International opinion leaders and prominent figures to contribute and attend the global summit
DOHA, Qatar /PRNewswire/ -- Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al Missned, Chair of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, launches the first-ever World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) today in Doha, Qatar at the Ritz Carlton Hotel.
The agenda for WISE, an initiative of the Qatar Foundation, puts forth a comprehensive program designed to generate international dialogue and debate during the three day summit. Attendees will participate in plenary and breakout sessions exploring three key themes: pluralism, sustainability and innovation in education.
Her Highness Sheikha Mozah is scheduled to deliver the opening address in the presence of 1,000 participants from the public and private sectors, NGOs and media from 120 countries.
Among key participants, WISE will welcome Guest of Honor Irina Bokova, Director General of UNESCO. Mrs. Bokova will address the WISE worldwide community of opinion leaders in her first official engagement abroad.
Other distinguished speakers to address the Summit include: Gerhard Schroder, former German Chancellor; Kiyotaka Akasaka, Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information, United Nations; Sheikha Abdulla Al-Misnad, President, University of Qatar; Anthony Salcito, Vice President, Microsoft - Worldwide Education, Biz Stone, Co-Founder of Twitter; and Ruth Dreifuss, Chancellor, University for Peace, former President of the Swiss Confederation (1999).
WISE aims to trigger a coordinated and comprehensive international effort to address educational challenges of the 21st century. Throughout the meeting, delegates will pool their expertise, share new ideas, detail best practices in education and work toward developing a blueprint for sustainable, innovative and pluralistic education.
Among the stand-out features of the WISE agenda are five plenary sessions and 19 breakout sessions aligned with the Summit's main theme: "Global Education: Working Together for Sustainable Achievements."
Breakout sessions will allow renowned leaders and educational specialists to present their visions while engaging with the audience for an interactive experience. These sessions will focus on some of education's most pressing challenges: funding issues, community development, sustaining education in conflict zones and preparing students for a global economy, among others.
The ultimate goal of WISE is to find constructive ways to turn words into actions in order to collaboratively identify future trends and address current education challenges at local, national and international levels.
On November 18th, the closing plenary session will focus on the creation of a final declaration, which will sum up main conclusions and determine concrete actions for the next years to come. These conclusions will provide a foundation for the "WISE Final Report," helping to create a follow-up structure that ensures concepts are converted into measurable actions and new international collaborations are initiated.
Explore the entire agenda on WISE Website: http://www.wise-qatar.org/en/day-1
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ABOUT WISE
WISE (World Innovation Summit for Education) is a global, groundbreaking, collaborative initiative established by the Qatar Foundation under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al Missned. WISE seeks to monitor and contribute to 21st century challenges and their impact on education. With 1,000 leading education stakeholders, opinion leaders and decision-makers from diverse disciplines in over 120 countries participating, WISE endeavours to propose visionary thinking on education, offer new ways of addressing current global challenges and untapped opportunities and anticipate future education models. The WISE Forum will take place in Doha, Qatar, from November 16th to 18th, 2009. Full details may be found at www.wise-qatar.org.
ABOUT QATAR FOUNDATION
Founded in 1995 by decree of His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, Emir of Qatar, Qatar Foundation is a non-profit organization focusing on education, scientific research and community development. Under Qatar Foundation's umbrella are Education City, which comprises elite universities, several academic and training programs and Qatar Science and Technology Park, which boasts more than 21 world-class companies involved in scientific research and development.
Chaired by Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al Missned, Qatar Foundation also aims to enhance lives through community development initiatives including Doha Debates, Reach- out To Asia and Al Jazeera Children's Channel.
Joint venture partnerships in the areas of design, ICT, telecommunications, policy studies and event management contribute to fulfilling the objectives of the Qatar Foundation.
For more information, please visit: www.qf.org.qa
© Press Release 2009
