Latest news with #QCDC
Qatar Tribune
25-05-2025
- Business
- Qatar Tribune
QCDC sixth Career Village concludes with strong student engagement
Tribune News Network Doha Qatar Career Development Centre (QCDC), founded by Qatar Foundation (QF), concluded the sixth edition of its flagship career exploration initiative, Career Village. Held in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE) and the Ministry of Labour (MoL), the three-day event welcomed 2,058 students from 125 schools, connecting them with 200 career counsellors and 37 leading organisations across 13 vital sectors of Qatar's economy. Now recognised as one of the country's leading platforms for experiential career learning, Career Village 2025 provided students with hands-on exposure to career paths in fields including Security, Public Administration, Aviation and Aeronautics, Technology, Education, Finance Investment and Banking, Energy, Manufacturing and Retail, Transportation and Logistics, Medicine, Humanitarian and Social Work, Media and Public Relations, as well as Hospitality and Tourism. The initiative is part of QCDC's wider efforts to bridge the gap between education and employment and to support Qatar's Third National Development Strategy (2024–2030) and Qatar National Vision 2030, which emphasise preparing youth for a diversified and knowledge-based economy. The final day of the event featured a high-profile panel discussion titled 'From Guidance to Employment: The Role of Academic Counselling in Supporting Students' Paths to the Private Sector'. The session directly addressed the national priority of increasing Qatari participation in private-sector employment, following the recent enactment of Law No. (12) of 2024 on Job Nationalization in the Private Sector. It brought together over 75 career and academic counsellors from schools across Qatar, with panellists from the MoL, the MoEHE, the Commercial Bank of Qatar, and a young program graduate now employed in the hospitality sector. Discussions explored how career guidance within schools can serve as a critical entry point for nationalization efforts. Throughout the three days, students engaged with sector professionals, explored training opportunities, and learned about workplace expectations and demands through simulations, workshops, and guidance sessions. Since its launch in 2017, Career Village has impacted more than 12,000 students, steadily becoming a cornerstone of QCDC's strategy to cultivate a future-ready workforce.
Zawya
19-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Career Village open doors to Qatar's future workforce
Organized by QCDC in Partnership with MoEHE and MoL Doha, Qatar – Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC), founded by Qatar Foundation (QF), has partnered with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE) and the Ministry of Labour (MoL), to launch the sixth edition of its flagship career exploration program 'Career Village,' a three-day immersive hands-on tour in Qatar's diverse career offerings, taking place from 19–21 May at KidZania Doha. 'Career Village' opened its doors today with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by senior officials, including Saad Abdulla Al-Kharji, Executive Director of QCDC, Francisco Marmolejo, President of Higher Education at QF, Maryam Nouman Al-Emadi, Director of Educational Guidance Department at MoEHE, Fatima Youssef Al-Obaidly, Assistant Director of the Department of Schools and Student Affairs at MoEHE, and Mohammed Salem Al-Khulaifi, Assistant Director of Rehabilitation and Skills Development Department at MoL. Their presence underscored the national importance of preparing Qatar's youth to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving labor market. By bringing more than 40 leading public and private entities together and welcoming hundreds of middle and high school students each day, 'Career Village' aims to bridge the gap between classroom learning and the dynamic demands of Qatar's labor market, in alignment with the Third National Development Strategy 2024–2030. 'Career Village has become a foundational pillar in QCDC's mission to cultivate a future-proof workforce,' said Saad Abdulla Al-Kharji, Executive Director of QCDC. 'As the launchpad for our job-shadowing initiatives, it gives students an actual first taste of real-world professions, allowing them to engage directly with industry professionals, igniting their curiosity, and laying the groundwork upon which our entire suite of job-shadowing programs builds. This experience empowers them to explore themselves, not to mention the diverse career pathways available, and master the critical skills they will need to succeed.' Fatima Youssef Al-Obaidly, Assistant Director of School and Student Affairs Department at MoEHE, commended the launch of the sixth edition of the 'Career Village' initiative. She emphasized that the event serves as a key pillar in supporting students' transition from education to the workforce—especially in light of rapid changes and ongoing needs of national development. Al Obaidly stated, 'The sixth edition of Career Village represents a vital opportunity for high school students from both public and private schools to explore Qatar's key sectors and engage directly with professional institutions in a learning environment that mirrors real-life work settings. This contributes significantly to enriching students' career experiences and broadening their future horizons. We highly value the ongoing and productive collaboration between MoEHE and QCDC, which reflects both parties' commitment to creating stimulating educational environments that respond to students' needs. This, in turn, helps expand their career choices and supports early planning of their professional paths.' Mohamed Salem Al-Khulaifi, Acting Director of Rehabilitation and Skills Development at MoL, affirmed that 'Career Village' is one of the pioneering initiatives that reflects the Ministry's commitment to promoting early career guidance and providing an innovative learning environment aligned with the needs of the national labor market. He noted that the Ministry's participation in the sixth edition of 'Career Village' stems from its dedication to empowering students with a deep understanding of labor market requirements and its various sectors, while supporting efforts to prepare a generation capable of making informed career decisions and contributing to the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030, including the development of a knowledge-based economy. Al-Khulaifi further explained that the Ministry of Labour places high priority on equipping and preparing the national workforce for the job market, and values what 'Career Village' offers in terms of practical, interactive experiences. These opportunities allow students to explore careers and engage directly with professionals, playing a vital role in narrowing the gap between education and employment. He emphasized that this initiative reflects the spirit of integration among state institutions in preparing future generations, while advancing the objectives of the Third National Development Strategy to build a skilled national workforce ready to navigate future transformations. Since its inception in 2017, 'Career Village' has engaged over 10,000 students and established itself as QCDC's flagship platform for experiential learning. This year's edition features dedicated experiential learning zones, interactive workshops on soft-skills development and industry trends, and personalized counseling sessions with career-guidance professionals. Students will network with experts across sectors including Security, Public Administration, Aviation and Aeronautics, Technology, Education, Finance Investment and Banking, Energy, Manufacturing and Retail, Transportation and Logistics, Medicine, Humanitarian and Social Work, Media and Public Relations, as well as Hospitality and Tourism—gaining firsthand insights into the day-to-day realities and emerging opportunities within each field. Qatar Career Development Center Qatar Career Development Center, founded by Qatar Foundation, aims to help the youth, particularly but not restrictedly students, across all Qatar's education system's tracks and stages, including the youth with special needs, to identify and fulfil their education and career goals. The center offers them high quality bespoke career development programs, services and activities, seeking to mobilize, educate and support them on how best to make and implement sound career decisions and plans, grow and develop professionally, and achieve their life goals in such ways that best contribute to Qatar's development and prosperity. In addition to the youth, Qatar Career Development Center targets a diverse group of individual and organizational stakeholders collectively referred to as the influencers of youth. This group primarily includes career practitioners and human capital professionals, academic advisors and administrators, parents and policy makers. The center engages them in various initiatives, projects and programs whose purpose is to educate, empower and support them in relation to their highly vital role as shapers and even definers of the youth's future. To learn more about Qatar Career Development Center's initiatives and programs, please visit the website: To stay updated on our center's activities on social media, follow our accounts on: Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, X, TikTok, and LinkedIn. For any media inquiries, please contact: qcdc@
Qatar Tribune
05-05-2025
- Business
- Qatar Tribune
‘Little Employee' takes the bench at QCDC's 5th Investment & Trade Court
Tribune News Network Doha The Investment and Trade Court recently welcomed more than 40 children of its employees as part of the fifth edition of the 'Little Employee' initiative, organised annually by Qatar Career Development Centre (QCDC), founded by Qatar Foundation (QF). The event featured a series of interactive workshops led by QCDC's career guidance experts, focusing on career awareness and planning. The workshops were followed with job-shadowing sessions, where children accompanied their parents through real workplace routines, from administrative work to case preparation and real court proceedings. Participants also had the exceptional opportunity to attend a live sentencing hearing, offering them a first-hand view into judicial decision-making processes and courtroom protocol. 'We deeply value the interest of the Investment and Trade Court in hosting the Little Employee initiative in its fifth edition,' said Saad Abdulla Al-Kharji, acting director of QCDC. 'This partnership underscores our shared commitment to instilling early career awareness and equipping future generations with the essential skills needed for a future-ready national workforce—one capable of driving Qatar's progress and prosperity.' 'We extend our sincere gratitude to the President of the Investment and Trade Court, His Excellency Judge Khaled bin Ali Al-Obaidly, and the Court's esteemed panel for their support in realizing this vision. We encourage families, institutions, and stakeholders to join the Little Employee family and help guide Qatar's youth toward a thriving, knowledge-based economy,' Al-Kharji concluded. Judge Khaled bin Ali Al-Obaidly, president of the Investment and Trade Court, expressed his gratitude, commending the fruitful collaboration with QCDC following the recent 'Little Employee' event organized for the children of court staff. He noted that the initiative reflects the Court's ongoing commitment to strengthening family ties and instilling the values of work and responsibility across generations. 'By inviting our youngest community members to experience the day-to-day of judicial work, we build their awareness of legal careers while celebrating the important roles their parents play.' He concluded by thanking all participants and organizers for their efforts in making the event a success and expressed his hope that similar events would continue in the future to foster positive engagement and communication. Now in its fifth iteration, 'Little Employee' invites children aged 7–15 to step into real work environments alongside parental role models to spark their career curiosity and instil early-age career awareness. It also aims to emphasize the important role of parents as essential career guidance and development first-liners, empowering Qatar's youth to make informed career choices down the line. As the initiative continues to expand, QCDC invites individuals, educational institutions, and corporate partners to join the Little Employee family. For partnership opportunities or to register as individuals, please visit
Zawya
13-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
QCDC highlights 2024 milestones in annual report
Doha, Qatar: Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC), founded by Qatar Foundation (QF), has released its 2024 Annual Report, showcasing a year of dedicated efforts toward building national capacity and preparing the next generation of talent, in alignment with the nation's drive towards a knowledge-based economy and the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals. The report spotlights the Center's remarkable strides over the past year in empowering Qatar's youth and advancing career development and guidance across Qatar and beyond. It also highlights QCDC's leadership role in promoting workplace inclusivity and expanding access to its innovative programs and services, designed to keep pace with the dynamic demands of today's labor markets both locally and globally. Commenting on the release, Mr. Saad Abdulla Al-Kharji, Acting Director of QCDC, stated: "Since our inception, QCDC has been committed to building a flexible, sustainable national career development ecosystem that equips young people to navigate change and seize emerging opportunities. 2024 marked a defining year in this journey, as we expanded our positive impact and further empowered career guidance practitioners in alignment with the ambitions of Qatar National Vision 2030." 2024 in Numbers According to the newly published report, QCDC implemented more than 22 programs and initiatives in 2024, benefiting nearly 187,000 students. Among them, over 2,300 students participated in job shadowing experiences facilitated by the Center. In addition, more than 390 academic advisors and career guidance practitioners engaged in QCDC's training programs. The Center's educational and awareness content also witnessed impressive growth in reach and engagement, with its digital platforms attracting 141,000 user interactions and 176,000 website visitors. Meanwhile, QCDC's flagship publication, Career Guide, maintained a strong readership, reaching 64,000 readers over the year. A New Career Development Terminology Search Engine One of the year's standout initiatives was the launch of the Glossary of Career Development Terms Search Engine—the first of its kind in Arabic. This interactive platform provides an invaluable resource for Arabic-speaking career practitioners, researchers, and academics across Qatar and the wider Arab world. The Center also released the fifteenth edition of Career Guide magazine, dedicated to celebrating the achievements of Qatari women across various sectors, further reinforcing QCDC's commitment to nurturing a scientifically grounded career culture across all segments of society. Global Engagement and Strategic Partnerships Furthermore, QCDC strengthened its international presence by representing Qatar at several major conferences and through strategic partnerships, including participation in the National Career Development Association (NCDA) Conference in the United States, the International Association for Educational and Vocational Guidance (IAEVG) Conference in Finland, and the Arab Career Development Conference (ACDC) in Egypt. These efforts reflect QCDC's growing role as a key driver in shaping the future of career guidance locally, regionally, and globally. To access the full 2024 Annual Report, please visit: About Qatar Career Development Center Qatar Career Development Center, founded by Qatar Foundation, aims to help the youth, particularly but not restrictedly students, across all Qatar's education system's tracks and stages, including the youth with special needs, to identify and fulfil their education and career goals. The center offers them high quality bespoke career development programs, services and activities, seeking to mobilize, educate and support them on how best to make and implement sound career decisions and plans, grow and develop professionally, and achieve their life goals in such ways that best contribute to Qatar's development and prosperity. In addition to the youth, Qatar Career Development Center targets a diverse group of individual and organizational stakeholders collectively referred to as the influencers of youth. This group primarily includes career practitioners and human capital professionals, academic advisors and administrators, parents and policy makers. The center engages them in various initiatives, projects and programs whose purpose is to educate, empower and support them in relation to their highly vital role as shapers and even definers of the youth's future. To learn more about Qatar Career Development Center's initiatives and programs, please visit the website: To stay updated on our center's activities on social media, follow our accounts on: Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, X, and LinkedIn. For any media inquiries, please contact: qcdc@
