Qatar Finance and Business Academy honors 25 KAWADER graduates in the program’s sixth Cohort

Marking the completion of yet another successful term of its renowned national development program, Qatar Finance and Business Academy (QFBA) recently held the graduation ceremony for the sixth cohort of the ‘Kawader’ program under the patronage of the Minister of Finance, His Excellency Mr. Ali Shareef Al Emadi. The event was attended by CEOs of top banks and financial sector institutions, senior HR executives, parents and the media.

The ceremony saw the graduation of 25 outstanding young Qataris, bringing the total number of participants in ‘Kawader’ since its inception to 149 students, who have been primed to contribute effectively to the human capital development of the country’s financial services sector, the national economy’s progress, and to the realization of the Qatar National Vision 2030. Commenting on the occasion, Dr. Khalid Al Horr, ­CEO of QFBA, said: “On behalf of the entire team of QFBA, I would like to congratulate our 25 graduates. It is indeed a proud moment for us to see our graduates showcasing excellence and being ready to take the next leap forward by applying that knowledge into practice. They are now better equipped to further advance their successful careers in the financial sector, and helping to diversify Qatar’s economy”. 

“I would also like to personally thank the Minister of Finance, His Excellency Mr. Ali Shareef Al Emadi, and the financial services sector in the State of Qatar for their continuous support, as well as the world-class institutions that hosted our interns and enriched their learning. It is with such initiatives and capacity-building programs that QFBA reaffirms its role in supporting Qatar’s 2030 vision, by empowering the Qatari human capital. Once again, congratulations to our graduates and we wish you further growth and success in your careers.” He added.

Yousuf Mohammed Al-Jaida, Chief Executive Officer of QFC Authority, said: "Kawader, with its unique training program, is one of the main sources to provide the financial services sector with young, talented Qatari professionals with the right set of skills and knowledge to go on to play important and vital roles in the economy. Graduates from previous cohorts are proving themselves in the jobs and positions they are occupying and are contributing to the sustainability and prosperity of Qatar’s economy, which indicates the success of the program in achieving its objectives.” He also added: “We are proud to support the Kawader program. We look forward to further success and achievements by qualifying talented Qatari students to take a significant role in the revitalization, development and progress of our beloved Qatar and its economy.

The Kawader program is sponsored QFCA, QNB, CBQ, Barwa Bank, Ahli, Doha Bank, IBQ, Khaliji, QDB, standard Chartered, QIB and Masraf Al Rayan while the program partners include PWC, McKinsey, QFMA, Bank of Tokyo, QFCRA, QIA, Al Koot, QSE, and Qinvest. During the three-month program, all 25 students interned in top international and local organizations while two candidates were successfully employed during the program in the Qatar Central Bank and Qatar Financial Centre. Furthermore, all the 25 students completed certification studies in IISI and in Business Banking and Conduct.

Kawader differentiates itself by offering an intensive and holistic training program that combines academic learning with practical, on-the-job training under one course, offering students direct access to world-leading financial institutions and a collection of carefully-crafted, specialized courses backed by world-class professional accreditations that encompass several aspects of the financial sector. What makes Kawader graduates superior to their counterparts is their demonstration of voluntary commitment to intensive and demanding training through timely attendance, teamwork and independent work, bridging the gap between the academic and the practical aspects, while following the highest standards of work ethics and discipline, which takes place in the classroom as well as at renowned professional organizations where they gain real-life work experience.

By the time they graduate, participants command a unique skillset that covers leadership, management and personal development, as well as an in-depth understanding of local and international economic and financial services topics. This gives firms the chance to employ and leverage the skills of highly trained, high-caliber candidates who are equipped with the necessary tools for success.

Applications for the next term of Kawader will open in March-April 2019 and the program is expected to run from September to December.