It's been another year of growth and success for the Josoor Institute.

During 2017 we delivered 31 training and development programmes. In total, more than 1,300 delegates attended our various sessions, which included professional development workshops, executive networking, masterclasses and student outreach initiatives.

We also expanded our number of expert speakers to more than 330. Our array of contributors is vast, including representatives from numerous global organisations, such as FIFA, UEFA and the International Olympic Committee.

We have also worked closely with some important local organisations, including Qatar Football Association, Qatar Stars League and the Gulf Organisation for Research & Development, to deliver bespoke programmes for key local audiences.

Also in 2017 and we participated in numerous major events, including Aspire4Sport, the World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) and the International Congress of I3SAW. A delegation also delivered a sport leadership summit in Washington DC, alongside Georgetown University.

Our core work, however, is delivered right here in Qatar. Our key objective remains the same – to train local and regional sports and events professionals in the lead-up to the 2022 FIFA World Cup™. In line with the mandate given to us by the SC, our founder, we're also committed to ensuring that the knowledge acquired from hosting the Middle East's first mega-event will remain in the region and be passed on to the next generation.

The growing number of delegates proves that our training and development programmes are becoming more and more popular. We are also seeking to constantly enhance our offerings. We believe it's important to make our programmes as relevant as possible for the local market. It's imperative that the expert knowledge shared by our speakers can be easily used to improve the sports and events industries in Qatar and across the region.

There is plenty to look forward to in 2018. Our second certificate and diploma cohort will graduate in the coming year, followed swiftly by the launch of the third series. We are also excited to partner with WISE to conduct research into the career development of professional athletes. This research paper will be released during the 2019 WISE Summit.

During 2018 we will also host a sports summit for members of Qatar's sports and events industries. This will provide the perfect opportunity for collaboration with numerous stakeholders as we inch ever closer to hosting the Middle East's first FIFA World Cup™.