Qatar – Education Sector Opportunities
Education in the State of Qatar continues to expand due to the strong government commitment to inculcate a continuous learning culture among its population, with substantial investment in the sector. The national priority for digital innovation and transformation has special emphasis in the education and training sectors. In March 2022, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) opened a Digital Center of Excellence, in collaboration with Microsoft Qatar, under its new National Skilling Program to train as many as 50,000 people with the skills needed in cutting-edge technologies to enhance their capability to compete by 2025.
The Covid-19 pandemic has served as a catalyst for self-paced active learning in the digital world and opportunities exist for U.S. educational institutions/companies to collaborate with Qatari educational institutions and private companies in e-learning, vocational learning, skill development training, and executive education in sectors such as energy, hospitality, and information and communication technology (ICT).
o For more information about this opportunity, please contact:
Mr. Srinivasa Murthy
Commercial Assistant
Srinivasa.Murthy@trade.gov
Background
Qatar has one of the highest internet penetrations in the world and is a global leader for adoption of digital technologies, consistent with the National Vision 2030. Qatar continues to seek innovative, disruptive technologies to scale up and provide access to education, skill development training, and continuous education programs to its population as it aims to attract students from around the world, particularly from Asia.
Qatari society is generally welcoming of the specialization and innovative training opportunities targeting students staying in Qatar during the secondary school and university years (especially females) to advance in their fields of study.
In addition, Qatar launched a public-private partnership (PPP) law in mid-2019, which has since included an initiative to construct new schools. As a result, five new public schools have opened this year alone, with several more expected to open in the next two years. The opening of new public schools may provide opportunities for U.S. companies with offerings in teacher training, reskilling, upskilling, and professional development for educators. Considering the Qatari national priority for an educated population and capable workforce, training for new and popular areas of study, such as business, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), and information technology, could have potential for success.
Sub-sectors with strong market potential include the following areas:
• e-Learning
• Executive education
• Skill development
• Workplace training
Next Steps for the U.S. Client
U.S. companies offering quality solutions for these opportunities should work with Commercial Assistant Srinivasa Murthy (Srinivasa.Murthy@trade.gov) at the U.S. Commercial Service in Qatar to explore matchmaking, market research, and other assistance.
As trade shows resume following the Covid-19 pandemic, U.S. firms and educational institutions should also reach out to CS Qatar to note participation in trade shows in education sector, such as NAFSA, for introductions to Qatari education and government representatives at these shows.