A pre-departure event has been organised by Qatar Airways for a group of Qatari students selected from a pool of applicants for the airline’s newly-launched national scholarship programme.The ceremony provided students and their families with comprehensive briefings on the higher educational environment in Qatar and abroad, and prepared the students as they prepare to enter a new chapter in their lives.The Qatar Airways National Scholarship Programme aims to support talented Qatari high school graduates in their education, to develop a repertoire of skills required by the airline and to guide them towards becoming future leaders.Held at the airline-owned Oryx Rotana Hotel in Doha, the “Your Journey Begins” event was attended by almost 100 people comprising of a number of dignitaries from diplomatic and educational circles, the Qatari students, their families and senior members of the airline’s management.Qatar Airways chief executive officer Akbar al-Baker congratulated the students on their scholarships.He said: “We are delighted to have selected a pool of highly-competitive Qatari individuals, and are confident that they will excel in their university studies in the US, Britain as well as here in Qatar.”He added: “Qatar Airways is a forward-looking company, which understands the value of identifying our country’s brightest students, who are the pride and joy of our nation. “We are giving these local talents the opportunity to be part of their national carrier’s success story, and in return Qatar Airways will benefit from the competitive edge the young academics will provide the company in the long run.”While the airline grants 50 scholarships annually – a number set to grow every year – 25 applicants fulfilled the high requirements set in order to be eligible for the unique scheme this year.The rigorous selection process only permits the most gifted students to be granted the scholarship as applicants need to possess a wide range of key qualities in order to be chosen.Chairman of Qatar Airways National Scholarship Programme Steering Committee, Mohsen Alshayef al-Yafei, commented: “Through the launch of our National Scholarship Programme, we are taking solid positive steps to reach the objectives set in the airline’s strategic Qatarisation plan.“Qatar Airways is rapidly expanding and the Qatari workforce needs to become a strong pillar within the company to support the airline’s ambitious growth.”