The GCC Consultative Lab for Training and the Knowledge Economy Sector, organised by HH International Training Centre, in cooperation with Qatar Chamber, brought together experts and specialists from GCC countries to discuss the current and future landscape of vocational training in the private sector.
The one-day forum in Doha yesterday witnessed the exchange of regional experiences and explored ways to align training systems with labour market needs and future skills.
The lab featured a panel discussion with representatives from Qatar Chamber, the Arab Centre 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 training-sector investors and independent trainers.
Fatima Issa al-Kuwari, head of the Training Department at Qatar Chamber, emphasised the importance of partnership and integration among government entities, chambers of commerce, the private sector and training providers.
She noted that Qatar Chamber plays an important role in connecting the private sector with vocational training by identifying companies’ needs and skills gaps and helping guide training programmes towards actual labour market requirements. She stressed that the success of vocational training should be measured by its ability to build practical skills, address skills gaps and enhance the productivity and competitiveness of the private sector.
Participants also highlighted the importance of continuous learning, international standards in training content, effective tools for measuring training impact, specialised vocational training, and clearer governance and regulatory frameworks for the private training sector.
Experiences in the GCC were presented through specialised papers covering human development and the knowledge economy in Oman, governance of private training in Saudi Arabia, regulation and quality assurance of vocational training in Bahrain, and strategic partnerships and institutional sustainability in the UAE.
The recommendations included the strengthening of trainer development programmes, equipping training providers with impact-measurement tools, establishing clearer pathways for lifelong learning and training, aligning training content with international standards, establishing a national training association, and developing a cooperative framework for training centres.
The discussions were moderated by Dr Hessa Hamad al-Marwani, CEO of HH International Training Centre and founder of the ‘Ila Hona’ (To Here) dialogue network. She highlighted the lab’s role in facilitating GCC knowledge exchange, identifying opportunities for integration, and strengthening the contribution of training to the knowledge economy.