The Qatar Career Development Centre (QCDC), established by Qatar Foundation (QF), wrapped up its “Career Counsellors Hub 2026” on September 2 after a two-day event held in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE), the U.S. Embassy in Doha, and Qatar Foundation Higher Education. The event brought together over 200 academic and career guidance professionals from schools, educational institutions, and organizations throughout Qatar.
The Hub featured 15 training sessions, workshops, and discussions conducted in both Arabic and English. These sessions aimed to equip participants with practical tools and updated knowledge to better guide students facing increasingly diverse academic options, evolving skill demands, and rapid changes in the labor market. Topics covered included university admissions, scholarship opportunities, emerging labor market skills, international study prospects, artificial intelligence in guidance, career readiness, and ongoing professional development.
Highlighting the importance of such initiatives, QCDC leadership emphasized that investing in the development of career counsellors ultimately benefits every student they support. “The impact of developing one career counsellor reaches every student they support. Our investment through the Hub is therefore an investment in the quality of the decisions young people are able to make about their education and future careers,” said a QCDC representative. The event aimed to foster a more consistent and effective network of guidance professionals to better prepare students for transitions into higher education and employment.
Maha Zayed Qaqaa Alruwaili, assistant undersecretary for Educational Affairs at MoEHE, described the Hub as a vital professional platform enabling counsellors to update their skills, engage with experts, share experiences, and build partnerships. She underscored the ministry’s commitment to supporting counsellors’ continuous development, given their essential role in preparing students for educational and career success. “Investing in the development of counsellors is a direct investment in students and in their ability to make more informed educational and career decisions,” Alruwaili said.
Dr. Francisco Marmolejo, president of Higher Education at Qatar Foundation, framed career counsellors as “enablers of dreams” who assist students in recognizing their potential and navigating an evolving world.
The opening day included a panel debate titled “Implementing Career Guidance at All Educational Levels,” which brought together academic counsellors from across Qatar to discuss the significance of integrating guidance services throughout students’ educational journeys.
In addition to the training sessions, the Hub hosted a networking exhibition featuring over 30 universities and training providers from both public and private sectors. This allowed counsellors to gain direct insight into various academic programs, pathways, and opportunities, enhancing the information they provide to students and families.
The collaborative effort drew on the complementary expertise of partners: MoEHE contributed knowledge on academic guidance and scholarship pathways; Qatar Foundation Higher Education offered insights into the opportunities at Education City universities; and the U.S. Embassy in Doha provided guidance on study opportunities in the United States. Bolstered by QCDC’s coordination, the event aimed to strengthen professional networks, encourage ongoing knowledge exchange, and enhance the quality of career guidance services across Qatar.