DOHA - More than 1,000 delegates, including educators, ministers, academicians, policy makers, research scholars, and university professors are attending the third World Innovative Summit for Education (WISE), which opened at the new Qatar National Convention Center in Education City in the Qatari capital Doha on Monday.

The delegates, drawn from across the world, will discuss a series of subjects related to the global educational situation, Peninsula Online reported.

Qatar Foundation Chairperson Sheikha Moza bint Nasser gave the opening speech of the three-day conference.

In her address, she said, “We have come a long way in building a forum where we can share ideas, collaborate, and turn initiatives into sustainable and inclusive solutions for a variety of educational needs.”

“Since WISE was launched, it has been focused on finding innovative solutions and channeling them into concrete actions,” she added.

In a statement issued on the eve of the conference, WISE Chairman Dr. Abdulla bin Ali Al-Thani expressed confidence that the bold initiatives launched by WISE could address critical challenges in education and bring about positive changes.

According to Al-Thani, WISE has succeeded in giving shape to many stimulating and promising ideas, solutions, and innovations. 

The summit has partnered with Euronews to launch Learning World, a documentary series of weekly television programs on education, he added. 

Fazle Hasan Abed, the founder and chairperson of BRAC, which was formerly known as the Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee, has been awarded the first WISE Prize for Education in recognition of his 40-year career dedicated to alleviating poverty through education.

Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, the emir of the State of Qatar, presented the prize, which is a major award for education, to Abed at the opening session of the third summit in Doha, Bangladesh’s Daily Star reported. 

Abed, who also spoke at the summit, said, “I am very happy getting the WISE prize. I am also happy for all the BRAC employees who have been recognized by the award.”

The winner of the 2011 WISE Prize for Education will receive a gold medal and $500,000. The prize is a major attraction of this year’s summit. 

WISE, launched in 2009, is seeking to create a collaborative platform for education innovators and stakeholders. The organizers hope the event will help accelerate the cause of education internationally, including in those territories which are lagging behind in introducing reforms.

Ensuring educational opportunities for all children worldwide, at latest by 2015, and eliminating disparities at all levels of education are two of the declared objectives of WISE. 

Aslo see: