International Symposium on Education, Skills for Future-Ready Workforce Kicks Off

Doha: The International Symposium on Education and Skills for a Future-Ready Workforce: STEM and TVET for a Sustainable and Resilient Society kicked off on Wednesday. The symposium is organized by the University of Doha for Science and Technology (UDST) over two days. This seminar is being held in response to the decisions made by the Committee of Ministers of Higher Education and Scientific Research in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries to establish a forum for studying specialized fields that are required by the current and future job market. President of UDST Dr. Salem Al Naemi said: "There is a high number of job opportunities available in the STEM fields locally and globally, yet a remarkable shortage of graduates and professionals with the necessary qualifications and developed skills to take on these roles. It is our responsibility now, as educational institutions, to close the gap between future industry needs and educational output. The Third Qatar National Development Strategy 2024-2030 has set ambitious targets for the country, requiring 46% of the workforce to be in skilled roles, and 18% of students to graduate in STEM fields by 2030. These are significant goals, and it is more important than ever that we continue working with MOEHE to bolster access to STEM education at UDST, and amplify our Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET)." In remarks to Qatar News Agency , Dr. Al Naemi emphasized the importance of the seminar and its relationship with the various sectors of work, academic, vocational, and technical education, and its role in filling the shortage of technical and artistic skills, even at the personal level, which in turn is reflected in the academic programs, research, and field training for students and preparing them to align with the requirements of the labor market upon graduation. For his part, HE Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MOEHE) Dr. Ibrahim bin Saleh Al Nuaimi said that holding the seminar coincides with the rapid dev elopment witnessed by the labor sector locally and globally in light of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the digital and information expansion, and the global challenges it affects in the form of climate change, food security, desertification, and other challenges. His Excellency said that studies indicate that the number of jobs in the "STEM" curriculum is expected to increase by more than 8% compared to other specializations, as well as an increase in employment in the development of websites and technological programs by more than 20% by 2029, in addition to the creation of new jobs in big data and different software engineering. His Excellency noted that according to Dell, professionals believe that 85% of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics jobs do not exist yet and that they will be in demand in 2030. His Excellency pointed out that this for sure has a direct impact on the education sector, and magnifies the role of educational institutions as the primary source of preparation and q ualification of qualified human cadres to engage in the work sector following its updated requirements. In this context, His Excellency pointed out that STEM education and technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in the State of Qatar stand out as an influential force in shaping the required professional skills that are compatible with these changes and achieve the goals of the Qatar National Vision 2030, as these two types of education top the list of educational priorities in the State of Qatar, and the subsequent regulations, governance frameworks, educational programs, and curricula. In a related context, His Excellency said that the MOEHE is working to support education and training based on the STEM and TVET system by increasing technical and vocational schools, in addition to developing educational paths, integrating STEM subjects into the official basic curricula, linking them, and encouraging technical education and training as well as vocational training, which qualifies students to acquire important scientific and practical experiences that help them enroll in the best universities and gives those who hold technical certificates an opportunity to complete their educational journey and use the advanced professional skills they have acquired to meet the needs of the labor market. HE the Undersecretary of the MOEHE said that the opening of the Qatar Science and Technology Secondary School (QSTSS) for the academic year 2018-2019 was one of the most important and first transformational strategic projects implemented by the ministry, as a school that provides pioneering education based on the comprehensive application of the STEM methodology through an integrative curriculum that was specifically designed to prepare students to meet the requirements of the twenty-first century. He indicated that the number of students in the school now reached 240 Qatari students, while two batches of 118 students each have graduated, and urgent plans are being developed to open a parallel school for female students. His Excellency said that UDST comes as a model in higher education to complete students' various professional and technical paths, along with other leading universities in the country, led by Qatar University with its various programs in this field, the universities affiliated with the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, Qatar Aeronautical Academy, Ahmed bin Mohammed Military College, and various other universities and institutes in higher education. His Excellency expressed his aspiration, through this seminar, to unify local, regional, and global efforts to raise the efficiency of the technical and vocational education system in line with the qualitative change in the needs of the labor market, which calls for new high-tech competencies. Source: Qatar News Agency