Qatar International Hair and Beauty Academy – a groundbreaking venture into the world of beauty

By Wahid Shakir - The Woman

Qatar International Beauty Academy (QIBA) - the latest venture of Qatar Foundation's Social Development Centre (SDC) - is a pioneering educational institution dedicated to providing expert and high quality training in the beauty industry.

Established under the management and guidance of Yorkshire College of Beauty Therapy (YCOB), a UK-based Internationally reputed beauty therapy establishment renowned within the industry for continually producing highly successful and sought after graduates, QIBA is the country's first vocational training centre to offer Internationally accredited Beauty Therapy Qualifications.

The QIBA courses are managed by personnel from YCOB itself who have over 50 years experience. YCOB was selected from more than twenty other schools and colleges from around the world to help establish QIBA.

"The Woman" caught up an opportunity to speak with the YCOB team General Manager, Joanne Cusworth, to gain an insight into the very fabrics of QIBA. Read on for some comprehensive understanding of this first-of-its-kind institution in Qatar, its aims and objects and the significance of beauty training today:

Q: How would you - as the General Manager of the management team - introduce QIBA as an institution?
A: QIBA is the first Academy of its kind in Qatar to offer International Beauty Therapy training and will follow the values and ethos of the SDC and Qatar Foundation.

Q: What are the primary aims and objects of QIBA?
A: To establish QIBA as the leader in the delivery of high quality training to the Beauty, Spa & Hair industry.

"Qatar International Beauty Academy is the first of its kind in Qatar to offer International Beauty Therapy training. It follows the values and ethos of SDC and Qatar Foundation"

Q: Why did you feel the need to establish such an institution here in Qatar?
A: The industry in Qatar was growing very rapidly and there was no institution to provide education to meet this demand for highly qualified therapists. There is also a need to standardise the existing workforce by offering recognised International Qualifications on a part time basis allowing people already working within the industry to ‘upskill'.

Q: What are the main areas in which QIBA is providing specialist training and how long are the training programmes?
A: Specialist training in Beauty Therapy, Body Therapy, Holistic Therapies, Spa Treatments, Make-up and Hair. Courses range from several days to several months. The Academy can also tailor - make courses to suit individual needs both on a personal interest and a professional level.

Q: Who are the target clients of QIBA?
A: Anyone from a school leaver startingout in their career to mature studentschanging direction to someone just wantingto learn for their own personal interest.

Q: Will the training be for both genders?
A: Initially no, however we expect that in the future when we introduce hairdressing in 2010 there will be a demand from male students so we will look at introducing male only classes. There has also been an interest from the Spas to train male massage therapists.

Q: Why should one choose QIBA for such training?
A: QIBA has a team of highly qualified, experienced tutors on board offering courses to suit everyone’s needs. It also has the reputation and experience of the YCOB team behind it ensuring continual high standards are met.

Q: How long have you personally been associated with beauty therapy?
A: I initially trained at the Yorkshire College of Beauty as a mature student wanting a change of career from sales and marketing. I went on to become Assistant Principal in 2004, I am now the General Manager of the YCOB management team having worked for the company for 18 years. I have also been an International CIDESCO examiner for 14 years and held the position of chairperson of CIDESCO (GB) several years ago. I also own my own salon, which is run by my daughter who is also a graduate of the YCOB, and employ several therapists offering a full range of treatments.

Q: What is the significance of beauty therapy today, especially in a place like Qatar?
A: Beauty Therapy today is one of the fastest growing industries worldwide and Qatar already has several top International Spas established with many more planned to open in the near future. Also there are many successful salons and spas, which are privately owned by local Qatari businesswomen. All of these will benefit from courses on offer at the Academy

Q: What are the prospects of growth for QIBA?
A: Early interest has shown very positive signs that the Academy is going to be a great success.

Q: Is QIBA affordable for a middle class expatriate?
A: Absolutely as it alleviates the need to travel Internationally to gain prestigious International qualification as was the case previously. Course fees are extremely competitive and offer good value for money.

Q: Any plans in the offing?
A: I am currently working on a proposal for a commercial Hair & Beauty Salon, which would form job opportunities for QIBA’s top graduates and valuable work experience for its students. Courses will constantly be updated to meet industry requirements in this ever changing highly technical and fast moving industry.

QIBA, YCOB an overview

Qatar International Hair and Beauty Academy (QIBA) has recently been founded by the Social Development Centre (SDC) of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development.

The aim of QIBA is to further facilitate the mission of the SDC by providing training courses of the highest calibre within the Beauty Industry.

To set up and run QIBA, SDC has chosen Leeds-based Yorkshire College of Beauty Therapy (YCOB), which has been offering leading beauty therapy courses since 1983 to CIDESCO, ITEC and CIBTAC level.

YCOB's graduates, well known for their highest quality, have gained employment in some of the world's most up market establishments, headed off on luxury cruise liners and established their own successful businesses.

YCOB was featured on Sky in 2004 when a fly-on-the-wall documentary, Beauty School, followed staff and students at the college for a period of one year.

www.qatarinternationalbeautyacademy.com