Bedaya and Qatar Shell Announce School Semi-finalists for ‘Enterprise Challenge Qatar’ 2016

Now in its fourth year, the annual programme is designed to encourage and inspire young people to consider entrepreneurship as a career option.  This year, the programme is reaching out to international schools in addition to the independent schools, with the participation of more than 800 students from over 25 schools across Qatar.

Reem Al Suwaidi, General Manager of Bedaya Center, said: “We are proud of our partnership with Qatar Shell and the growing success of the ‘Enterprise Challenge Qatar’ for the fourth consecutive year.  The ‘Enterprise Challenge Qatar’ programme is fully aligned with Bedaya’s mandate to develop and encourage an entrepreneurial culture among young people in Qatar. ”

“At Bedaya, we will continue to support and develop the spirit of entrepreneurship among the local community, and laying the infrastructure for a knowledge-based society,” added Al Suwaidi.

Qatar Shell's Corporate Social Responsibility Manager, Mohammed Abu Jbara, said: “I am extremely proud to see a significant growth in the number of students and mentors participating in the ‘Enterprise Challenge Qatar’ programme this year.  The programme has gone from strength to strength, since its inception; we began with only 37 students from 3 universities in Qatar in 2012, and this year we are reaching to over 1,000 students from 25 schools and 13 universities across Qatar.”

“At Qatar Shell, we recognise that cultivating and nurturing entrepreneurship begins with another kind of investment – in young minds.  Therefore, providing students with business skills and the practical tools to ultimately succeed in a real business environment is of crucial importance to fulfill the goals of the Qatar National Vision 2030,” added Abu Jbara.

Last year, Qatar Shell signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Education to support Enterprise Challenge Qatar, and promote the competition in independent and private secondary schools in Qatar. In addition to this agreement, Qatar Shell partnered with the Qatar Volunteer Center in September to engage more volunteers in training students.

In preparation for this year’s competition, more than 100 volunteer mentors, the vast majority of whom are Qatari, delivered coaching sessions on core business concepts. The teams’ performances as businesses were evaluated using a computer-based business program, which simulated a competitive marketplace over a three-year period. Students also received mentoring on ethical business, which tests participants’ ability to balance the economic, environmental and social performance of their companies.

Competing semi-finalists that made it through to this year’s Grand Final include students from Al Zubara Boys’ School, Al Shamal Boys’ School, Abdullah bin Ali Musnad Boys’ School, Qatar Leadership Academy, Qatar Independent Technical School, Ahmed Bin Hanbal Independent Secondary School for Boys, Omar bin Abdulaziz Secondary School for Boys, Al Doha Boys’ School, Finance and Banking Boys School, Ali Bin Jassim Al-Thani Secondary Independent Boys’ School, Musab bin Omair school, Al Ghuwariyah Girls’ School, Al Shamal Girls’ School, Al Khor Independent School for Girls, Um Hakeem Secondary Independent Girls’ School, Al Shahaniya Independent School for Girls, Qatar Complex Girls School, Finance and Banking School Girls.

Participating international schools include Qatar International School, Sherborne School, Al Arqam Academy, Aspire Academy, Newton International School West Bay, Newton International School Barwa City, the Lebanese School and the Tunisian School.

The Enterprise Challenge competition was created by Mosaic, a UK-based not-for-profit organisation established by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales in 2007.

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