer, Margo McCoy, is an expert in her field with many years of experience in counselling and training. It is our hope that school counsellors are able to implement the knowledge and practical tips learnt this week at their schools so we have better prepared students joining colleges in Qatar or overseas.”

Ms. McCoy, who played a key role in delivering the program over the past three years, said she was most impressed with the genuine desire of the counsellors in Qatar to serve their students and assist them in making informed decisions that shape their future as they are moving towards the college admission process.

600 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN QCDC’S CAREER VILLAGEMay 01, 2017

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Around 600 high school students from across Qatar recently participated in the Qatar Career Development Center’s (QCDC) Career Village event at the Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) Student Center.

The event took place from April 26 – 27 with the participation of parents, career counselors and academics from various public schools. It also brought together representatives from leading Qatar-based companies and institutions from sectors including education, finance and business, energy and manufacturing, communications, health, municipalities, environment, media, and security.

The event was designed to familiarize high school students with career opportunities across various sectors, as well as the dynamics and challenges of Qatar’s diverse labor market. Exhibitors presented a series of interactive workshops, simulating real work practices to offer practical and hands-on experience and knowledge about career fields that will enable them to best serve their country.

Khaloud Al-Mannai, Head of Programs, QCDC, said: “I would like to commend all those who contributed to the success of the Career Village, which surpassed all our expectations. Over the past two days, students have learned about career opportunities that support the growth and progress of Qatar and help address the main challenges in the labor market. I would also like to thank the exhibitors for introducing the students to professions across their various departments, thus empowering the youth to contribute to the prosperity of the Qatari labor market.”

Exhibitors offered students insights into a range of work fields, as well as the scholarships and training programs they offer. Participating organizations included: the Ministry of Interior, the General Authority of Customs, Qatar Airways, Qatar Rail, Qatar News Agency, Qatar National Bank, the Qatar Banking Studies and Business Administration Independent School, Hamad Medical Corporation, RasGas, The Center for Geographic Information Systems at the Ministry of Municipality and Environment, Qatar Media Corporation, Ooredoo, Texas A&M University at Qatar, College of the North Atlantic-Qatar, Qatar Biobank, the Career Services Center at Qatar University, INJAZ Qatar, the Permanent Committee for Drugs and Alcohol Affairs, Qatar Scientific Club, and Total.

Career Village is one of several initiatives organized by QCDC, a member of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF), to guide Qatari youth into making informed decisions that reflect positively on their academic and professional futures.

QCDC INVITES HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN CAREER VILLAGEApr 30, 2017

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Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC) has invited high school students to participate in their Career Village initiative, which takes place at the Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) Student Center on April 26 – 27, from 9am to 2pm.

Career Village brings together representatives from leading Qatar-based corporations and institutions from numerous industries including education, finance, business, energy, manufacturing, communications, health, municipality, environment, media and military. The event aims to instill a strong career culture among Qatari high school students and to familiarize them with the dynamics and challenges of Qatar’s labor market in addition to introducing them to career fields that enable them to best serve their country.

The first day of the event will be dedicated to male students while female students will be welcomed on the second day. Parents as well as career and academic counselors from independent schools across Qatar are invited to attend both days.

Mr. Abdullah Al Mansoori, Director of QCDC, said: “Career Village plays an important role in introducing students to new career paths and academic programs. Students can engage with participating institutions and universities to inquire about available opportunities and take part in activities organized by those institutions to familiarize themselves with career options.”

Organizations participating in Career Village include Qatar Airways, Qatar Rail, Qatar News Agency, National Bank of Qatar, Qatar Banking Studies and Business Administration Independent School, Hamad Medical Corporation, RasGas, Center for Geographic Information Systems at the Ministry of Municipality and Environment, Qatar Media Corporation, Ministry of Interior, General Authority of Customs, Ooredoo Telecom Company, Texas A&M University at Qatar, College of the North Atlantic-Qatar, Qatar Biobank, Career Services Center at Qatar University, INJAZ Qatar, Permanent Committee for Drugs and Alcohol Affairs, Qatar Scientific Club, and Total.

Career Village is one of several initiatives organized by QCDC, a member of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF), to guide Qatari youth into making informed decisions that reflect positively on their academic and professional futures.

QCDC OPENS REGISTRATION FOR CAREER ADVISOR TRAINING COURSEApr 09, 2017

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Doha, Qatar, April 3, 2017: Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC) has opened registration for the 4th edition of its Career Advisor Training Course (CATC), which aims to provide participants with the basic skills and essential knowledge of career advising and planning, enabling them to assist Qatar’s youth in their career journeys

The course, which will be offered in Arabic only, will bring together career advisors, academics, human resources professionals, and parents – who play a key role in their children’s career decisions – along with teachers and trainers.

The course will run from May 7 – 11, from 8am to 2pm, at Education City’s Recreation Center. Registration will continue until the beginning of May and early applicants will be offered discounted fees.

Mr. Abdullah Al Mansoori, Director of QCDC, said: “We are delighted with the success of the Career Advisor Training Course, a unique program that QCDC is offering exclusively in Qatar and the GCC region. The importance of the program lies in its uniqueness, since it equips graduates with the essential knowledge of career advising and planning so they can guide youth through their career journeys. The course is also certified by Kuder, Inc., a world leader in career planning services.”

The course enables applicants to gain insight into their own career development and to demonstrate in-depth knowledge of the planning system at their sites, as well as to guide students on the use of technology-based applications that benefit career development.

The course will be presented by Dr. Tajalsir Kardaman, Career Counseling Consultant at QCDC. Dr. Kardaman holds a doctorate from Lancaster University, UK, where he also worked as a professor. He has significant experience in the fields of education, research, training and professional development in addition to extensive expertise in overseeing and implementing training and development programs. Before joining QCDC, Dr. Kardaman served as the Director of Qatar University’s Center of Continuity Education and Office of Faculty and Instructional Development.

Registration fees for the CATC can be paid at QCDC offices located at the QF Housing Maintenance Building, adjacent to the Education City Clubhouse.

Qatar Career Development Center participates in Education Conference 2017Mar 14, 2017

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Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC) is participating in the 2017 edition of the Education Conference and National Scientific Research Week ‘Pioneering and Creativity’, which is being organized by the Ministry of Education and Higher Education from 14 to 16 March at the Qatar National Convention Center (QNCC).

The conference provides a platform for the exchange of expertise and knowledge between educators, academics and researchers on a variety of educational and research issues. The event also offers participants the opportunity to discuss challenges as well as practical and innovative solutions in the field of education.

This event features various activities and workshops on issues of interest to education experts.

The National Scientific Research Week exhibition, which takes place on the sidelines of the main event, also provides an opportunity for students and educators from schools across Qatar to acquire new knowledge and learn about the latest developments in the field of education.

Participants will exchange ideas and discuss research findings in a bid to improve the quality of education.

QATAR CAREER DEVELOPMENT CENTER WRAPS UP AMBASSADORS PROGRAMMar 13, 2017

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Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC) has wrapped up the most recent edition of its Ambassadors Program, which kicked off in October to help preparatory and secondary school students make informed decisions about their academic and professional futures.

The program aims to raise awareness among Qatari youth around professional development and equip students with the necessary skills to enable them to optimize their career and specialization plans, promoting a culture of initiative-taking, creativity and innovation. The months-long workshops focus on positive thinking, communication and life skills, career planning, team work and event management.

Commenting on the program, Mr. Shaheen Al-Sulaiti, Senior Operations Officer, QCDC, said: “The program’s vision draws inspiration from QCDC’s motto, ‘Your Future in Your Hands.’ It aims to create a motivating and supportive environment for Qatari youth, empowering them to build up their personal capabilities and competencies.”

“The program is an effective tool that contributes to the promotion of youth initiatives and embodies a long-term investment in young Qatari leadership that will play an integral role in paving the way for a prosperous future for our country,” Al-Sulaiti added.

34 students from Omar bin Al Khattab Preparatory Independent School for Boys, Omar bin Al Khattab Secondary Independent School for Boys and Khalifa Secondary Independent School for Boys participated in this year’s edition of the program, which featured various activities at Hamad bin Khalifa University’s (HBKU) Student Center in Education City. Additionally, 44 students from Al Bayan Secondary Independent School for Girls, Umm Hakeem Secondary Independent School for Girls, AlIeman Secondary Independent School for Girls and Ruqaya Preparatory Independent School for Girls also took part in activities that were organized at their institutions.

Participating students praised QCDC for the positive impact the program has made on their future career plans. “We came here today to attend a workshop on how to accomplish our objectives and plan our future. We have learned about the importance of setting personal goals and following specific steps to achieve those goal,” said Noor Faisal Al Sayegh, a student at Al Bayan Secondary Independent School for Girls.

“We are very grateful to Qatar Career Development Center for supporting us to overcome our fears, identify our strength and determine the most appropriate academic fields that correspond with our personalities,” Al Sayegh added.

The Ambassador Program is one of several initiatives organized each year by QCDC, a member of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF).

Qatar Career Development Center participates in health forumMar 05, 2017

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Members of Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC) have participated in a health forum organized by the Hamad Medical Corporation. The forum entitled “Promoting Student health: An Investment in the Future” took place on February 27-28, 2017 at the Ruqaya Independent Preparatory School for Girls.

The forum aims to raise health awareness and reduce behavioral risks factors among youth by providing support for students on the psychological, social and cultural level and equipping them with the necessary skills to lead a healthy life.

QCDC representatives showcased a variety of activities and initiatives that the center has undertaken to bolster positive communication between students and their community.

The center’s representatives also familiarized youth with the different academic disciplines in the healthcare industry including medicine, nursing and pharmacy among other fields of study leading to a supply of skilled and educated labor.

QCDC HIGHLIGHTS ROLE OF CAREER GUIDANCE IN DEVELOPING NATIONAL WORKFORCEFeb 22, 2017

Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC) has held a seminar on the role of career guidance in developing the national workforce and contributing to Qatar’s transition towards a knowledge-based economy.

The seminar, which took place at Hamad bin Khalifa University’s (HBKU) Student Center on February 16, brought together a large number of participants, including government officials, school counselors, professional consultants and representatives from the private sector.

The seminar outlined career planning and guidance practices in Qatar and provided suggestions on how to improve and enhance the nation’s career guidance system. Participants also touched on global career guidance practices and discussed the advantages and challenges of implementing such practices.

Dr. Tajalsir Ibrahim Kardaman, Career Counseling Consultant at QCDC, said: “This seminar highlighted the importance of career guidance in supporting Qatar’s transition to a knowledge-based economy. QCDC is keen on organizing various activities and programs and this event provided an excellent opportunity for career guidance specialists to establish and expand their networks. It also contributed to informing Qatar’s youth on career awareness. These initiatives encourage interactive engagement, collaboration and knowledge exchange among diverse stakeholders involved in the education-to-employment, career planning, and development and implementation process for Qatar’s youth, in line with QCDC’s mission.”

The seminar was moderated by Sylvia Nassar, a Professor and Doctoral Program Coordinator of Counselor Education at North Carolina State University.

Dr. Nassar, described students as one of the key stakeholders in the career guidance process, saying: “This student generation is technologically conscious so we really need to deliver information in a way that is appropriate to them. This includes offering online tutorials and various interactive courses.”

Dr. Nassar has served in a variety of clinical mental health, school, and college settings over the past 30 years, and launched several initiatives to promote the professionalism of counseling and counselor education.

She has published nearly 90 books, refereed articles, and other instructional materials and delivered more than 100 conference presentations. She was named the Michael G. Morris Endowed Chair from Eastern Michigan University’s College of Education for 2014-15 and Research Triangle Institute (RTI) – International University Scholar for 2016-17.

Mr. Mohamed Soueileh, Academic Advisor at Ahmed Bin Hanbal Independent Secondary School for Boys, and who was among the attendees, commented on the seminar saying: “We thank QCDC and Dr. Sylvia Nassar for offering us the opportunity to participate in events that contribute to the development of our skills and competencies. I have greatly benefited from Dr. Nassar’s expertise.”

QCDC, a member of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF), awarded certificates of participation to attendees at the end of the seminar.

QCDC PROMOTES HEALTHY LIVING AMONG EMPLOYEES BY SPONSORING OVER 600 HOURS OF WORKOUTSFeb 13, 2017

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Members of Qatar Career Development Center’s staff exercising at one of Qatar Foundation’s recreation facilities.

February is the month when Qatar celebrates National Sport Day, and a time when institutions, government agencies and private companies host a range of exciting sports activities designed to inspire the entire community to exercise, as well as adopt healthy lifestyles.

As part of its commitment to promote a sports-loving culture among its employees, Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC), a member of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF), has set aside one work-hour every Tuesday for staff to exercise. Employees are encouraged to make use of QF’s recreation facilities.

Commenting on the initiative, Mr. Abdullah Al-Mansoori, Director of QCDC, said: “Good health is the most precious of all possessions. It is an essential part of our mission to pursue excellence in career development, possible only within a healthy society. Our National Sport Day initiative aims to encourage all QCDC employees to exercise at least one hour a week in line with QF’s commitment to help build a sports-loving culture in Qatar and encourage communities to live healthy, active lifestyles.”

QCDC launched this initiative on National Sport Day 2016 as it believes professional development begins with the preservation of its most important asset, its people. By dedicating one work-hour a week to exercise, the center is helping to support the health and wellbeing of its staff.

QCDC has now dedicated more than 600 work-hours to fitness, a number that is expected to rise as National Sport Day approaches.

Mr. Abdul Rahman Al-Kaabi, Marketing Officer at QCDC, said: “With daily work routines and life’s challenges normally topping our agendas, this QCDC initiative is a weekly reminder of the importance of our physical and mental health and of incorporating sports in our lives. This initiative also reflects positively through improved performance and efficiency in the workplace.”

Awatef Al-Salmi, a fitness coach at the Education City Clubhouse, praised QCDC’s employees for exercising on a weekly basis, saying staff have shown great enthusiasm and a high level of commitment to advancing their levels of fitness.

QCDC kicks off third edition of Career Advisor Training CourseFeb 12, 2017

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Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC) kicked off today the third edition of its five-day Career Advisor Training Course (CATC) at the Education City Clubhouse with the participation of 25 employees from Sidra Medical and Research Center.

The training course is part of a joint initiative between QCDC and Sidra Medical and Research Center. The initiative is aimed at promoting the exchange of knowledge and expertise between member organizations of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development in line with the foundation’s mission to provide a better future for Qatar and its people.

QCDC is organizing the CATC for the third consecutive time, the only bilingual program of its kind in the GCC region.

QCDC participates in the Education City Career Fair 2017Feb 08, 2017

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Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC) has participated in third Joint Education City Career Fair that was organized by Hamad Bin Khalifa University on February 6-7, 2017.

The fair, which brought together hundreds of students from universities across Qatar, offered students the opportunity to interact with professionals in their field of study and to learn about employment prospects in a variety of industries.

QCDC’s participation in this joint initiative reflected its continued commitment to empowering Qatari youth by engaging students and providing them access to career guidance services and planning tools.

The fair was held in collaboration with Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Texas A&M University at Qatar, Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar, Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar and Northwestern University in Qatar.

Seminar on Career GuidanceFeb 08, 2017

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The role of career guidance in developing a national workforce and contributing to Qatar’s transition towards a knowledge-based economy
The seminar sheds light on the importance of career guidance and its role in supporting the human development pillar of the Qatar National Vision 2030 through the development of a national workforce that supports Qatar’s transition from a carbon to a knowledge-based economy.

The seminar outlines planning and career guidance services offered in Qatar and provides suggestions to improve and enhance the nation’s career guidance system in the future. The seminar also touches on international career guidance practices and draws lessons from the advantages and challenges facing such practices.

This seminar provides an excellent opportunity for career guidance experts to expand their network and contributes to educating the Qatari youth. The seminar also aims to encourage the exchange of knowledge among professionals involved in the development and implementation of education, employment, and career planning, guidance and professional development strategies aimed at empowering the Qatari youth.

Sylvia Nassar, a Professor and Doctoral Program Coordinator of Counselor Education at North Carolina State University, will moderate the seminar.

The seminar will be held in English with simultaneous translation into Arabic and attendees will be awarded certificates of participation.

Date: Thursday, February 16, 2017
Time: 9 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Location: Student Center at Hamad bin Khalifa University – Education City

To confirm attendance, please send an e-mail to: qcdc@qf.org.qa

About Sylvia Nassar

Sylvia Nassar is currently a Professor and Doctoral Program Coordinator of Counselor Education at North Carolina State University.

She has more than 30 years of experience in promoting the professionalism of counseling and counselor education and has published nearly 90 books, refereed articles, and other instructional materials on the subject.

She was named the Michael G. Morris Endowed Chair from Eastern Michigan University’s College of Education for 2014-15 and Research Triangle Institute (RTI) – International University Scholar for 2016-17.

QATAR CAREER DEVELOPMENT CENTER CONCLUDES WINTER CAMP 2017Jan 25, 2017

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QCDC Winter Career Camp 2017 participants visit Lusail City.” title=”QCDC Winter Career Camp 2017 participants visit Lusail City.


Students listen to a lecture organized by Msheireb Museums.


Students participate in a leadership skills workshop.

Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC) celebrated the successful completion of its Winter Career Camp 2017 in a ceremony on Thursday, January 19, at Hamad bin Khalifa University (HBKU) Student Center.

Eng. Meshal Al-Shamari, Director of Qatar Green Building Council (QGBC); Dr Abdul Ghafour Al Heeti, Director of Qatar Music Academy (QMA); and Hassan Al-Saai, Journalist and Anchor at Qatar TV attended the event, along with a number of media professionals and journalists. During the ceremony, certificates of participation were distributed to around 30 participating high school students.

The camp provides students with the basics of a strong career culture and helps them to discover their skills and talents, which will allow them to carefully choose their future careers.

The 2017 edition featured five days of interactive workshops designed to hone students’ personal skills and develop their professional capacities. The sessions included ‘Success Skills’, which aimed to equip students with the basic skills to excel in the labor market and succeed in their careers, and ‘Leadership Skills’, which introduced students to leadership traits and the principles of successful teamwork.

Abdulla Al-Mansoori, Director of QCDC, said: “We are honored to graduate a new batch of students from the Winter Career Camp 2017, and we hope they will utilize the skills and abilities they have gained here to make decisions regarding their academic and career paths. QCDC aims to help youth in Qatar to join the labor market and help Qatar as it transforms to a sustainable diverse economy.”

QCDC has organized the Winter Career Camp for three consecutive years to help students secure a promising professional future. Shaheen Al-Sulaiti, QCDC Senior Operations Officer, said: “This year’s workshops and activities were aimed at equipping participants with the necessary skills to choose the career path that best fits their potential. Participants gained first-hand insights into job opportunities in Qatar through site visits to leading organizations across the country and gained the necessary professional skills to effectively and successfully prepare them to join the labor market.”

The site visits included a trip sponsored by Msheireb Museums to the Sheikh Mohammed Bin Jassim House, where students listened to a lecture about the history of the heritage house and its cultural significance to Qatar before inspecting the paintings and archaeological exhibits in the building.

Students also visited Lusail City, where they learned about the smart and sustainable design of leading residential and recreational landmarks as well as the self-sufficiency plans that characterize the modern and unique project, which include a light railway network and floating taxi system.

Students also toured the different facilities of Hamad International Airport, including observation towers, duty free shops, and airline and information offices. Additionally, participants visited the Immigration Department, where they learned about job opportunities at the airport and the responsibilities of each department.

The visits were also aimed at helping students enroll in the right school and university programs by learning about possible career opportunities, and enabling them to make important decisions in the coming years.

Students praised QCDC for its role in supporting future generations through such programs. Ahmed Al-Kuwari said: “After my visit to Msheireb Downtown Doha, I came to realize that I like the teaching profession because it helps familiarize community members with Qatar’s cultural heritage and history and contributes to the development of people’s skills and abilities.”

Additionally, Hassan Al Saai, said: “I wish I had had the opportunity to participate in such a useful activity during my study years, as it helps to instill a career culture among students and encourages them to discover their skills and talents. I would like to encourage others to take part in future editions so they too can acquire the basic skills that will help them excel in the job market and succeed in their careers.”

QCDC Concludes Professional Career Counselor ProgrammeDec 20, 2016

A group of attendees on the last day of the ‘Professional Career Counselor’ programme.

Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC) has concluded its four-day Professional Career Counselor programme, which took place from 19 to 22 December 2016 at the Education City Clubhouse. The programme saw the participation of more than 50 career counsellors and educators from independent schools across Qatar.

The training programme, a joint initiative between QCDC and the Ministry of Education and Higher Education and in collaboration with Bedaya Center, aims to develop the skills of the academic and professional counsellors by equipping them with the necessary skills and to provide students with professional support.

Explaining the significance of the program, Mr. Abdulla Al-Mansoori, Director of QCDC, said: “The Professional Career Counselor programme aims to equip career counsellors with the tools and resources they require in order to offer the best career counseling services to students, so that they can properly chart their academic and career paths. This is especially important since professional and educational counseling remains a relatively new field in many of Qatar’s independent and private schools. In addition to that, many counsellors lack the requisite qualifications and experience that enables them to effectively deliver their services, which further highlights the importance of such a programme.”

“This programme provides an opportunity for a comprehensive counselling development in the State of Qatar. Besides offering an advanced training for counsellors, it underscores the principles of career guidance while providing participants with the strategies and resources they need to offer career counseling services and effectively guide students toward planning their academic and professional careers. As such, it complements the central efforts of QCDC in this field,” he added.

Mrs. Noor Al-Maadheed, Head of Academic Counseling, Ministry of Education and Higher Education, said: “Both HE Dr. Mohammed bin Abdul Wahid Al-Hammadi, Minister of Education and Higher Education, and Mrs. Fawziya Al-Khater, Appointed Assistant Undersecretary for Educational Affairs, pay great attention to the Ministry’s initiative to improve academic counseling for secondary education. The initiative provides a variety of learning opportunities, which enable students to build their capacities in order to effectively contribute to the workforce in Qatar and society as a whole.”

“Our goals can only be achieved by raising career counseling awareness among students and across all social sectors. Academic counsellors play a major role in coordinating and managing the process of academic and career counseling with effectiveness and competence. We value our partnership and collaboration with QCDC and Bedaya Center and appreciate their role in educating students in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030,” Al-Maadheed concluded.

Ms Ola Abdin, Career Development Manager at Bedaya Center, noted how the Professional Career Counselor programme “aims to train a new generation of counsellors who are able to utilise their talents and potential in a way that benefits the future of secondary school students. The advanced workshops on offer enable counsellors to understand the available tools and evaluation methods that are geared towards a fruitful interaction with students during this crucial period of their academic paths. The programme seeks to demonstrate the importance of understanding the required skills in the Qatari labour market, as well as university and workplace acceptance procedures and the necessary requirements for each profession.”

As part of an introductory session on career counseling, the participating counsellors were introduced to the theoretical foundations of career counseling, as well as the nature and significance of that line of career guidance. Participants were also exposed to the basic skills of career counseling, which include the ability to think clearly, approach problems objectively, and arrive at innovative solutions, in addition to teamwork, effective communication, and critical thinking. Then counsellors were also encouraged to differentiate their students and understand and evaluate their personal identities, in order to build their confidence and self-esteem. Finally, the programme highlighted the significance of parental guidance in children choosing a suitable career path.

The programme was delivered by experts from the partnering entities: Mr Abdulla Al-Mansoori, QCDC Director, and Dr Mohamed Abul-Ola, Integral Training and Development General Manager from QCDC’s side, and Mr Fady Allaham, Educational Consultant at the Department of Educational Supervision at the Ministry of Education from the Ministry’s side. As well as Dr Abdel Reheim Alhorr, an international trainer specialised in human skills development,accredited by the Society of Business Practitioners in the United Kingdom, who attended the programme on behalf of Bedaya Center.

The programme concluded by presenting the participating counsellors with participation certificates courtesy of QCDC and the Ministry of Education and Higher Education.

REGISTRATION OPENS FOR QCDC WINTER CAREER CAMP 2017Dec 07, 2016

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Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC) has opened registration for its Winter Career Camp 2017, which will welcome Qatari preparatory school students for the third consecutive year.

The camp aims to instil the basics of a strong career culture in students and help them discover their skills and talents, which will allow them, in-turn, to carefully choose their future careers.

Abdulla Al-Mansoori, Director of QCDC, said: “The Winter Camp has continuously attracted eager participants over the last three years. We call on Qatari students to step up and take part in the various activities that will feature in the camp’s third edition. The programme is specifically designed to enhance students’ self-confidence and guide them to make intelligent decisions that will reflect positively on their professional and academic futures. It also aims to demonstrate the dynamics of Qatar’s labour market, the country’s various economic sectors and the future needs of Qatar.”

The one-week camp will feature educational and cultural activities as well as interactive workshops that have been designed to develop students’ personal skills and empower them to pursue the academic studies in line with their career aspirations.

Shaheen Al-Sulaiti, Senior Operations Officer, QCDC, said: “The camp will give Qatari students the opportunity to visit leading organisations in Qatar, allowing them to gain first-hand insight into jobs at these companies, and find out which jobs match their skills and potentials. This will allow them to plan their future academic endeavours and careers at an early stage.”

Students will also visit a number of universities in Qatar, giving them the opportunity to learn about academic programmes and admission requirements.

The Winter Camp will be held at Hamad bin Khalifa University’s (HBKU) Student Center, from 15 – 19 January, between 9am and 2pm. Participants will be awarded certificates after successful completion of the camp.

To register, or to learn more about QCDC Winter Career Camp 2017, please contact: 44546815 or 44546819. Alternatively, you can send an e-mail to: qcdc@qf.org.qa or visit QCDC website: www.qcdc.org.qa. Interested individuals are advised to register online as early as possible due to limited places.

QCDC, a member of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF), has organised the camp in line with QF’s vision to build human capacity in Qatar by preparing the country’s young people to respond to future national priorities.

QCDC PARTICIPATES IN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON EDUCATIONAL AND VOCATIONAL GUIDANCENov 29, 2016

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Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC) recently participated in a conference organised by the International Association of Educational and Vocational Guidance (IAEVG) to promote equity through guidance. The conference, which took place in Madrid in November, was held under the title ‘Promoting Equity Through Guidance: Reflection, Action, Impact’.

The event was aimed at contributing to the ongoing discussions on the impact of educational and vocational guidance and the importance of the support provided by institutions, governments and the private sector to promote personal, professional and academic development as well as creating more equitable, sustainable and cohesive communities.

Commenting on QCDC’s participation in the conference, Mr Abdullah Al Mansoori, Director of QCDC, said: “QCDC is keen on attending and participating in important international events that relate to professional development and career guidance. Conferences such as these provide a discussion platform that brings together career guidance experts, academics, professionals, consultants and policy makers to facilitate the exchange of expertise and research findings on relevant topics, which enhances our experience.”

“Proper professional guidance results in the equitable distribution of tasks and functions corresponding to the skills and abilities of each person within a work environment. In doing so, we ensure that Qatar’s youth are taking the career path that best relates to their talents and ambitions,” Al Mansoori added.

During the conference, QCDC representatives presented a paper and poster outlining the centre’s programmes and initiatives. QCDC officials also participated in a symposium on enhancing the cooperation between counselling and career guidance institutions.

The paper, entitled, ‘Developing Career Guidance in the State of Qatar: A Stakeholder Engagement Approach’, is based on the findings of three research papers completed by QCDC in 2015.

The overall purpose of the paper is to document current career guidance practices in Qatar, identify opportunities and challenges and offer recommendations for future improvement purposes. Based on empirical data, the papers indicate that career guidance in Qatar is in an early stage of development, offered in a fragmented manner and is yet to be integrated into existing education and labour market systems. To alleviate the situation, and to effectively contribute to Qatar’s human capital development, a wide range of structural, institutional, socio-cultural and capacity building challenges need to be adequately recognised and strategically dealt with.

Abdulrahman Al-Kaabi, Marketing Officer at QCDC, presented an exhibition poster entitled, ‘Training School Counsellors to Assist in Building Qatar’s Knowledge Economy’. The poster focuses on the programmes offered by QCDC including the ‘Career Advisor Training Course’, the first specialised bilingual training course for career advisors in Qatar, and the ‘Career Counsellors Training Workshop’, a programme launched in collaboration with the Training and Education Development Center of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education and the US Embassy in Doha. The programme is designed to train counsellors and equip them with the knowledge and skills that enable them to provide better career guidance to students.

These two programmes attracted more than 135 participants who went through more than 5,400 hours of training. “We sought, through this poster, to give a quick overview of the training programmes offered by QCDC to support counsellors and career guidance experts in Qatar and equip them with the tools that would enable them to help young Qataris make informed decisions when it comes to academic and career choices,” Al-Kaabi said.

A delegation from QCDC also participated in a symposium that brought together representatives from 22 local and international organisations to discuss the best approach to share knowledge and exchange information as well as the need for cooperation to advance professional development policies. Participants also discussed the possibility of coordinating efforts to support professional development in various countries.

The conference’s sessions also touched on various other topics including the provision of professional services for immigrants and refugees, intervention during difficult economic times and issues relating to career development and public policy.

Representatives from QCDC familiarised participants with the centre’s initiatives and programmes. It outlined its efforts to support Qatar’s youth in achieving a better professional future through training and consultancy services as well as to instil career guidance within Qatar’s culture through programmes, initiatives and activities relating to professional development and career guidance.

Formerly Qatar Career Fair (QCF), QCDC, a member of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF) recently rebranded to further cement its position as a pioneer in career guidance.

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