May 2009: 1,000 leading opinion leaders, decision-makers and academics from diverse sectors in over 120 countries will participate in the first ever global summit dedicated to monitoring the 21st century’s challenges on education: WISE (World Innovation Summit for Education). This pioneering idea, initiated by the Qatar Foundation under the patronage of its Chairperson, Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al Missned, will take place in Doha, Qatar on November 16th-18th, 2009.

During three days, WISE will endeavour to bring together multi-disciplinary thinking that will enable a global educational network to think differently, implement change and collectively meet the many educational challenges facing us.
In this inaugural year, the central theme of the summit will focus on “Global Education: Working Together for Sustainable Achievements”, which will be complemented by sub-themes of Pluralism, Sustainability and Innovation.

“Education systems have been frustratingly slow to adapt and respond in an integrated and coordinated way, despite extraordinary advancements in how we as individuals interact with each other and the world”, explains Dr. Abdulla bin Ali Al-Thani, Chairman of WISE and Vice President of Education, Qatar Foundation. “WISE first edition will bring together 1,000 world leaders to explore experiment and establish new ways to anticipate and provide the educational evolutions, competences and patterns of tomorrow. It is critical that graduates from the next generation are equipped to think beyond their borders, and to meaningfully compete, connect, and cooperate with their peers on a global scale,” Dr. Abdulla bin Ali Al-Thani added.

Through a comprehensive programme schedule that includes plenary and break out sessions, participants will share and generate new ideas, best practices and experimental programs across the educational sphere. Programme available on www.wise-qatar.org

Qatar Foundation has sent this week first WISE invitations to international influential leaders (academics, international institutions, NGO associations, grassroots movements, private sector, top tier media influencers, multimedia, arts, culture and other creative communities) with stakes in education.

WISE (World Innovation Summit for Education) is a global, groundbreaking, collaborative initiative established by the Qatar Foundation under the high patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al Missned that seeks to monitor and contribute to 21st century challenges and their impact on education. With 1,000 major education stakeholders, opinion leaders and decision-makers from diverse disciplines in over 120 countries participating, WISE endeavours to propose visionary thinking on education, offer new ways of addressing current global challenges and untapped opportunities and anticipate future education models. The WISE Forum takes place in Doha, Qatar, from November 16th to 18th, 2009. Web: www.wise-qatar.org

Qatar Foundation, located in Doha, Qatar, is an independent, private, non-profit, chartered organization founded in 1995 by decree of His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar, to support centers of excellence which develop people's abilities through investments in human capital, innovative technology, state of the art facilities and partnerships with elite organizations, thus raising the competency of people and the quality of life. Web: www.qf.org.qa

For further information or to speak with a representative of the World Innovation Summit for Education – WISE :
Lucia COELHO, coelhol@fleishmaneurope.com, +33147421984
Béatrice CASSIGNOL, beatrice.cassignol@fleishmaneurope.com , +33147429018