• Qatar Digital Academy, an expansion of QDGTP, was launched to enhance government sector competencies in the ICT field.
• Qatar Digital Academy exceeded its annual trainee target and nearly reached its training course goals within just the first half of the year.
• QDGTP offered over 15,000 seats for in-demand digital skills, leading to 1,506 international certifications.
• Qatar Digital Academy was established in response to the growing demand for training in the ICT field.
• The scope of beneficiaries in the second phase expanded to 86 government entities, up from 67 entities in the first phase.
• Since the beginning of the second phase, 633 Qatari talents have been trained at the Academy.

The First Launch: Qatar Digital Government Training Program (QDGTP)

Qatar Digital Government Training Program (QDGTP) aims to build exceptional national capabilities in ICT by providing world-class training to ICT workforce in various government sectors. The Program's goal is to ensure the success of Qatar's digital transformation by preparing qualified staff to keep pace with rapid technological advancements and implementing digital government strategic plans.

To achieve this, the Program set clear goals including attracting and training 1,000 employees annually, having 250 of them obtain international certifications, and completing 2 specialized training programs each year.

The Program has been a cornerstone in developing national ICT skills, targeting government institutions and addressing employee knowledge gaps through structured training and programs. In its initial phase, it achieved remarkable results by delivering 1,053 courses and specialized programs, providing 15,000 training seats, with 1,506 individuals earning accredited international certificates.

Developing National Talent in ICT

As part of its ongoing efforts to develop national talent, QDGTP broadened its offerings to provide practical training courses tailored to the needs of government staff. Notably, exclusive programs were developed in partnership with HEC Paris in Qatar.

The “IT Talent Program” is one of these programs. It targets emerging talents and new IT employees in government entities, equipping them with the essential knowledge and skills to fulfill their roles and support Qatar's digital government objectives. The program has successfully graduated 82 employees from 15 government agencies across three batches.

Additionally, the “Chief Technology Officer (CTO)” training program, running for eight months, focuses on enhancing leadership and strategic capabilities of participants in steering the digital transformation within their institutions. It covers 6 specialized educational areas, blending theoretical study with practical training. CTO program has graduated 41 executives from 13 government entities across its 2 editions.

Strategic Partnerships

The QDGTP has established partnerships with leading national and international institutions, including Microsoft, Oracle, SAP, Qatar University, and HEC Paris. These partnerships help create an integrated educational environment that enables the Program to offer advanced and specialized training programs that meet market needs and develop qualified Qatari talent, making them competitive in the labor market.

One of the most notable collaborations is the 3-party partnership between MCIT, Microsoft, and Elev8, which led to the launch of the Digital Excellence Center under the National Skilling Program. This collaboration aligns with the Ministry's ongoing efforts to develop national talent for a diverse, fast-growing economy.

Since its establishment in 2022, the Center has trained over 7,000 employees, accelerating digital transformation across the government and private sectors. This success has paved the way for expanding the Program into Qatar Digital Academy.

A Remarkable Year: Unprecedented Challenges and Inspiring Achievements

The COVID-19 pandemic proved that investing in digital infrastructure and developing qualified talent is an investment in a more resilient and sustainable future. While many countries faced governmental slowdowns or halts due to lockdowns and quarantines, Qatar was able to maintain high efficiency in remote work.

This success was largely due to its advanced technological infrastructure, the availability of remote work and training capabilities, and the presence of qualified staff capable of handling various challenges across all ministries and state institutions.

The QDGTP played a crucial role in enabling government employees to work remotely effectively. The Program assessed the new training needs imposed by the emerging reality and reviewed necessary technical requirements and policies to ensure business continuity.

The specialized training programs offered by QDGTP saw increased demand from entities seeking to develop their employees' skills to meet their digital needs, resulting in an increased number of trainees and certifications awarded in collaboration with the Program's partners.

Qatar Digital Academy: A Future Expansion of Past Achievements

Qatar Digital Academy was launched as a successful expansion of the QDGTP and Digital Excellence Center, which excelled in digital workforce training in the ICT sector. These achievements include reaching 86 government entities in the second phase, up from 67 in the first.

Building on this, MCIT transformed the Program into an academy to meet diverse government training needs and support the strategic goals of the Digital Agenda 2030, the national framework for technological advancement and technology adoption.

The Academy has achieved results that exceeded all expectations, with goals set to conduct 150 training courses and train 1,000 employees annually. It has implemented 125 training courses and trained over 1,297 employees, 633 of whom are Qataris, during just the first and second quarters of the current year, exceeding the targeted number of trainees and approaching the training course target during the first half of the year.

Furthermore, the Academy announced 77 additional courses for the third and fourth quarters, covering a wide range of technical fields, including cybersecurity, artificial intelligence (AI), and project management.

The AI courses, specifically designed for managers and administrative staff, aim to enable them to lead digital transformation in their institutions and enhance their efficiency. This initiative aligns with the Academy's goals of empowering talent and refining skills in the growing digital job market.

In this context, HE Reem Mohammed Al Mansoori, Assistant Undersecretary for Digital Industry Affairs at MCIT stated, “The new training strategy at QDA aims to take practical steps to support the implementation of the Third National Development Strategy 2024-2030 by forming new partnerships and offering diverse training for government employees.”

She added, “The strategy will focus on enhancing digital skills in AI, cybersecurity, IoT, big data, and other key areas to support the Digital Agenda and Qatar National Vision 2030. This will enable Qatar to utilize the Fourth Industrial Revolution to build an advanced, innovative digital economy, guiding the country towards a prosperous future.”

She further emphasized that this launch reflects the Ministry's commitment to developing Qatari talents and government employees in general and preparing them to lead the national digital transformation, in line with Qatar National Vision 2030.

By enhancing digital skills within the government sector, the Academy supports the Digital Agenda 2030’s sixth pillar, “Future Leading Digital Society,” and the third outcome of the Third National Development Strategy, “Future-Ready Workforce”.

It is worth noting that the Digital Agenda 2030 outlines a clear path and goals to create nearly 26,000 job opportunities by 2030 and raise the percentage of professional staff in ICT to 10%, focusing on skill development and increasing the proportion of highly skilled workers.

In alignment with these objectives, QDA is dedicated to achieving the Digital Agenda's goals and supporting a sustainable digital economy by developing and expanding local talent. Over the past decade, the number of ICT specialists in Qatar has reached approximately 21,000, and the Academy's new strategy aims to both increase this number and further develop their skills.