Official spokespeople from WISE, Qatar Foundation’s global initiative to transform education through innovation, met with members of the media for an exclusive press conference on the upcoming event, which will be hybrid for the first time.

The press conference introduced the curated WISE 2021 program, which will be returning to Doha on December 7-9 under the theme ‘Generation Unmute: Reclaiming our Future through Education’. It was attended by His Excellency Dr. Ibrahim Bin Saleh Al-Naimi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MOEHE) and other officials from the WISE team: Dr. Ameena Abdul-Majeed, Director of Programs and Chief Curator of the Summit, Dr. Asmaa Al-Fadala, Director of Research and Content Development and Elyas Felfoul, Director of Policy Development and Partnerships. They introduced this year’s Summit approach and gave an overview of the program, as well as highlighting WISE’s long-term partnership with the Ministry of Education and their joint research. They also touched on local partnerships central to the Summit’s success, and the 2022 WISE Award cycle.

Commenting on the upcoming Summit, Stavros N. Yiannouka, CEO of WISE, said: “It is paramount that we empower our younger populations to become voices of change and assume their role as advocates for education in all its forms. This year’s WISE Summit recognizes youth as rights-holders, who must not only be included in our dialogue about the future but play a defining part in shaping public policy, engagement and sustainable progress following the disruption caused by COVID-19. It is also a step towards a future that balances creativity with a can-do attitude. The first hybrid WISE event is designed to forge connections and provoke a rethinking towards what is possible when we prioritize our collective future.”

Aiming to create a platform for youth, the Summit will introduce a new Youth Studio as a key stage for dialogue and discussion, curated by young changemakers to facilitate intergenerational dialogue. By addressing issues including climate education, fake news, students’ wellbeing and transitioning to the job market, WISE 2021 aims to provide the next generation with agency to find innovative solutions to today’s key global challenges. 

For his part, His Excellency Dr. Ibrahim Bin Saleh Al-Naimi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, praised the WISE Summit as one of the creative and inspiring initiatives of Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser and noted its continuity despite the far-reaching impact of the pandemic. “The Summit represents an opportunity for our students, teachers, school administrators, academics, practitioners and academic leaders in Qatar to interact with their young peers from different countries around the world to discuss global education challenges, thus enhancing their benefit from the Summit,” added Dr. Al-Naimi.

The Summit will bring together over 300 thought leaders in education, world-class experts, and influential young voices from around the globe to address current education challenges across more than 190 sessions, ranging from in-person to fully virtual and hybrid platforms. Global audiences will have the opportunity to participate in live sessions at the Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC) as well as in online discussions via the WISE virtual platform.

A long-term partner and supporter of Qatar’s Ministry of Education, WISE will also release 10 new research reports in the lead-up to this year’s Summit. Their authors will come together as part of several research presentations and ‘Meet the Authors’ events during the Summit to offer an in-depth look into their findings, many of which examine and use case studies especially from Qatar’s own education ecosystem.

Key speakers at WISE 2021 will include David Sengeh, Minister of Education in Sierra Leone; Gitanjali Rao, a 16-year-old innovator, author and STEM promoter; Sir Anthony Seldon, former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Buckingham, educator and contemporary historian; Yasmine Ouirhrane, founder, We Belong Europe; and Marc Brackett, founder and director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, among many others.

At a time when COVID-19 has led to the largest ever disruption of education, WISE 2021 will once again uphold education as an integral part of human capital, as well as a driver of long-term development. As such, the Summit will officially honor six global 2021 WISE Awards winners, selected in recognition of their innovative and impactful approach to educational challenges. In addition, applications for the 2022 WISE Awards cycle are now open and will continue to run until 17 January 2022 via the WISE Awards website: https://www.wise-qatar.org/wise-works/wise-awards/

Recognizing the need for new approaches to education, WISE 2021 promotes innovation and fruitful dialogue to strengthen progress towards a knowledge-based economy in line with Qatar’s national development priorities. Its work with local and global stakeholders continues to shape a far-reaching dialogue on the future of education as a key contributor to peace, prosperity, and development. 

To register for participation in the Summit, visit: https://www.wise-qatar.org/wise-2021/registration-summit/

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