In the run-up to the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar™, the number of people involved in operations and volunteering tasks for the first tournament in the Middle East will continue to grow, and so will the knowledge, skills and expertise of the individuals involved.

The Josoor Institute, a centre of excellence for the sports and events industries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, is tasked with training these professionals to enable the successful delivery of an outstanding tournament. Aware of the training needs of local and regional talent, Josoor has launched its professional certificate and diploma programmes designed to provide an understanding of the necessary skills involved in the management of sports and events.

Delegates from the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, Qatar Football Association, Qatar Stars League, Aspire, Abu Issa Holding, Saudi Professional League, Qatar Tourism Authority and the Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC) have attended the newly launched programmes. In addition, representatives from regional Football Associations including Yemen, Tunisia, Palestine and Saudi Arabia, have also taken part.

Abdulaziz Alhejji, Marketing Specialist at the Saudi Professional League, is one of the regional delegates attending the 'Major Events Management' Programme.

"I am very happy that the World Cup will be held in the Middle East. I think this will be a great experience for the country and the region and will leave a lasting legacy for us," Alhejji told www.sc.qa.

The Major Events Management Diploma Programme will focus on topics such as: the global events industry; addressing the cultural differences between major events; looking at how to optimally communicate your message; understanding the service profit chain; and making decisions using your emotional intelligence. The course will continue for the next 18 months.

For Alhejji, the programme has also provided him a chance to network with professionals from different corners of the world. A huge football fan, Alhejji attended matches of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ and is already looking forward to 2022. This week has allowed him to have a first glimpse of what organising a tournament in Qatar will be like.

"I've had the opportunity to be actively involved," he explained. "It's very important for the country and the region to visualise the joint goal and to work together to reach that goal and leave a lasting legacy."

For her part, Maha Uraidi, Events Manager at Georgetown University in Qatar, decided to sign up for this programme after hearing about it through Khalid Bibi, Associate Dean for Academic Programmes at Georgetown University in Qatar.

She said: "I thought it could add more to my experience and allow me to enhance the skills I already have, while giving a good perspective of the upcoming World Cup and opening up new opportunities."

Uraidi plans on being in Qatar for the 2022 FIFA World Cup™ and hopes to be involved in the event in some way, adding: "We all feel that this is a very exciting time for Qatar, it's a big challenge and I am sure they will deliver an exceptional World Cup."

The Football and Sports Management Diploma Programme also kicked off, including topics such as: the different stakeholders in the business; leadership skills; means to become a good leader; core competencies; and the football sector in Qatar and the MENA region, including its challenges and action plans.

Jassim Al Muftah, Assistant Director at the HBKU Student Center, and a student in the Football & Sport Management Diploma Programme, explained: "I have enjoyed this week very much, having the opportunity to learn from leading experts in the sport industry."

Asked about the future and opportunities as 2022 approaches, he added: "This is a great opportunity for Qatar and the region that will allow us to increase our knowledge by learning from experts and colleagues in the industry."

Launched in partnership with leading international academic partners including Georgetown University, University of Liverpool and Leeds Beckett University, the Josoor part-time programmes include six blocks spread over an 18-month period.