Vocational training offers educational options to Qataris

Qatar has taken great strides in providing internationally recognized higher education facilities for our youth to enable them to compete in the 21st century global economy. The Supreme Education Council’s (SEC) has an ongoing commitment to building a world-class education system that seeks to fulfill its role within the wider international and national context. Recent studies indicate that there is an urgent need to balance tertiary education with internationally recognized technical training and development, and provide equally valuable technical and vocational qualifications

Vocational or technical education is considered a basic foundation for sustainable development. It equips learners with technical and professional skills at practical and theoretical levels that enables them to master their work and promote their skill levels in specialized areas of work, be it industrial, commercial or tourism. Learners become well prepared to meet the labor market needs, hence, becoming productive citizens that contribute effectively in the progress and prosperity of their country.

Accordingly, HH Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al-Misnned, vice president of the SEC directed officials to develop an implementation plan to establish national vocational and technical competency standards as well as technical training facilities as part of the National Qualifications Framework.

In January 2010, the Office of Policy Analysis and Research organized a symposium under the patronage of HE Saad bin Ibrahim Al Mahmoud, Minister of Education and Higher Education and Secretary General of the SEC at the Four Seasons Hotel where a draft of the national technical and vocational education competency standards was launched. The implementation plan is currently being reviewed by a Consultative Forum of stakeholders

The plan comprises eight components: the qualifications framework, licensing and accreditation, supply and demand status, public awareness campaign, public regulatory procedures, training facilities and partnerships, comparative study of international VET systems and parallel curricula for high schools.

Eight teams comprising stakeholders were appointed to a Consultative Forum of the vocational education project. The Forum’s main objective is to refine the project plan submit the final draft to HE the Minister by June 2010.

“The project of vocational education represents a qualitative addition to the Education for a New Era initiative, which aims to provide educational options and alternatives as well as promote opportunities for excellence,” said Dr. Aziza Al-Saadi, Director, Office of Policy Analysis and Research. “This project also aims to prepare and provide learners with the necessary competencies and vocational skills required to meet the needs of the labor market. It is also aligned with Qatar National Vision 2030 which considers human development as one of its most important pillars - a vision aimed at developing Qatar's population to be able to build a prosperous society.”

The vocational education project covers many of the training options that involve the standards of competencies accredited internationally in the field of vocational and technical education, in order to meet the need of the Qatari labor market. The areas of vocational education include training skills relevant to the energy industry, mining, finance, tourism services, mechanical and electrical services as well as other professions needed by the Qatari labor market. In this context, the Office of Policy Analysis and Research is currently conducting a study exploring the views from a sample of the stakeholders involved in this project in order to define what skills meet the needs of the Qatari labor market.

The vocational education project targets school dropouts, those whose circumstances prevented them from attending or entering university, employees who work without academic qualifications, the unemployed who lack the academic qualifications, and other groups wishing to enroll in vocational education. The project seeks to incorporate international, regional and gulf experiences into the vocational and technical education.

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