Panel discussion on UNESCO-King Hamad ICT Prize held

Paris, Jan. 14 (BNA): Deputy Premier and President of the Supreme Council for the Education and Training HH Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa received the chairperson and members of the jury of the 2015 UNESCO-King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa Prize for the Use of ICTs in Education and the laureates of the previous editions of the UNESCO-King Hamad Award. UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova and Education Minister Dr. Majid bin Ali Al-Nuaimi also attended the meeting, held on the sidelines of the seventh Award Ceremony of the UNESCO-King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa Prize for the Use of ICTs in Education. Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak congratulated the laureates on winning the prestigious award. He lauded the projects and initiatives that had been approved and appreciated by the jury and enriched the international experience in e-learning, stressing that the UNESCO-King Hamad Award has made the kingdom in the heart of UNESCO's goals and efforts to promote education for all, and the distinctive world experiences in this regard. The deputy premier commended the efforts of the juries of the award for their accurate, objective and professional work. The audience extended sincere thanks and appreciation to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa for launching the international award, which, they said, aims to encourage scientific and academic initiatives and projects that serve humanity and pave the way for countries to share creative ideas and innovative projects to serve development and education. UNESCO also hosted a panel discussion on the sidelines of the seventh Award Ceremony of the UNESCO-King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa Prize for the Use of ICTs in Education, given the importance it allocates to it. Somme winners of the previous editions, the two laureates of the 2015 edition, Chairperson and members of this year's award, researchers, academics, ambassadors and UNESCO officials participated in the panel which highlighted the importance of the award in promoting the use of ICT in education and encouraging international expertise in this regard. Head of the UNESCO-King Hamad Prize team Fengchun Miao affirmed that the prize was among the best in the field of ICT use in education, noting that UNESCO launched its second session because it was in accordance with its new strategy for 2030 in which modern technology is crucial in attaining the education for all goals. It is clear that the prize has received worldwide attention since over 200 landmark projects and initiates were presented, he said, extended deep thanks and appreciation to HM King Hamad for his important initiative. Education Minister Dr. Majid Al-Nuaimi also spoke during the panel discussion. He lauded UNESCO's initiative to hold the meeting in the presence of laureates, jury members, experts and diplomats, which, he said, proves the success of the prize. He highlighted Bahrain's appreciation of all international scientific initiatives aiming to consolidate global cooperation in the field of education, affirming Bahrain's quantum leaps in developing education. Qatar's Permanent Delegate to UNESCO Ali Zainal highlighted the importance of the prize for Bahrain, in particular, and GCC countries, in general, stressing Bahrain's numerous leading creative initiatives in education. Dorothy Gordon, the Director-General of the Ghana-India Kofi Annan Centre for ICT and the 2015 UNESCO-King Hamad Prize jury Chairperson, expressed delight at attending the ceremony, held under the auspices of HM King Hamad. She praised the initiatives and projects presented to the jury, noting that this year's edition was conferred on winners from Latin America and Asia, which, she affirmed, proved the global dimension of the prize and affirmed the need for concerted global efforts to develop education. Costa Rican Education Minister Dr. Sonia Marta Mora expressed sincere appreciation to the kingdom and HM the King for his initiative, noting that the prize, awarded to the Costa Rican "National Programme of Educational Informatics Foundation" project, submitted by the Omar Dengo Foundation, will boost the use of ICT in education in her country. Head of the Omar Dengo Foundation voiced pride in winning the prestigious award through the National Programme of Educational Informatics Foundation, extending heartfelt thanks to UNESCO and Bahrain for launching the prize. ICT Manager at the Singaporean Ministry of Education expressed pleasure at winning the prize, noting that it has enabled him and his colleagues to present their experience and initiatives to serve education across the world. The Singaporean Ministry of Education was granted the prize for its "Open Source Physics" project.