Doha: Executive Director of the Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC), Saad Abdullah Al Kharji, emphasized the Center’s crucial role as a strategic link between education and the labor market. He explained that QCDC is committed to supporting generations of students in preparing for future careers through a comprehensive array of interactive programs that cover all stages of career development, from academic success to professional integration.
According to Qatar News Agency, Al Kharji stressed the importance of early career intervention, explaining that QCDC offers a series of immersive career exploration initiatives, starting with the Little Employee program. This initiative has engaged over 2,000 children aged 7 to 15 across five editions, allowing them to accompany their parents to work and introducing them to foundational workplace concepts.
Al Kharji also discussed the Career Village event, which recently brought together over 40 public and private sector entities, including key players from various critical economic sectors. Since its inception in 2017, Career Village has afforded hands-on, simulated career experiences to more than 12,000 high school students over six editions.
He described Career Village as the first step in a student’s journey of self-discovery, followed by the My Career – My Future program, which provides a week-long internship experience tailored to students’ academic and professional interests. This program has trained over 500 students, logging more than 12,000 training hours. An expanded version of the program is set to launch with more than 250 students placed across 25 organizations in sectors such as medicine, aviation, energy, media, and finance, aligning with Qatar’s sustainable development goals.
Al Kharji mentioned that these programs are part of QCDC’s extensive portfolio, which includes the Dalila program offering personalized career guidance sessions. He also noted the preparation of the 16th issue of Your Professional Guide magazine, set for release at the start of the 2025/2026 academic year, and referenced specialized workshops organized at the request of institutions.
Al Kharji highlighted QCDC’s role in bridging the gap between education and labor market needs through experiential learning, field guidance, and awareness campaigns. These initiatives help students link theoretical knowledge with practical application, supporting one of the core pillars of Qatar National Vision 2030: human capital development.
Regarding sector prioritization, Al Kharji explained that QCDC focuses on two main industry groups: strategic sectors like energy and manufacturing, and emerging fields such as AI and fintech. These selections are based on labor market analysis and consultations with education and labor stakeholders.
He also elaborated on QCDC’s diagnostic approach to career guidance, powered by an advanced electronic system offering psychological assessments and personality analysis. Through the Dalila program, students receive five individualized sessions, resulting in concrete academic and career action plans, with evaluation studies showing increased student awareness.
Al Kharji discussed efforts to establish a unified national system for career guidance, including the Career Guidance Partners Meeting to align stakeholder efforts. In collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, QCDC organized a high-level dialogue session under the patronage of HE Minister of Education and Higher Education, Lolwah bint Rashid Al Khater, to develop actionable plans supporting Qatar’s Third National Development Strategy (2024-2030).
Reiterating QCDC’s commitment to lifelong career guidance, Al Kharji emphasized the importance of career awareness from childhood, supported by programs like The Little Employee and media campaigns designed to foster a culture of continuous learning.
Addressing current challenges, Al Kharji cited limited awareness of career guidance importance, delayed self-discovery, and societal pressures, alongside the rapid labor market evolution. He stressed the need to enhance the number and capabilities of career guidance professionals.
In response, the Center has initiated programs like the Career Counselors Forum, held annually with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, aiming to train over 250 counselors in modern career guidance practices.
Concluding his remarks, Saad Abdullah Al Kharji stated that QCDC’s future strategy is anchored in the National Career Guidance and Development System, focusing on digital transformation, professionalizing the career guidance field, and ensuring inclusivity with programs for people with disabilities. These efforts aim to cultivate a well-prepared national workforce, enhancing Qatar’s competitiveness and contributing to a sustainable, knowledge-based economy.