Qatar has started to witness the impact of its investment in education, leading to diversified economic growth in the country, a senior Qatar Foundation (QF) official has said.
“There is an increase in the number of recent graduates working in the private sector or who have become involved in the field of entrepreneurship by establishing small and medium enterprises. This directly reflects on the strength and diversification of the economy, which makes it more sustainable and reduces its primary reliance on oil and gas revenues,” said Dr Asmaa al-Fadala, director of Research and Content Development at the World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE), QF’s global education initiative.
According to Dr al-Fadala, this is evident in the number of students currently enroled in Qatar Foundation’s partner universities and Hamad Bin Khalifa University as well as other institutes. “University enrolment in Qatar has increased dramatically over the last five years, even as the admission and studying requirements in these universities have become more difficult. There has also been a significant increase in the number of graduates, confirming a qualitative change in the school educational system that paved the way for this outcome,” she said.
“And what I have seen recently is the growing interest of young people, both male and female, in fields like arts, sports, literature and the environment. These represent strengths in a diversified economy that include human and social aspects, as well as practical and professional aspects, and these fields provide investment opportunities and jobs,” she added.
The official noted that the educational system in Qatar has many positive aspects and, as with other educational systems across the world, is currently facing challenges that need to be addressed, especially after the outbreak of Covid-19.
“The educational system in Qatar is very focused on promoting the importance of identity, the Arabic language and Qatari heritage. It also has strong infrastructure, reflected in modern school facilities, equipment, and resources, utilises technology in many aspects of the educational process, and is committed to developing the capabilities of teachers,” she said.
She also pointed out that the educational system needs to develop professionals in schools to support the educational process at the school level, based on research, scientific evidence and experimental studies.
“It also needs to enhance student motivation and increase the involvement of parents in the educational process and the way they follow up on their children’s development,” she added.
Dr al-Fadala said specialised schools for students can help them take the right decision about their future by aligning them with labour market requirements.
“In Qatar, this is evident in the establishment of specialised schools such as the Qatar Independent Secondary School of Banking Sciences and Business Administration, which provides an educational curriculum that prepares students to work in the banking sector after graduation; in addition to schools that focus on medical sciences and also STEM education, such as Qatar Foundation’s Qatar Academy for Science and Technology,” she noted.
The official stressed that education and the economy are closely linked, and education is currently one of the important areas of investment because it brings a return for society as a whole.
“We have all seen changes in curricula, moving from traditional methods to focusing on teaching 21st century skills such as critical thinking, problem solving and teamwork, in addition to paying special attention to teaching foreign languages and entrepreneurship education. We have also come to see huge diversity in schools, and society’s view of this diversified education has rapidly become more positive,” added al-Fadala.
“There is an increase in the number of recent graduates working in the private sector or who have become involved in the field of entrepreneurship by establishing small and medium enterprises. This directly reflects on the strength and diversification of the economy, which makes it more sustainable and reduces its primary reliance on oil and gas revenues,” said Dr Asmaa al-Fadala, director of Research and Content Development at the World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE), QF’s global education initiative.
According to Dr al-Fadala, this is evident in the number of students currently enroled in Qatar Foundation’s partner universities and Hamad Bin Khalifa University as well as other institutes. “University enrolment in Qatar has increased dramatically over the last five years, even as the admission and studying requirements in these universities have become more difficult. There has also been a significant increase in the number of graduates, confirming a qualitative change in the school educational system that paved the way for this outcome,” she said.
“And what I have seen recently is the growing interest of young people, both male and female, in fields like arts, sports, literature and the environment. These represent strengths in a diversified economy that include human and social aspects, as well as practical and professional aspects, and these fields provide investment opportunities and jobs,” she added.
The official noted that the educational system in Qatar has many positive aspects and, as with other educational systems across the world, is currently facing challenges that need to be addressed, especially after the outbreak of Covid-19.
“The educational system in Qatar is very focused on promoting the importance of identity, the Arabic language and Qatari heritage. It also has strong infrastructure, reflected in modern school facilities, equipment, and resources, utilises technology in many aspects of the educational process, and is committed to developing the capabilities of teachers,” she said.
She also pointed out that the educational system needs to develop professionals in schools to support the educational process at the school level, based on research, scientific evidence and experimental studies.
“It also needs to enhance student motivation and increase the involvement of parents in the educational process and the way they follow up on their children’s development,” she added.
Dr al-Fadala said specialised schools for students can help them take the right decision about their future by aligning them with labour market requirements.
“In Qatar, this is evident in the establishment of specialised schools such as the Qatar Independent Secondary School of Banking Sciences and Business Administration, which provides an educational curriculum that prepares students to work in the banking sector after graduation; in addition to schools that focus on medical sciences and also STEM education, such as Qatar Foundation’s Qatar Academy for Science and Technology,” she noted.
The official stressed that education and the economy are closely linked, and education is currently one of the important areas of investment because it brings a return for society as a whole.
“We have all seen changes in curricula, moving from traditional methods to focusing on teaching 21st century skills such as critical thinking, problem solving and teamwork, in addition to paying special attention to teaching foreign languages and entrepreneurship education. We have also come to see huge diversity in schools, and society’s view of this diversified education has rapidly become more positive,” added al-Fadala.
