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The first WISE event ended with ten key strategic priorities

Global leaders achieve major outcomes at first World Innovation Summit for Education – WISE

November 18, 2009

Declaration of 10 core education priorities for the 21^stcentury

The closing plenary session of the first World Innovation Summit for Education – WISE has produced a number of ground-breaking outcomes that signal the beginning of a new era in global collaboration on education. WISE concluded with a declaration of 10 core education priorities, an announcement of two initiatives and a renewed commitment to the three main areas of focus for WISE in the future.

Held in Doha, Qatar and attended by 1,000 influential opinion leaders from diverse sectors across the globe, the Summit, through its theme of “Global Education: Working Together for Sustainable Achievements” has created a new dynamism towards addressing the most challenging educational issues in the 21^st century.

Highlighting the importance of reaching agreement on key educational priorities on a global scale, Dr. Abdulla bin Ali Al-Thani, Chairman of WISE and Qatar Foundation’s Vice-President of Education, said that achieving such a consensus among the international community in an inaugural summit was a clear indication of the commitment and focus among delegates.

Dr. Abdulla explained: “This Summit represents the beginning of a long-term process of innovation. The approach of WISE to date has been comprehensive and wide-ranging, however action springs from a focussed approach. Throughout the series of plenary and breakout sessions, we have been listening very closely to the contributions and the key concerns of the participants with a firm commitment to move from debate to concrete outcomes. The identification of 10 strategic priorities is a milestone as it represents a convergence among global educational leaders on the key issues that will affect and shape education in the 21^st century.”

The 10 strategic priorities declared at the Summit were:

• Access to ‘quality’ education

• A fully integrated approach

• Global citizenship

• Education embedded in the local community

• Protecting education and educators

• Reconciliation

• ‘WISE pioneers’ to monitor progress

• Innovating new ways to learn

• Pursuing sustainable development

• A future built on multi-stakeholder partnership

The identification of 10 priorities constitutes a crucial preliminary step in a process that leads to research of innovative and relevant solutions, adaptation and implementation of international best practice on a sustainable basis.

In addition, two initiatives were announced that exemplify the declaration of priorities: (i) a partnership between the Al-Shafallah Centre for Children with Special Needs and the University of Southern California to develop innovative, international practices and tools for children with special needs, in particular those with autism; and (ii) the creation of ‘The Institute for Education Leadership’ to offer a number of dedicated training seminars around the world to newly-appointed educational leaders at all levels.

These newly-formed partnerships complement the WISE Awards in terms of devising fresh, targeted enterprises that address some of the most pressing educational challenges faced in the 21^st century.

Based on the 10 priorities which were defined during the three days, WISE also refined how it will contribute to drive educational changes in the future.

• WISE will be an agenda-setting forum which will define areas requiring actions across all sectors of education and will seek involvement of appropriate partners.
• WISE will promote innovative practices, methodologies and partnerships, making best use of modern technology.
• WISE will seek to build on the momentum of the inaugural summit to inform public opinion and put education as a priority on the political, social and economic agenda.

Confirmed as an annual event, WISE, in advance of the 2010 Summit, will seek with confidence and determination to create and sustain a pragmatic and powerful international community that will help to shape the future of global education.

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