QU's pioneering HR project empowers Qataris to lead 

(MENAFN Press) Doha, Qatar - Thursday, December 13th 2012

The first-ever mentoring program and international certification for Qatari nationals working in Human Resources has been launched by Qatar University's Initiative for Lifelong Learning (QUILL).

The pilot program enables Qataris to undertake training with the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), the world's largest chartered HR and development professional body.

In the first phase of the project, ten Qatari HR employees, five men and five women at various levels in their careers, have been selected from a diverse range of organizations including Qatar University, RasGas, Qatar Museums Authority (QMA), Qatar Financial Center Regulatory Authority (QFCRA), OryxGTL, and QTel. They will undergo training sessions throughout the first half of next year and will be mentored by HR professionals from leading organizations in Qatar such as Vodafone, Schlemburg and QNB.

The mentoring program has been set up by QU's QUILL, part of the university's Continuing Education Office, and is in partnership with the Institute of Development & Training (IODT) and Coaching and Mentoring Accelerated Learning (CaMAL). The scheme covers four areas of human resource disciplines - Developing Yourself as an Effective Practitioner; Resourcing, Talent Planning and Recruitment; Performance and Reward; and Supporting Change in Organizations. Program participants also participate in workshops which will be held in between the training activities and which they can attend with or without their mentors.

On graduation, the ten participants will themselves become role models for other young Qatari men and women hoping to join the professional sectors in Qatar. QU HR consultant Najat El-Mahdy was instrumental in designing the program. She said: "These young men and women in the program are being mentored today with the view to shaping and strengthening Qatar's HR sector. They will act as ambassadors for HR professionalism in Qatar.

"We hope this pioneering program will be the beginning of setting the standard for HR in Qatar which will support organizations in realizing their goals to contribute towards Qatar National Vision 2030."

QU's Continuing Education Director Dr Taj Elsir Kardaman said this was the first time

participants in a dedicated training program have been mentored by professionals in their field. He added: "It is important in the process of Qatarisation and in training up Qatari nationals to work efficiently in the national labor market that they have the opportunity to interact with experts who can guide them through the requirements of the world of work within the local business environment. We are grateful to these mentors for contributing their time, experience and know-how voluntarily in support of this pilot program."