Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), a member of Qatar Foundation (QF) for Education, Science, and Community Development, is hosting the second joint Education City Career Fair on February 1st and 2nd at the HBKU Student Center.
The event is organized in collaboration with Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Texas A&M University at Qatar, Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar, Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar, Northwestern University in Qatar, HEC Paris in Qatar, and UCL Qatar.
Sponsored by Qatar Shell, the Education City Career Fair offers students and alumni from universities across Education City the opportunity to meet with representatives from over 100 local, regional, and international companies and organizations. By gathering potential employers from a variety of fields in one location, the fair encourages students to explore a range of career paths as they determine how best to apply the knowledge and skills gained in their studies.
Sectors represented include finance, media, oil and gas, technology, education, and research, with a number of employers inviting students to take part in on-site interviews and company sessions. Attendees are able to gather information about available internships and permanent positions at a wide range of governmental bodies, non-profit organizations, and private sector companies.
Maryam Hamad Al Mannai, Vice President, Student Affairs, HBKU, noted: “HBKU and the other universities within Education City continue to graduate ambitious, innovative, and hard-working students. By helping to facilitate conversations with potential employers at the EC Career Fair, HBKU hopes to help its students find career opportunities where they can put into practice what they learn at the university and thrive.”
Adam Al Saadi, Director of the HBKU Career Development Center, added: “The fair also allows HBKU to showcase its students and its variety of interdisciplinary postgraduate programs to industry recruiters. The university’s degrees are tailored to help students confront the challenges of the region in the 21st century, producing leaders that are well-equipped and eager to contribute to Qatar’s developing economy.”
Qatar Shell, which also sponsored the EC Career Fair in 2015, is again playing an active role in the event this year. Rob Sherwin, General Manager Corporate Affairs and Deputy Country Chairman of Qatar Shell said “Qatar Shell is proud to be the lead sponsor to the Education City Career Fair for the second consecutive year. We aim to be the employer of choice for Qatari nationals, recruiting outstanding individuals to operate and lead Shell’s current and future business in the country. We are wholly committed to developing Qatari Human Capital in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030 by recruiting, developing, and retaining Qatari talent. ”
In excess of 600 students and alumni attended the Education City Career Fair on the first day, with similar numbers expected on February 2nd.
Asma Al Mohannadi, a member of Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar's Class of 2015, commented: "The Education City Career Fair is a great event because it brings so many different companies and organizations together in one place. It is an excellent opportunity for senior students and graduates to match their skills to the market, and it is also really helpful for students who may be looking to pursue internships.”
Bashayer Al-Mohammed, a computer engineering student at HBKU, added: “I’m not entirely sure what I want to do after I graduate, but I think after visiting this career fair, I’ll have a clearer idea about my future.”