Qatar International Beauty Academy (QIBA) is the first of its kind in Doha. Founded in 2009 by the Social Development Centre (a branch of Qatar Foundation), the QIBA is the city’s first training academy where students can obtain an internationally recognised beauty therapy qualification. QIBA is also known as Tajmeel, and principal Beverley Crowther explains that this means ‘creating beauty’, a phrase that sums up the academy’s intent perfectly.

QIBA is managed by a team from the UK’s Yorkshire College of Beauty (YCOB), renowned for its excellence in the field and with an enviable reputation established over 27 years. Christine Tilley, chairperson from the UK management team and principal of YCOB, is a regular visitor to Qatar, as she oversees operations and progress. She explains that the academy offers a variety of short courses, such as one-day basic make-up courses, or a longer six-day course in manicures and pedicures, however the main focus is on the international diploma courses. ‘The main aim is not about short sharp fixes,’ Christine states. ‘It’s the international programmes and being recognised as a proper institute that provides training for a long term career.’

Beverley, QIBA’s principal, has been in Qatar a year and overseen the project from ‘a shell’ to a fully operational beauty academy, a role which she describes as ‘challenging but exciting.’ She explains that the aim of the academy is to educate at an international level, specifically targeting local ladies. ‘This is the aim of Sheikha Mozah herself, and we see ourselves at the forefront of that,’ she says. Indeed, Christine adds that the qualifications on offer really can be the springboard to much more. ‘This isn’t necessarily just about education to work on the shop floor,’ she says, ‘but maybe to open a salon and be able to manage it professionally with the underpinning knowledge and technical skills.’

The international diplomas offered do require a certain level of commitment and the ability to read and write English. Beverley explains that language can be a barrier, but with determination this can be overcome. ‘We’ve had foreign students in the UK with English as a second language, so we have the experience of dealing with that,’ she says.

Basic qualifications are preferable, but Christine points out that more essential is the mentality to agree to full time study for a long period. ‘Back in the UK we have taken students with no qualifications,’ she states, ‘provided they have the ability and the willingness to work hard and they can cope, then we will take them.’

Christine also points out that embarking on a diploma course is not to be taken lightly. ‘You can buy an education here, but not a qualification – the difference is effort,’ she says.

The short courses offered require no formal qualifications and do sound quite fun, as Beverley explains that many groups of friends attend them. ‘A short course can accommodate up to 10,’ she says, ‘in our one day make-up course, our tutor gets you to bring in all your own make-up and she looks at the colours and the type of products that suit you.’ These workshops can be purchased as gifts, along with the products used, as the school is a recognised vendor of Dermalogica products. There are also salon sessions on offer, where for a small charge ladies can have a supervised treatment by a student.

Past events in Qatar has seen QIBA at the forefront of beauty, making up the models for a recent Schwarzkopf show and an Aston Martin launch. Mother’s Day saw the team at Sharq Village’s afternoon tea, where the international students did mini manicures, and there was a make-up demonstration by their international tutor. This month the students will be making over models from Dubai for the annual fashion show at the Virginia Commonwealth University.

At the time I spoke to Beverley, there was some excitement surrounding the academy, as the first set of international exams were about to be taken there, a major accomplishment as these are the first set of international beauty exams in Qatar, and will be overseen by an examiner from the UK. QIBA also has other, more far reaching ambitions, as Christine explains: ‘The long term goal is to bring in regulations within hair and beauty, where you can’t just go and open a salon, you will have to have a certain level of qualification.’ One year on from arriving in Qatar, Beverley has no plans to leave any time soon, as she’s enjoying being here and watching QIBA grow. ‘In another 12 months we’ll start to see the benefit of all this hard work,’ she says. ‘It’s not easy anywhere in the world to start a new business in this day and age.’ She confidently adds: ‘We will be very successful, it will just take time.’ Christine is also excited about the future. ‘The seed was planted and it’s just starting to sprout,’ she says. ‘It will be lovely to see it in full bloom.’
For more information, go to www.qiba.com.qa