Stavros N Yiannouka (left), CEO of WISE, and Khalifa E Al Kubaisi, Media Relations Manager at QF. Pic: Baher Amin/The Peninsula
The World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE 2019), which opens in Doha today, is designed to spark debate around education challenges and solutions, under the theme ‘UnLearn, ReLearn: What it means to be Human’.
WISE, an initiative of Qatar Foundation (QF), has established itself as a global reference in new approaches to education, said Stavros Yiannouka, CEO of WISE, while speaking to the media yesterday.
He also said that WISE, which has positively influenced the global education sector over the years by giving innovative solutions, will gather more than 2,000 educators, decision-makers, and influential experts from the public and private sectors from over 100 countries during the summit.
“The WISE community has grown significantly and has been able to make a positive impact on global education,” said Yiannouka.
A highlight of the summit will be the announcement of the 2018 WISE Prize for Education Laureate tomorrow during the opening ceremony. Also, six successful innovative projects that are addressing global educational challenges will receive the WISE Awards 2019 during the summit.
Qatar Foundation, under the leadership of Chairperson, HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, established WISE, an international, multi-sectoral platform for creative thinking, debate and purposeful action in 2009. WISE has established itself as a global reference in new approaches to education.
Through both the biennial Summit and a range of ongoing programmes, WISE is promoting innovation and building the future of education through collaboration.
Around 15, pre Summit events were held yesterday. The WISE Majlis, based on the traditional Arabic ‘majlis’ gathering space for a meeting is a main feature of WISE. The WISE Majlis, a central gathering and exhibition space encourages participants to know about trending ideas and topics through hands-on labs and creative installations.
WISE Majlis is also the focal point for the WISE research authors of eight reports including on Promoting Youth Well-Being Through Health and Education: Insights and Opportunities, Global Sports Development Systems and Athletes’ Access to Education and The Pursuit of Institutional Excellence: Case studies from Qatar.
“Research is part of our mandate and these reports are to help policymakers and we want to share the content with them,” said Yiannouka. The ‘Unlearn Maze’ created by Qatari cartoonist Abdul Yousef, within the WISE Majlis highlights the WISE 2019 theme ‘UnLearn, ReLearn: What it means to be human.’
“WISE 2019 encourage people to relearn and unlearn the things they already know and challenge themselves. And to see the artificial as a tool rather than a threat to the future. This is reflected in all activities of the WISE Majlis,” said Khalifa E Al Kubaisi, QF Media Relations Manager, during a media tour of the WISE Majlis.
“We are expecting a high number of students from schools in Qatar to attend, which is a good sign because they begin to earn early and realize the challenges,” he added.
The WISE Majlis has hands-on labs and creative installations. The four learning labs are expected to receive more than 1000 students from 36 schools over two days.
