HH Sheikha Moza Witnesses WISE Conference’s Closing Session

Doha, November 15 (QNA) - HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, the Chairperson of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF) attended the closing session of the World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) at the Qatar National Convention Centre. The three-day fourth edition of the WISE, held under the title ,"Collaborating for Change", was attended by more than 1,000 prominent figure including decision-makers, thought leaders and practitioners concerned with education around the world representing 100 world countries who searched for a global unparalleled think tank which would undoubtedly contribute to the development of new educational and sophisticated visions that would contribute to the development of innovative solutions to the issues of education in the world. Chairman of the WISE conference HE Sheikh Abdullah Bin Ali Al Thani has announced that the 5th edition of the WISE conference would be held on oct.29, 30 and 31 in 2013. It is noted that HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, the Chairperson of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF), have opened earlier Tuesday the fourth edition of the World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE). President of the Republic of Croatia Ivo Josipovic attended the opening ceremony together with Their Excellencies Sheikhs and Ministers and pioneering experts interested in the areas of innovation in education Addressing the opening ceremony of the 4th edition of the World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE), HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser underlined that education is a right of all human beings as it represents, indisputably, the environment in which the future, the development and common dreams are formulated. "If the problems of education and strengthen the fact that it is everyone’s right, then we will eliminate many social, economic, political and security problems that are the results of the failure to realize this human right," HH Sheikha Moza said. Chairman of the WISE conference HE Sheikh Abdullah Bin Ali Al Thani, has stressed that this year's WISE conference was extremely exceptional since HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser has launched a global initiative "Educate A Child" that will deliver real progress towards the goal of bringing quality primary education to all the world's children. HE Dr. Sheikh Abdullah made clear in his address before the closing session of the conference that such a global initiative embodied the principles and values upon which the WISE conference is based with a view to communicate the innovative education and make it available to millions worldwide. He pointed out that the availability of basic education for children at schools is considered an important step and a goal that is scored onto the "WISE" initiative which was launched earlier in 2009. HE Dr. Sheikh Abdullah bin Ali Al Thani voiced confidence that the partnerships and cooperation the WISE conference achieved over the past years would contribute to achieving the goals of the "Educate A Child" initiative", the matter which all the relevant organs of the WISE conference are duly seeking to achieve. He further said that the new partnerships of WISE and constructive cooperation that has been through this conference will undoubtedly enhance the "WISE" network and help materialize the target set for establishing joint ventures that contribute to the dissemination of innovative education across the world. The Chairman of the WISE conference also announced that the WISE working group will shortly start searching for candidates for the "Wise Education" 2013 prize. Such a prize is regarded the sole global recognition for the outstanding contributions in the field of education at the individual or collective's level as well as selecting the six projects nominated to win "WISE Prize 2013". The closing session of the "Wise" summit includes a seminar revolved around the future steps to be taken to ensure that persons deprived of education would recapture such a right along with cooperation mechanisms to achieve this goal. The speakers who address this session included Ms. Carol Bellamy, the former head of UNICEF and Chairman Global Partnership for Education, Jakob Cragg, the president of Lego Company for educational Games in Denmark, Martin de Angeles, a student of WISE initiative 2011 and Yara Mahmoud Darwish, one of the Qatari students in WISE 2012. Speakers stressed that local experience in the countries for the promotion of education and the need to utilize it to meet the challenges of education, with the need to preserve the respective cultural characters of each country. They also called for bridging the gap between developed and poor countries in the field of education through the use of modern technological means. WISE Summit this year highlights the difficulty of resistance to change and through the discussion of traditional models in education and the promotion of innovative methodologies in order to find some creative solutions and successful practices. The conference also discussed the forms of cooperation to achieve practical and effective progress in building the future of education through interaction between people of different communities and sectors and cultural backgrounds. During the first day of the WISE summit, the winner of "Wise Education" 2012, prize was announced and won by Dr. Madhav Chavan, the co-founder and CEO of the Organization / Bratham / in India for his efforts in spreading education in his country and making it accessable for millions at the lowest cost possible. This year’s WISE Prize for Education has been awarded to Dr. Madhav Chavan, a former chemistry lecturer who devised a simple formula to bring education and literacy to millions at minimum cost. The Laureate of the 2012 WISE Prize for Education was announced at the opening plenary session of the fourth World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) in Doha, Qatar, before more than 1,200 innovators from over 100 countries, including figures from the worlds of social enterprise, business, government, media and education. Chavan saw that education was the main barrier to India s development and that action was required that would bring rapid results. Leveraging the power of collaboration from the outset, he joined forces with UNICEF and the city government to ensure "every child in school and learning well". Also honored yesterday's award-winning projects and Wise 2012 included 6 innovative educational initiatives and will develop exceptional communities. It is noteworthy that the World Summit on Innovation in Education was launched at the initiative Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF) and under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, the Chairperson of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF) as an international venue bringing together under its umbrella a group of prominent decision-makers and leading figures from all sectors to discuss the challenges facing education. The WISE Prize for Education was established in 2010 as the world’s premier recognition of an outstanding, world-class contribution to education by an individual or team. The Laureate receives an award of $500,000 (US) and a specially minted gold medal. The winner of the WISE Prize for Education is determined by a Jury of eminent individuals of global stature following a call for nominations and an initial selection by a pre-Jury of education experts. The 2012 WISE Prize for Education Jury comprises: Dr. James H. Billington, Librarian of Congress, USA H.E. Naledi Pandor, Minister of Home Affairs, MP, South Africa Prof. Zhou Qifeng, President of Peking University, Deputy of the National People s Congress of the People s Republic of China. (QNA)