Friday, 01 November 2013
DOHA: The World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) is to launch The Future of Education Fund to help innovative, transformative enterprises and solutions in education.
Sheikh Abdulla bin Ali Al Thani, Chairman of WISE, announced this at the conclusion of the 2013 WISE Summit yesterday at Qatar National Convention Centre, which was attended by H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser.
"WISE will launch an innovation fund to foster education innovators and entrepreneurs. It will provide financial assistance, as well as expertise and training, to help them translate their ideas into action. It will initially be supported by Banco Santander, and I invite other organisations to join us."
The WISE online portal will be further developed to disseminate relevant content and ideas, said Sheikh Abdulla.
"The portal will offer collaborative tools allowing the WISE community to share ideas and forge new partnerships."
He also announced a new WISE book will be published early next year. It will explore the link between technology and learning and will investigate how the connected society is transforming education.
WISE will also produce a channel on YouTube to showcase innovative projects and feature the best moments of WISE Summit.
In addition, WISE will expand its advocacy and education programs such as the Learners Voice programme which will be enhanced into a year-long leadership development programme.
"We will continue to reach out to segments of WISE community to customise events tailored to their needs."
Sheikh Abdulla announced the Sixth WISE Summit will be held in Doha from November 4 to 6 next year. The closing session also held a panel discussion with Angélique Kidjo, Singer, Songwriter and activist from Benin; Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, 2011 WISE Prize for Education Laureate and Founder and Chairman of Bangladesh based NGO, BRAC and Fatima Akbar, one of WISE Learners for 2012.
Before the session, Vicky Colbert gave her first address as the 2013 WISE Prize for Education Laureate. She said winning "the WISE Prize this year gives me a profound feeling of accomplishment. The theme of this year's WISE Summit, 'Reinventing Education for Life', resonates with what I and the people around me have been trying to achieve. 'Reinventing Education for Life' means reaching the greatest number of learners and making each learner a better person."
The application period for the 2014 WISE Awards was also launched yesterday. The Awards celebrate six innovative educational projects for their positive contribution to education and society. Applications are invited until January 15, 2014 through www.wise-qatar.org/awards#tabs-2
© The Peninsula 2013
