QBFA celebrates graduation of 8th batch of Kawader Malia programme

Under the patronage and in the presence of HE Sheikh Bandar bin Mohamed bin Saoud al-Thani, Governor of the Qatar Central Bank, the Qatar Finance and Business Academy (QFBA) recently celebrated the graduation of the eighth cohort of the national programme, Kawader Malia.
The ceremony witnessed the participation of a number of officials and CEOs from Qatar’s leading banks and financial institutions. The ceremony saw the graduation of 72 Qatari students, bringing the total number of participants in the programme since its inception in 2013 to 249.
On this occasion, Abdulaziz bin Nasser al-Khalifa, chairman of the QFBA, congratulated the new graduates on their outstanding success. He emphasised that the graduates are reaping the fruits of their efforts and perseverance over the past months to acquire all the skills and knowledge that qualify them to achieve their developmental and professional goals, and to contribute effectively to the development of their institutions and improve their performance.
He noted that the programme's eighth cohort students were able to completely fulfil all of its requirements, becoming competent and ready to continue their successful careers.
Al-Khalifa also stated that the State of Qatar has paid special attention to supporting the private sector and enhancing its competitiveness. In this context, Qatar has promoted localisation of jobs by implementing a series of initiatives, through which it aims to achieve an important strategic goal based on the need to empower the country's citizens, develop their capabilities, and provide them with the knowledge, skills, and experience needed to assume leadership positions in the future.
Kawader Malia is one of QFBA's most important initiatives aimed at supporting the country's efforts in the localisation process, particularly in the fields of insurance and financial services, he added.
“After a number of graduates joined prestigious financial services institutions in Qatar, proving their worth and distinction in the positions they occupied, and their effective contribution to the development of their institutions and improving their performance, the program has already succeeded in achieving its desired goals over the course of its previous editions,” the official explained.
Khalifa al-Yafei, CEO of QFBA, stated: "For the first time since the programme's inception, the 8th cohort saw the expansion of the scope of the educational modules and the specialised pathways to include five educational modules represented in Introduction to Finance & Banking, Leadership & Management (ILM level 3 Certification), Pathway qualifications, Career Readiness Session as well as a four-week practical training experience.
He also noted that the number of specialized certifications for the programme reached four pathways, in which students were selected and registered based on the criteria specified for each pathway and after conducting personal interviews with them.
The Financial Analyst Certificate in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG), the Certificate in Risk in Financial Services (RFS), the Certificate in International Introduction to Securities and Investment (IISI), and the Certificate in General Insurance (CII W01) were among the qualifications provided. He added.
The list of partners and sponsors supporting this year’s edition included the Qatar Central Bank, Qatar Financial Center, Ministry of Labour, Civil Service and Government Development Bureau, QNB, Masraf Al Rayan, Dukhan Bank, and Qatar Insurance Group, Al Ahli Bank, Qatar Development Bank, Doha Bank and Qatar Islamic Bank.
The training institutions with whom the programme collaborated throughout the practical training phase comprised 18 local institutions as well as seven prestigious international institutions.
The “Kawader Malia” programme was inaugurated in 2013, and seven prior editions have been held. It aims to give participants with the chance to expand their understanding of the financial services sector as well as their leadership and management abilities.