FROM RIGHT: Assistant Undersecretary for Higher Education at MoEHE Dr. Hareb Mohammed Al Jabri; Executive Director of QCDC Saad Abdullah Al-Kharji; President of Community College of Qatar Dr. Khalid Mohamed Al-Horr; and Coordination Lead of the Academic Advisory Council at EduCluster Finland Dr. David Marsh addressing the press conference yesterday. Pic: Ahmed Brakat/ The Peninsula
DOHA: Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC), founded by Qatar Foundation (QF), yesterday launched the region’s first Arabic-language Post-Graduate Diploma in Career Development, marking a major milestone in strengthening professional career guidance services in Qatar and the wider Arab world.
Developed by QCDC in collaboration with EduCluster Finland, licensed by the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE), and delivered locally in partnership with Community College of Qatar (CCQ), the programme aims to build a sustainable national pipeline of qualified practitioners and enhance the quality and impact of career development services across schools, universities, and workplace settings.
Speaking at a press conference, Assistant Undersecretary for Higher Education at MoEHE, Dr. Hareb Mohammed Al Jabri, said the diploma supports national priorities. “This diploma sits at the heart of one of the Ministry’s strategic priorities under the Third National Development Strategy, which is aligning education outcomes with labour market needs,” he said.
“Achieving that goal requires highly capable career guidance practitioners with a comprehensive understanding of both the education ecosystem and the labour market. We believe this programme will be a major addition not only to the education system, but also to the labour market.” The launch comes amid growing recognition of the need for structured, evidence-based career guidance as education pathways diversify and labour market demands evolve. Experts note that effective guidance systems require adequate capacity, with some international benchmarks recommending one career counsellor for every 30 students.
Executive Director of QCDC, Saad Abdullah Al-Kharji, described the diploma as a transformative national investment. “Today, with pride and together with our esteemed partners, we announce the launch of the Postgraduate Diploma in Career Guidance and Development as a landmark step and a pivotal turning point in the journey of career guidance in the State of Qatar,” he said. “This programme represents an ambitious investment in minds and capabilities, and a guarantee for elevating the quality of career development through a more integrated system that responds to labour market changes.”
Al-Kharji highlighted the rapid pace of global change and its implications for young people and working adults alike. “We are living in an era where technologies evolve quickly, skills requirements shift, and pathways between education and employment increasingly intersect,” he said.
“Career guidance has become a vital service for enhancing readiness for the future and supporting the objectives of Qatar National Vision in developing human capital.”
A distinctive feature of the programme is its delivery in Arabic, positioning it as one of the first specialised academic qualifications of its kind in the region. “We were keen to ensure that the programme is firmly rooted in the Qatari context while aligned with international standards,” Al-Kharji noted. “Offering this diploma in Arabic opens new doors for localising knowledge and enriching Arabic content in the field of career guidance and development.”
President of CCQ, Dr. Khalid Mohamed Al-Horr, welcomed the partnership, describing it as a natural extension of CCQ’s mission. “It is of great importance for community colleges to offer a programme of this nature, and we are privileged to collaborate with distinguished and leading partners,” he told The Peninsula, speaking on the sidelines of the press conference. “In Qatar, we work closely with MoEHE and QCDC, both of which play a leading role in empowering young learners to fulfil their potential.” Dr. Al-Horr also pointed to the value of international collaboration. “Finland is widely recognised for its high-quality education system, and together with EduCluster, it has made significant contributions to career guidance across Europe. We are honoured to be part of this prestigious partnership,” he said.
From the international partner’s perspective, the programme reflects years of sustained collaboration. Coordination Lead of the Academic Advisory Council at EduCluster Finland, Dr. David Marsh, said the diploma is the outcome of a four-year partnership combining local and global expertise. “This programme stands as a testament to what can be achieved when complementary institutions work in true partnership,” he said. “It is unique not only to Qatar, but to the wider region.” Dr. Marsh described the initiative as a shift in practice.
“This Diploma marks a decisive move from fragmented, reactive career guidance to a modern, systemic approach to career education tailored specifically to Qatar,” he said, adding that it “serves as a catalyst for change, building confidence, competence, and personal agency for learners of all ages.”
The 12-month diploma carries approximately 30 credit hours under Qatar’s National Qualifications Framework and requires 1,500 hours of learning, combining theory, practical training, applied activities, and field-based projects. Participants specialise in one of three pathways covering K–12 education, higher education and training, or working life settings.
The first cohort is expected to qualify between 20 and 40 national specialists, contributing to long-term capacity building and positioning Qatar as a regional reference point for professional, Arabic-language career development education.
