(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development has highlighted the international certification of many of its member organisations at a high-profile ceremony attended by Fahad Saad Al Qahtani, Group Executive Director, Administration, QF, and Jassim Telfat, Group Executive Director, Capital Projects and Facilities Management.
Held at Education City, the event saw French Ambassador Eric Chevallier present awards and workplace standards certificates granted to QF by Bureau Veritas, a global leader in testing, inspection and certification.
Those honoured were representatives of Reach Out To Asia (ROTA), Health, Safety, Security and Environment (HSSE) Directorate and IT Directorate, with Chevallier noting that all have maintained "a culture of excellence," while working to achieve QF's mission to unlock human potential.
Al Qahtani said: "We believe that certifying ourselves to international standards achieves strategic goals for us as an organisation because it ensures our operations are efficient and that we provide a high quality, safe and welfare-conscious environment.
"This also ensures that we fully utilise our potential as we look to establish a high-performing and collaborative culture in Qatar.
"We are delighted to be recognised for consistently high standards this organisation has displayed since its inception 20 years ago."
Chevallier said: "QF is setting examples and acting as a standard-bearer in the region and further afield.
"In recent years, QF has shown commitment to corporate social responsibility, education, health, workers' safety and the environment. These are important issues for France and we recognise that QF is a key partner in leading the way in these endeavours."
Bureau Veritas representatives responsible for establishing QF's compliance to all five certifications were also present.
Marchel Hochar, Senior Vice- President, Bureau Veritas, said: "These certifications reflect QF's high level of commitment and leadership to benchmark best international practices in management systems.
"ROTA being the first organisation in Qatar to get certified to SA 8000 demonstrates the leadership role QF is undertaking towards workers' basic human rights.
"We see QF as a strategic partner in promoting excellence in Qatar and internationally. QF and Bureau Veritas, with over 50 international accreditations and more than 5500 qualified auditors, are well placed to take the partnership forward and achieve more challenging objectives in management system excellence."
ROTA has achieved two international standards certificates over the past 12 months and continues to provide quality education to the most needy locally and in Asia, in support of QF's mission to affect positive international change.
Last November, ROTA became the first organisation in Qatar and the first NGO in the Middle East to earn international SA8000:2008 certification. It is awarded to organisations that can display policies and procedures that protect basic human rights in the workplace.
Last October, ROTA also achieved ISO9001:2008 certification that recognises consistency and impact of its programmes.
Essa Al Mannai, Executive Director, said: "ROTA strives to respect and protect human dignity and raise the bar for standards in the workplace in the region. "The certifications show that we are consistently meeting our targets.
Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Executive Director, Operations, QF, collected a certificate on behalf of the IT Directorate. Last March, QF was re-issued ISO 27001:2013 certification for managing information security risks and information handling processes.
Al Suwaidi said: "In a few short years, the directorate has established itself as one of the most ambitious and fastest-improving information technology centres in the Gulf. I am pleased that our efforts are being continually recognised and I am sure we will use this certificate to further motivate us as we look to deliver high-quality IT services to the QF workforce."
Sheikha Amal Al Thani, Executive Director, HSSE, received an honorary certificate in recognition of two international compliance certifications her directorate has been re-awarded over the last 12 months. Both ISO 14001:2004 and OHSAS 18001:2007 certificates follow audits over the past three years that confirm QF's consistent commitment to health, safety and environmental standards in its offices.
Sheikha Amal said: "We are paving the way at a regional level for consistently high health, safety and environmental standards within the workplace. "I would like to share this achievement with all those who have assisted QF as we look to reduce workplace accidents, illnesses and our environmental impact while enhancing the welfare of our staff."
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