Doha: Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC), established by Qatar Foundation (QF), successfully concluded the sixth edition of its premier career exploration initiative, Career Village. The event, held in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education and the Ministry of Labour, spanned three days and hosted 2,058 students from 125 schools. Participants were connected with 200 career counselors and 37 leading organizations across 13 critical sectors of Qatar’s economy.
According to Qatar News Agency, Career Village 2025 has emerged as a prominent platform for experiential career learning in the country. The event offered students practical exposure to various career paths in fields such as 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, and Hospitality and Tourism.
This initiative is a component of QCDC’s broader efforts to bridge the gap between education and employment. It supports Qatar’s Third National Development Strategy (2024-2030) and Qatar National Vision 2030, both of which highlight the importance of preparing youth for a diversified and knowledge-based economy.
The final day of Career Village 2025 featured a notable panel discussion titled “From Guidance to Employment: The Role of Academic Counseling in Supporting Students’ Paths to the Private Sector.” This session addressed the national priority of enhancing Qatari participation in private-sector employment, following the recent enactment of Law No. (12) of 2024 on Job Nationalization in the Private Sector.
The panel discussion involved over 75 career and academic counselors from schools across Qatar, with contributions from representatives of the Ministry of Labour, the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, the Commercial Bank of Qatar, and a young program graduate now working in the hospitality sector. Discussions centered on how school-based career guidance can be a vital entry point for nationalization efforts.
Over the course of the three-day event, students engaged with sector professionals and explored training opportunities, learning about workplace expectations and demands through simulations, workshops, and guidance sessions. Since its inception in 2017, Career Village has positively impacted more than 12,000 students, becoming a cornerstone of QCDC’s strategy to develop a future-ready workforce.