Abdulla Al Mansoori
Despite the challenges, COVID-19 pandemic has also presented new opportunities to embrace distance learning and to step up efforts to build resilient education systems.
The COVID-19 crisis has demonstrated that learning is no longer only restricted to schools or universities, said Abdulla Al Mansoori, Director, Qatar Career Development Centre (QCDC), a member of Qatar Foundation, speaking to The Peninsula in line with beginning of the new academic year.
“The digital revolution has put at our disposal a wealth of resources to equip students with the skills and tools to make informed academic and career choices, which will ultimately contribute to creating a ‘safety net’ of qualified professionals to address challenges in times of crisis. This has been evident in the healthcare industry, which was at the forefront of the battle against COVID-19,” he said.
“We believe every individual should be offered the opportunity to choose the profession that best aligns with his or her personal skills and aspirations and the long terms needs of the country to ensure a prosperous future for Qatar and its people,” he added.
Since the pandemic’s outbreak, QCDC has stepped up efforts to reach youth online and maintain their focus on career development so that they can make informed academic and career choices that reflect positively on the labour market and the economy of Qatar.
“QCDC has seized this opportunity to reinvent the delivery of its career guidance services and to build on its well-established online presence through a myriad of digital initiative aimed at guiding students into efficiently managing their time to enhance their career prospects,” said Al Mansoori.
Given that most institutions are resuming remote learning in the new academic year, Al Mansoori said that online learning is a concept that dates back to 2000. In fact, most universities today employ so-called “learning management systems” and have capitalised on these systems to ensure the continuity of the educational process since the outbreak of the pandemic.
“The availability of video conferencing tools such as “Zoom” and “Google” and “Meeting” as well as interactive educational platform such a Google for Education and Office 365 has eased access to learning resources and shattered geographic limitations,” he said.
“But challenges persist particularly when it comes to readiness of both teachers and students to engage in an interactive two-way learning process,” he added.
To mention, QCDC has already launched online the latest edition of ‘My Career — My Future’ programme for high school students. The programme, consisted of six dialogue sessions, streamed live via Instagram with the participation of people from different professions and disciplines.
“As part of the programme, guests interacted online with students, elaborating on their profession and academic background before taking questions from participants to familiarise with career tracks and in-demand jobs in the Qatari labour market to help them make informed plans to bolster their academic and career prospects,” said Al Mansoori.
