Oct 16, 2018

QCDC and National Service Academy Organize Awareness Lecture for Recruits’ Parents

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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.