Doha: In response to the accelerating digital transformation and the increasing significance of technological skills across various sectors, the State of Qatar continues to strengthen its digital infrastructure in alignment with its national vision and future strategic plans.
According to Qatar News Agency, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) has been at the forefront, launching key initiatives designed to empower society with essential digital skills. Among these initiatives, the "Digital Skills Framework" initiative stands out as a groundbreaking national project, aimed at establishing a sustainable system for digital empowerment that supports the labor market and aligns with global technological advancements. The framework also aligns with the sixth pillar of the Digital Agenda 2030 "Future Leading Digital Society".
In an exclusive statement to QNA, Director of the Digital Society and Digital Competencies Department at MCIT Duha Al Buhendi said that the "Digital Skills Framework" is a national initiative launched by the ministry to empower individuals and organizations with essential digital skills to support the State of Qatar's digital transformation.
She further elaborated that the pilot phase of the initiative commenced following its announcement in February, with the goal of establishing a foundational framework for advancing digital skills in the country, noting that unlike temporary training programs, this initiative is designed as a sustainable system for professional development and digital empowerment. The official launch of the framework is scheduled for later in 2025, ensuring long-term impact and reaffirming the country's commitment to driving digital transformation, she added.
She emphasized that the initiative is flexible and can be updated and expanded, and does not adhere to a fixed timeframe, given its dynamic nature and its close alignment with the country's digital transformation goals.
The initiative is designed to serve as a permanent national reference, continuously updated to adapt to changes in the digital market and respond to emerging needs driven by technology and the digital economy, she pointed out.
Regarding the initiative's effectiveness, she said that it provides a structured and comprehensive approach to evaluating and developing digital skills, allowing individuals to assess their digital competency levels through a specialized evaluation tool, which is one of the key components of the framework. This tool helps individuals select the most suitable development path to achieve their career goals, she added.
She pointed out that the framework was developed according to global best practices, in alignment with local and evolving labor market needs, while also keeping pace with rapid technological advancements.
The Director of the Digital Society and Digital Competencies Department at MCIT underlined that the main goal of launching the initiative is to create a unified national reference for digital skills, which will help attract and develop competencies, guide training programs, and align educational outputs with the needs of the digital labor market. To achieve the desired goals, supporting tools have been designed, including the digital skills evaluation tool, digital competency reports, and customized educational tracks, offering a continuous and flexible professional development experience, she added.