DOHA - As many as 1,250 delegates from over 100 countries Tuesday gathered in Doha to explore the challenges facing global education amid optimism that improving education can help make the world a better place to live in. With its perennial theme being "Building the Future of Education", the World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE), opened its second edition Tuesday with an avowed emphasis on raising the status of education worldwide. "We are all aware that our world today is in a state of profound change, which results in a series of pressing challenges to education," Chairman of WISE Sheikh Abdullah bin Ali Al-Thani, told the opening plenary session of the conference, the first edition of which was launched last year. "Our aspiration is to bring together multiple stakeholders and to connect theory with practice, because this kind of collaboration is critical in facing complex issues. From the outset, WISE has taken an action-orientated approach, which produces solutions that can be adopted and adapted," he added. WISE is an initiative of Qatar Foundation, which seeks to accelerate human development through education, scientific research and a range of community and cultural initiatives. This year's event includes five plenary and 20 breakout sessions featuring around 100 speakers from around the world. One of the most important breakout sessions of the three-day summit, according to Al-Thani, is devoted to "Education and Reconciliation". "Unfortunately, it is often our children who suffer most in many zones of conflict around the world," added Al-Thani, who is the Vice-President of Qatar Foundation, chaired by Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al-Missned, the wife of Emir of Qatar. Sheikha Mozah, who attended yesterday's opening session, urged on the eve of the event to "actively" establish a global network of experts, civil societies, private and public sector organisations to influence the future of education. "Last year when we met, there was great enthusiasm and a momentum was built. We need to use this momentum to create sustainable and practical programmes and strategies for many years to come. Now is the time to act," she added. Founded in 1995, Qatar Foundation is a non-profit organisation focusing on education, scientific research and community development. Under the sub-theme “Improving Education Systems”, delegates to the conference are exploring new models of leadership and curricula, open education and multi-stakeholder partnerships. The summit's second sub-theme, “Exploring Innovative Trends”, handles new methods of learning and pedagogical models around the world. A special plenary session on "Funding Education" will deal with new ways to finance and sustain education systems in a period of economic uncertainty. While admitting he has no direct expertise in education, Lakhdar Brahimi, a veteran Algerian diplomat and peacemaker, told the audience about the plights of Iraqis and Palestinians under Israeli occupation and how a lack of education and tolerance fanned global conflicts. "Education is always a key component in any peace building.... Education is more than literacy. What children learn at home and the street is part of what we call education," he added. The delegates to the conference represent a wide range of professional backgrounds, academic institutions, international organisations, the public sector, NGOs, private corporations and media, as well as frontline educators. This year, WISE also includes new features such as workshops, an exhibition area and “spotlight” sessions about outstanding experiences and expertise. The second edition of WISE came a few days after Qatar won the right to host the 2022 World Cup, a triumph that has put this Gulf emirate into a festive mood. "Twelve years from the World Cup, the work has already begun," said the WISE Chairman Abdulla bin Ali Al-Thani. "Not only investment in infrastructure, but also education and youth."
