Fifth Career Fair Poised to Write Qatar's Next Success Chapter

Doha, March 04 (QNA) - The fifth edition of the five-day Qatar Career Fair (QCF) 2012 opening here April 1 is poised to write Qatar's next chapter of success by guiding the next generation of aspiring professionals to suitable positions in the country's expanding corporate, energy, business, finance, education, industrial and governmental sectors, organisers announced here Sunday. The Fair, jointly organised by QF, Qatar Petroleum, Amiri Diwan, the University of Qatar and the Ministry of Labour, and to be held for the first time at the Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC) will open on April 1 and conclude on April 5, under the patronage of HH the Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, members of the QCF Steering Committee told the media. Addressing a media conference, Qatar Foundation (QF) for Education, Science and Community Development Executive Director, Operations Khalid Abdullah Al Sulaiteen said, "The QCF is one of the major projects that embody the values of the Foundation. Expanding Qatar's knowledge-based economy and unlocking human potential are QF's long-term investment. Besides offering employment opportunities the QCF will provide education, training, development and career guidance." Announcing details, QCF Executive Director Abdullah Ahmed Al Mansoori said, "More than 100 entities from various ministries, government companies, institutions and non-governmental organisations have signed up for the Fair since registrations opened mid-November last year." Fair villages are demarcated by four key subjects - energy and industry; business and finance, education, health, sports and governmental, he said. "The Villages have been classified in five categories - diamond, pearl, gold, silver and bronze and the slogan for this edition is 'Write the Next Chapter of Qatar's Success' while the pen is the basic mark of the Fair as a symbol of education," said Al Mansoori. Replying to a question on new rules for participating in the Fair, he said, “There are no new conditions" and added, "Participating companies are focused on their objectives since we provide them with feedback on the Fair every year. "QCF has asked participating companies to distribute forms giving details of job opportunities in various departments and what are the criteria for the candidates seeking career openings." "This year's Fair will feature speakers who will lecture on career development," Al Mansoori said. "The Fair has planned a number of events and competitions that have already started and results will be announced during the event 'INVEST' project." Speaking on behalf of Qatar Petroleum (QP), Corporate Training Manager Ali Nasser Telfat said, "The Fair provides a platform to various organisations in the country and the future generation that is responsible for the progress and development taking place here towards achieving the Qatar National Vision 2030." Reaffirming the 2030 Vision, Co-Chair of the QCF Steering Committee Khalid Abdullah Al Sulaiteen said, "The education, employment, training and development opportunities provided by the career fair are what we do to make this vision (2030) a reality which gives qualitative human resources that the process of development needs." Confirming the QCF has been a success story thus far, Telfat said, "After the conclusion of QCF 2011, QP has recruited 576 graduates and provided 65 scholarships to high school graduates" and added that "QP is committed to a plan of supporting various events in educational institutions to attract Qatari students". Speaking at the media conference, Qatar University Vice-President of Students Affairs Dr Omar Al Ansari said, "The university booth (at the Fair) will provide counseling and career guidance. The university aims to reach out to a wider base of students and identify the available employment opportunities besides arranging recruitment agreements through its designated section for vocational guidance and support at the Fair." The university's participation is based on two areas - attracting the best administrative and academic talent in the market and introducing high-school students to the academic options available, he said. The Qatar University has been proactive in this objective as it had "established in 2005 a centre offering career services to individuals" Dr Al Ansari said and added that "the university was committed to QCF as an event of national pride". Indeed the importance of the QCF can be seen from Qatar Foundation's commitment to it since 2008. Reiterating this Khalid Al Sulaiteen said, "The Foundation embraced the Fair by establishing Qatar Career Fair Centre under the QF umbrella. In co-operation with the other four organisers, QCF as an event was inaugurated to create every year a key forum that brings together young citizens, decision makers, education, industry and economy stakeholders." To this objective Al Sulaiteen thanked and expressed his gratitude to HH the Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani "for his generous and permanent patronage of the Fair and HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser for backing the Centre from the very beginning". This year the QCF has given special attention to the volunteering programme. The total number of volunteers for this edition is 300, organizers said. (QNA)