GCC consultative lab explores future of vocational training in private sector

Doha [Qatar], September 7: The GCC Consultative Lab for Training and the Knowledge Economy Sector was launched at the Sheraton Doha Hotel, bringing together experts and specialists from across the GCC to discuss the evolving role of vocational training in meeting private-sector and labour market needs. Organised by HH International Training Center in cooperation with Qatar Chamber, the one-day forum focused on exchanging regional experiences, strengthening training systems and preparing the workforce with the skills required for the future.
The Lab featured a panel discussion involving representatives from Qatar Chamber, the Arab Center for Training and Educational Development for the Gulf States, Qatar University, the Diplomatic Institute at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Qatar National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, Ras Laffan Emergency and Safety College, as well as investors in the training sector and independent trainers.
In her remarks, Fatima Issa Al Kuwari, head of the Training Department at Qatar Chamber, stressed the importance of stronger partnerships between government entities, chambers of commerce, the private sector and training providers.
She said Qatar Chamber plays a key role in linking the private sector with vocational training by identifying companies' skills needs and gaps and helping ensure that training programmes respond to actual labour market requirements.
Al Kuwari emphasised that the effectiveness of vocational training should be assessed by its ability to develop practical skills, bridge workforce gaps and improve the productivity and competitiveness of theprivate sector.
Participants highlighted the need for continuous learning, internationally aligned training standards, specialised vocational programmes and effective tools to measure training outcomes. They also called for clearer governance and regulatory frameworks for the private training sector.
The forum provided a platform for sharing GCC experiences through specialised presentations covering human development and the knowledge economy in Oman, governance of private training in Saudi Arabia, regulation and quality assurance in Bahrain, and strategic partnerships and institutional sustainability in the UAE.
Discussions resulted in a number of recommendations, including strengthening trainer-development programmes, providing training institutions with tools to measure their impact, creating clearer pathways for lifelong learning, aligning training content with international standards, establishing a national training association and developing a cooperative framework linking training centres.
The discussions were moderated by Dr Hessa Hamad Al Marwani, CEO of HH International Training Center and founder of the "Ila Hona" (To Here) dialogue network.
Al Marwani highlighted the Lab's role in facilitating knowledge exchange among GCC countries, identifying opportunities for greater integration and enhancing the contribution of vocational training to the region's transition towards a knowledge-based economy.
Source: Qatar Tribune