WISE Invites Nominations for 2013 Laureate

Doha, March 10 (QNA) - World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) 2013 Prize for Education is inviting global nominations from private, public and voluntary sectors from educationists who have demonstrated an visionary approach and a proven track record of achievement, WISE said Sunday. Submissions must be made through the WISE website www.wise-qatar.org/nominate-wise-prize-2013 by 11:59 pm (GMT) on April 30, 2013. Valid nominations will be reviewed by an international committee of education experts and the final selection will be made by a high-level Jury of distinguished individuals chaired by WISE Chairman Dr. Abdulla bin Ali Al-Thani. The winner will be announced before an international and multi-sectoral audience at the fifth WISE to be held here October 29 to 31 later this year in Doha. The Laureate will receive a prize of $500,000 (US) and a gold medal. Commenting on the opening of the nomination period Dr Al Thani said, "WISE was launched by Qatar Foundation Chairperson HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser to improve the lives of individuals and communities through education. By recognizing outstanding contributions we are creating role models and ambassadors who can inspire us all to further achievement. We invite nominations of exceptional people - individuals or teams - from Qatar who might be worthy winners of the 2013 WISE Prize for Education." The prize is the first major global recognition of an individual or team of up to six people for outstanding contribution to education. It is the premier distinction in the field, with a status similar to that of other international prizes in areas such as literature, peace and economics. Launched in 2009 by Qatar Foundation on the initiative of HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, WISE is the only international initiative for innovation in education that stimulates collaboration and new approaches among diverse sectors recognizing cutting-edge practices and helping to share them on an international scale. The 2012 WISE Prize for Education Laureate is Dr. Madhav Chavan, a former chemistry teacher who devised a simple but innovative formula based on partnership to spread education, literacy and numeracy at minimal cost. The NGO of which Dr Chavan is co-founder and CEO, Pratham, started in the slums of Mumbai and is now the largest non-governmental provider of basic literacy and numeracy for underprivileged children in India. Millions of children benefit from these programs each year. The inaugural Laureate of the WISE Prize for Education in 2011, Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, is the founder of BRAC, one of the largest non-governmental providers of education in the world, whose diverse programs have benefited millions of people in 10 countries across three continents. (QNA)