In collaboration with the British Chamber of Commerce Qatar, Elodie Jugue, Deputy Head, Futures at King’s College Doha, sets out how the school’s growing partnerships with industry professionals are giving pupils real-world exposure through workshops, mentoring, internships and mock interviews, helping them build the skills, confidence and career insight needed to thrive beyond the classroom.

Schools have a responsibility to prepare pupils not only for examinations, but also for life beyond the classroom. Meaningful engagement with employers and professionals helps pupils connect their learning to real-world opportunities. Workshops, mentoring, workplace visits, industry projects and internships allow young people to explore potential pathways while developing essential skills such as communication, collaboration, creativity and problem-solving.

At King’s College Doha, these partnerships already enrich pupils’ learning. Last year, Mr Alex Jackson, a sports operations and project management professional who has held key organisational roles across major FIFA football events, delivered a workshop for Year 12 Sports students on technology in sport. Ms Nedda Elbedawi, a VFX consultant, coordinator and producer who has worked with Pixar, shared her industry expertise with
our Art students.

Leadership and future readiness have also been brought to life through workshops for Year 11 pupils preparing to enter Sixth Form. Dr Abdulla Hassan Al-Mehshadi, CEO of Al Waab City, arbitrator and business leader, delivered Your Future Starts Now, while author, researcher and national workforce strategist Dr. Sheikha Athba Al Thani explored The Future of Work in Qatar. These encounters gave pupils valuable insight into leadership, adaptability and the opportunities emerging within Qatar’s evolving economy.

Industry engagement also provides pupils with practical experience and personalised guidance. Some King’s students have secured summer internships with Q-Auto, enabling them to develop workplace skills in a professional setting. Emma Higham, a Partner from Clyde & Co supported aspiring law students through mock interviews, offering expert feedback and helping them strengthen their responses for university applications.

These relationships are equally valuable to industry. By engaging with schools, organisations can inspire and help develop the next generation of talent, raise awareness of emerging careers and contribute to addressing future skills gaps. Businesses also benefit from young people’s creativity and perspectives while strengthening their community impact. Early engagement gives employers an opportunity to help shape a skilled, adaptable and diverse future workforce.

For King’s College Doha, this work is central to the King’s Pathway and our commitment to developing confident, creative, curious, committed and caring young people. Through a connected ecosystem of families, employers, universities, alumni, King’s College Taunton and community partners, pupils experience repeated and increasingly meaningful encounters with the wider world. At King’s, readiness develops through exposure, experience, reflection and application, ensuring that every pupil is equipped to flourish at university, in employment and beyond.