Doha, Qatar: 25 January 2017 – The Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) Authority, in association with the Qatar Finance and Business Academy (QFBA), announced the successful conclusion of a special programme that offered hearing impaired high school graduates tailored courses to prepare them for the workforce.

The course ran for 8 weeks with students attending 4 weekly sessions for a duration of 4 hours each. Students who successfully completed the programme will be presented with QFC and QFBA certificates at a special graduation ceremony scheduled for next month.

The programme focused on ensuring that deaf and hard of hearing students were given equal access to and an equal opportunity at higher education programmes and services to better equip them for life after graduation and to ease their transition to the workforce.

During the 8 week course, the students attended classes on personal planning, creative thinking, general management, social media marketing, career excellence, communication skills and stress and time management.

Commenting on the successful completion of the programme, Fahad Zainal, Adviser to the CEO's office, at the QFC Authority stated: "At the QFC, we are proud of the efforts and accomplishments of our first graduating class from the Hearing Impaired Programme. This programme was the first of its kind in the region and highlights on the importance of inclusion and accessibility for all members of the community. These students are now better equipped for the workforce and now have a better opportunity at providing their knowledge and expertise to drive the private and public sectors in Qatar."

The 18 students who attended the programme echoed Fahad Zainal's comments and highlighted on the importance of programmes like these in serving people with disabilities and harnessing their collective knowledge and education to help Qatar's economy thrive