Qatar Foundation to organize Global Education Summit WISE in Sep 09

For the first edition, the Forum will focus on a theme that is locally and internationally vital, Global Education: Working Together for Sustainable Achievements.The main sub-themes of the forum, to be addressed by internationally acclaimed, high-level keynote speakers and panelists, include:

Pluralism - Creating education for respect and understanding, increase access and equalities in a globalized educationSustainability - Sustaining educational systems: Funding, governance, meeting needs, and integration of various educational levelsInnovation: Facilitating and driving change in content, access, and delivery

According to Qatar Foundation, the WISE Steering Committee comprises Dr. Abdulla bin Ali Al-Thani, Chairman & Vice President of Education, Qatar Foundation; Dr. Ahmad Hasnah, Vice Chairman & Associate Vice President for Higher Education, Qatar Foundation; Jacqueline ORourke, Member & Consultant, Office of Her Highness; Hessa Al Ali, Member & Director of Professional Development, Supreme Education Council; Lilit Ohannesian, International Education Conferences Coordinator & member, Qatar Foundation.

While commenting on various initiatives taken on educational front, Qatar Foundation revealed, WISE, a major biennial global education initiative, is a unique global event aspiring to create a new international multi-disciplinary platform to shape education models of the 21st century. Opinion leaders and decision makers from around the world will come together with education experts to share their visions and actions through open and insightful discussions.

WISE has adopted a distinctive action-oriented approach, including two innovative programs: 1) Finding new ways of addressing major educational challenges; 2) Mobilising global networks to create innovative tools and practices to implement sustainable solutions.Website www.wise-qatar.org will be emphasizing the global aspects of the WISE initiative. The Forum will draw leaders and decision-makers from governments, businesses, civil society, schools & universities, international institutions, NGOs, grassroots movements, top-tier media, multimedia, art and other creative communities from around the globe, said Qatar Foundation.

While commenting on the vision towards the education system, Qatar Foundation remarked, It is guided by the principle that a nations greatest resource is the potential of its people, Qatar has been among the first Gulf Cooperation Council countries to adopt a well defined educational policy: a visionary document drawn up as a blueprint to regulate the turnout of the general education system. This policy is based on intellectual, cultural, social and national philosophies, and hinges on established Arab and Islamic principles.