As part of its broader vision to diversify away from oil and gas dependence, Qatar is undergoing a significant transformation as it transitions towards a knowledge-based economy, driving remarkable growth in the field of educational technology (EdTech) innovation, the Investment Promotion Agency Qatar (Invest Qatar) has stated in its latest report.
In its ‘EdTech Report’, Invest Qatar stated that the country has taken significant steps to lay the groundwork for a diversified economy, which is focused on advancing its education ecosystem via knowledge and innovation.
One of the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030 is to achieve sustainable and diversified growth by creating a knowledge-based economy characterised by innovation, entrepreneurship, and excellence in education, stated the report.
It noted that ‘human development’ is one of the key pillars of this national vision, which focuses on building a world-class education system, enhancing healthcare, and empowering Qataris to thrive in a knowledge-based, competitive economy.
The report emphasised that Qatar envisions “a world-class educational system that equips citizens to achieve their aspirations and to meet the needs of Qatar's society, including: educational curricula and training programmes responding to the current and future needs of the labour market; high quality educational and training opportunities appropriate to each individual's aspirations and abilities; and accessible educational programmes for life-long learning.”
Qatar’s strategic shift to a knowledge-based economy is fuelling growth in EdTech innovation, the report noted, citing the Qatar National Development Strategy (NDS3).
It stated that NDS3 “sets education as a key enabling diversification cluster, which entails strengthening its position as a higher-education hub; build on past investments that have established a presence in Qatar; leverage its higher education institutions to produce world-class graduates for all economic clusters; and attract private sector investment to help absorb a future growing student population.”
“EdTech platforms offer significant investment opportunities through upskilling programmes, delivering scalable and flexible learning solutions to meet the future workforce needs. These include Bridge Programmes: creating upskilling pathways for youth into key economic sectors; Skilling-Credit Programmes: enabling access to essential upskilling courses; and Knowledge Transfer Programmes: offering opportunities for employed youth to explore new economic sectors,” the report stated.
According to the report, investment in EdTech offers a significant opportunity to the NDS3’s STEM targets by providing scalable digital platforms for skills development, personalised learning, and career guidance.
Qatar’s future-ready workforce targets by 2030 included a “46%” upskilling total workforce in skilled and high-skilled jobs and an “18%” STEM graduate target of all graduates in the STEM fields, the report stated.
The report stated, “Qatar offers abundant opportunities to key players at each stage of the EdTech value chain, including content creation, platform development, technology infrastructure, distribution channels, and end-users.
“Qatar is home to prominent national champions, institutions, and multinational firms, fostering innovation and driving EdTech development, such as national stakeholders, universities, research and development centres, accelerators and incubators, digital infrastructure, training centres and NGOs, and EdTech vendors.”
Being home to skilled talent and a world-class knowledge ecosystem, the report stated that Qatar offers well-established and diverse learning facilities. “The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology launched the Qatar Digital Academy to enhance government sector competencies in the ICT field. The academy announced 77 additional courses, covering a wide range of technical fields, including cybersecurity, artificial intelligence (AI), and project management,” it also stated.
According to the report, Qatar has developed an extensive research and development (R&D) ecosystem supporting innovation and digital transformation, and offers a technology gateway to the Mena region and beyond through the Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP).
The report also said: “For over six years, the WISE EdTech Accelerator has supported EdTech founders from around the world in scaling innovative solutions to key challenges in education.
“Each year, a bespoke programme is delivered to support startup growth through one-to-one coaching, masterclasses with industry experts, as well as access to a global network of investors and education specialists.”
On the back of a resilient and stable economy, access to natural resources, a pro-business ecosystem, a world-class talent and knowledge ecosystem, and future-ready infrastructure and global connectivity, Qatar offers foreign investors a valuable and competitive business climate, the report added.
In its ‘EdTech Report’, Invest Qatar stated that the country has taken significant steps to lay the groundwork for a diversified economy, which is focused on advancing its education ecosystem via knowledge and innovation.
