Dubai, UAE, Doha, Qatar, September 14, 2013: Global education and training providers with a presence in the Gulf region have been calling on the region to boost skills in the construction and tourism sectors in preparation for one of the world's biggest events, the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Mark Andrews, Director of Qualifications for Pearson Middle East, the world's largest education and training provider, said that the massive construction projects for the World Cup have prompted the need to upskill workers in the region as businesses need skills in their teams.

Mark Andrews, Director of Qualifications for Pearson Middle East, the world's largest education and training provider, said that the massive construction projects for the World Cup have prompted the need to upskill workers in the region as businesses need skills in their workforces. <Qatar's successful bid to host the FIFA World Cup, one of the world's most popular sporting events, has led to a rapid rise in the number of construction projects taking place in the country. Plans indicate several projects, some of which have already begun construction, that will cost tens of billions of dollars. The projects include a port, airport, rail network and metro. This has put a huge strain on the business sector, with professionals suffering from a shortage of engineers in particular.

<This shortage of skilled workers is also evident across the region, which is undertaking joint construction work. This situation could be repeated if Dubai is successful in hosting World Expo 2020. The UAE is one of the favorites to host the event, which will see around 25 million visits to Dubai, of which 70% will come from outside the UAE. It is estimated that the emirate will spend between $2 billion and $4 billion on infrastructure if the event goes ahead, including a world-class exhibition center connected to an underground rail network.

Andrews said that both events will create significant business opportunities, which calls for the urgent need for many training programs to qualify workers to meet the growing demand.

<“These events are expected to be a significant addition to the economy of Qatar and the UAE and will lead to job vacancies for both nationals and residents. However, the challenge will be to find enough people to fill these vacancies in a business sector that is currently experiencing a skills shortage. We need to start preparing more learners with the skills required in the construction, hospitality and tourism sectors.”

He said. “Pearson is setting up regular consultations with employers who say it is difficult to find employees with the competencies they are looking for, such as strong communication skills, good English, IT skills and an understanding of workplace systems.”

Pearson's insights reflect the company's vision for the future of the workplace. <Andrews“ insights echo the findings of recent global research by Pearson that examined the gap between education systems and the needs of employers. The research, titled Meaningful Education for Employability, found that UAE graduates and other new entrants to the business sector do not possess the competencies required by employers. The study found that the most in-demand skills are commitment, the ability to manage well, and discipline in terms of delivery and responsibility.

<Andrews said Pearson is bridging this gap by offering training programs that not only give learners international recognition but also equip them with 21st century skills to ensure their success in business.

<“BTEC competencies have been designed in collaboration with the business sector to match the requirements of employers. ”BTEC is based on a balance of traditional theory and practical training accompanied by real-life training scenarios that trainees will face in their future careers. This is what makes BTEC graduates more favored by employers in the Gulf region and beyond.“

<Providing students in the region with professional competencies will help both Qatar and the UAE achieve long-term economic goals as well as help boost their chances of hosting global events such as the World Cup and World Expo.

<”Highly skilled employees in the business sector contribute to a bright future for the region. Investing in education solutions will help local industry sectors achieve a diversified economy, lower youth unemployment, higher rates of national employees in the private sector and a wider pool of skilled workers who will contribute to the success of global events such as the World Cup.“

He added.