About
Learners’ Voice is a fellowship program that provides young people with opportunities to shape the future of education in their communities.
The program introduces secondary school students from Qatar’s government schools to the significant challenges facing the educational sector, emphasizing the urgent need for innovation and reform. Through exposure to WISE’s community of Innovators and engaging in open discussions, students are encouraged to reflect on their educational experiences and identify priority challenges for real-life policy reform.
This initiative not only enhances their academic journey but also prepares them for active civic engagement, fostering a generation of informed, articulate, and empowered youth ready to tackle the educational challenges of tomorrow.
the 2023 cycle of the Learners’ Voice Program honed in on the pivotal role of Artificial Intelligence in education. This iteration provided an immersive bootcamp experience, where in-depth discussions on AI’s ethical implications, innovative pedagogies, future-ready skills, and equitable access were at the forefront.
The cohort’s engagement with these themes led to the formulation of a set of recommendations for integrating AI into educational settings, highlighting young people’s ambitions and aspirations for improved education systems. Recommendations were discussed with an audience of experts and policymakers at the WISE Summit. The program concluded with a youth-authored white paper, aimed at disseminating their insights and encouraging active participation among future educators and policymakers.
2023 Cohort
Omar Bin Al-Khattab Secondary School
- AbdulRahman al-Jaber
- Khalid Al-Derham
- Muhammad Juma Bojaloof
- Rashid Al-Khayreen
Al Iman Secondary School for Girls
- Alanoud Yousef Jaber
- Mariam Jassim Al-Bader
- Rawda Ali Al-Sulaiti
Qatar Banking Sciences and Business Administration Secondary School for Boys
- AlFaisal Khalid Musnad Al-Hajri
- Hamad Yousef Ahmed Al-Ammari
- Khalid Mubarak Al-Mansouri
Qatar Banking Sciences and Business Administration Secondary School for Girls
- Alhoor Al-Sayegh
- Noura Al-Kubaisi
Al Wakra Secondary School for Girls
- AlKawthar Al-Sharshani
- Moza Ali Al-Mahmoud
- Noura Al-Mansouri
Um Hakim Secondary School for Girls
- Fajr Ibrahim Al-Badr
Hassan Bin Thabet Secondary School
- Jassim Mohammed Al-Mansouri
This group of bright, motivated students from various schools across Qatar brought unique perspectives and ideas to the table. Their engagement and insights were instrumental in shaping the program’s outcomes, reflecting the collective vision and innovative spirit of the youth.
Partners
Our partners play a crucial role in the success of the Learners’ Voice Program. Through their support, expertise, and resources, they contribute significantly to providing a rich, multidimensional learning experience.
This program is developed and delivered in partnership with the Department of Educational Supervision at the Ministry of Education and Higher Education in Qatar.
The 2023 edition was also delivered in partnership with Eidos Global, a social enterprise focused on addressing global challenges through innovation and education.
Ministry of Education and High Education, Qatar
Ministry of Education and High Education, Qatar
White Paper
The culmination of the 2023 Learners’ Voice Program is a comprehensive white paper that encapsulates the innovative ideas and recommendations of our participants regarding the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education. This document serves as a testament to the insightful exploration undertaken by the cohort, highlighting their profound understanding of AI’s potential to reshape learning environments for the better. It outlines practical strategies for enhancing curricula, supporting educators, personalizing learning experiences, and fostering partnerships to align education with future societal and industry needs.
The white paper not only reflects the collective vision of our students but also serves as a guiding document for policymakers, educators, and stakeholders in the education sector, advocating for an educational system that is equitable, inclusive, and responsive to technological advancements.
2022 Program
The 2022 Learners’ Voice cohort combines public and private school students in Qatar. The Learners’ participated in a 2-month bootcamp that equips students with informal learning opportunities that harness the power of self expression for civic participation and meeting societal needs.
The learners are invited to explore challenges in education, introducing them to themes of innovation for quality and access, learner agency, wellbeing and building an equitable, resilient education system. Based on the challenges explored, the students will settle on a learning challenge to tackle real-life solutions. Implementation Day provides the learners with a platform to showcase their solutions to relevant stakeholders within the Ministry of Education, their schools and the local community.
2022 Cohort
Al Wakra Preparatory School for Girls
- Dana Own
- AlMayasa Al Obaidli
Ibn Khaldoon Preparatory Independent School for Boys
- Marzouq Al Khaldi
- Mohammed Al Mansouri
- Faisal Al-Suwaidi
- Faleh Al Rumaihi
- Abdalrahman Al Rewaily
Amna Bint Wahab Secondary School for Girls
- Hajer Haytham
- Naya Rahmah
- Sara Hasan
- Shahd Abdulaziz
- Shahd Al Kadah
Al Bayan Secondary School
- Hemyan Al Subaey
Omar Bin Khattab Preparatory School
- Mohammed Al Qahtani
- Khalid Al Naimi
Qatar International School
- Awrad Mousa
In Partnership with
2022 Delivery Partner
Cohorts by year
The WISE Learners’ Voice Program brings the perspectives of young people to the challenge of rethinking education and equips them to take on leading roles in their fields and in the world of education. The Program is based on the idea that when learners are co-creators of their learning environments, they become active participants invested as stakeholders in the progress of their communities. The Program focuses on building knowledge of education, social entrepreneurship, leadership, and communication skills.
The Learners’ Voice Program was established in 2010 to engage the views and creative energies of young people in addressing pressing global education issues and challenges. The current Learners’ Voice community comprises over 200 Learners from many countries, including Qatar. They represent different backgrounds and disciplines but all share a passion for education. Together they represent a unique perspective within the WISE community.
2020-21 cohort
The 2021 Learners’ Voice cohort is the first ever Qatar exclusive group with 26 learners from 6 government schools. The Learners participated in a year-long journey of creative thinking, discussion and self expression. The cohort engaged with local guest speakers, who shared their expertise on topics such as storytelling, arts & fashion, and urban design; and interacted with student mentors from Northwestern University in Qatar.
The culmination of this cohort’s work is a series of photographs exploring their identities and how they view their roles in their communities. Through their artwork, the learners hope to pose provocative questions and begin a dialogue with their local communities as well as offer a call to action.
2019-20 cohort
The 2019-20 WISE Learners’ Voice cohort consists of 25 outstanding learners from 20 countries, selected from a diverse pool of applicants, who strongly demonstrate their commitment to the field of education, through their academic, professional and/or personal work.
The cohort convened for an in-person residential session in Doha from 17-19 November 2019 to participate in an action-based leadership and educational development module. In addition to completing the residential training, fellows participated actively in the WISE Summit 2019 to share their views and creative energies in addressing pressing global education issues and challenges.
2017-18 cohort
The 2017-18 Learners’ Voice cohort consists of 19 outstanding Learners from 16 countries, selected from a diverse pool of applicants, who strongly demonstrate their commitment to the field of education, through their academic, professional and/or personal work. In a key component of the program the Learners are tasked with developing innovative, educational interventions to a pressing social issue identified by WISE. This year the participants were engaged in theoretical and practical components relating to the Global Forced Migration and Displacement Crisis.
The Learners participated in two intensive residential sessions delivered by expert faculty, online project development, project piloting, and the final project pitch at global education events.
First Residential Session
In March the Learners’ Voice Program hosted its first residential session in Athens, Greece. The two-week intensive session brought together 21 participants from around the world to explore the global forced migration and refugee crisis.
This first residential session comprised of interactive workshops led by experts from Harvard University, Sciences Po, American Community School of Athens, among others. The workshops were designed to spark creative thinking and discussion among participants around both practical and theoretical knowledge of the refugee and education in emergency challenge, in addition to developing their communication, leadership and project development skills. The group devoted their attention to supporting the work of organizations working in both urban and camp refugee communities in Athens, including Drop in the Ocean, Jafra Foundation, Homeproject and Campfire Innovation.
The Athens residential session is designed to enable participants to apply their skills and knowledge in their research and development of innovative educational projects throughout the year. The Learners came together to form project groups, each one tackling a forced migration challenge. Learners continue to develop their group projects online with the support of mentors. In June, the Learners will reconvene in Athens to develop their project and pilot it on the ground. Selected projects will have the opportunity to present their project to audience of relevant stakeholders and partners at a global event.
Online Project Development
In this component, participants work in project teams, which were formed in the first residential session, throughout the year with guidance from the Learners’ Voice Team and expert mentors from the WISE community. After a thorough evaluation, selected projects will be invited to pitch to an audience of relevant stakeholders, including potential donors and partners.
Second Residential Session and Pilot
The 2018 Learners’ Voice Cohort gathered in Athens from June 18-29 for their second residential session, focusing on social entrepreneurship, communication and project development skills. The intensive faculty sessions were complemented with site visits and project pilots conducted by the five groups to measure the feasibility of their projects and apply their skills.
The second residential was concluded with a closing panel session attended by Stavros Yiannouka, CEO of WISE, to recognize the efforts of the Learners. In the final phase, based on a thorough evaluation, selected teams had the opportunity to present their projects to potential partners and stakeholders in WISE@NY on 22 September 2018.
Pitch
Based on the findings from the pilot and the strength of the final submission, selected teams will be given the opportunity to pitch their projects to an audience of relevant experts, practitioners, and stakeholders.
First Residential Session
In March the Learners’ Voice Program hosted its first residential session in Athens, Greece. The two-week intensive session brought together 21 participants from around the world to explore the global forced migration and refugee crisis.
This first residential session comprised of interactive workshops led by experts from Harvard University, Sciences Po, American Community School of Athens, among others. The workshops were designed to spark creative thinking and discussion among participants around both practical and theoretical knowledge of the refugee and education in emergency challenge, in addition to developing their communication, leadership and project development skills. The group devoted their attention to supporting the work of organizations working in both urban and camp refugee communities in Athens, including Drop in the Ocean, Jafra Foundation, Homeproject and Campfire Innovation.
The Athens residential session is designed to enable participants to apply their skills and knowledge in their research and development of innovative educational projects throughout the year. The Learners came together to form project groups, each one tackling a forced migration challenge. Learners continue to develop their group projects online with the support of mentors. In June, the Learners will reconvene in Athens to develop their project and pilot it on the ground. Selected projects will have the opportunity to present their project to audience of relevant stakeholders and partners at a global event.
Online Project Development
In this component, participants work in project teams, which were formed in the first residential session, throughout the year with guidance from the Learners’ Voice Team and expert mentors from the WISE community. After a thorough evaluation, selected projects will be invited to pitch to an audience of relevant stakeholders, including potential donors and partners.
Second Residential Session and Pilot
The 2018 Learners’ Voice Cohort gathered in Athens from June 18-29 for their second residential session, focusing on social entrepreneurship, communication and project development skills. The intensive faculty sessions were complemented with site visits and project pilots conducted by the five groups to measure the feasibility of their projects and apply their skills.
The second residential was concluded with a closing panel session attended by Stavros Yiannouka, CEO of WISE, to recognize the efforts of the Learners. In the final phase, based on a thorough evaluation, selected teams had the opportunity to present their projects to potential partners and stakeholders in WISE@NY on 22 September 2018.
Pitch
Based on the findings from the pilot and the strength of the final submission, selected teams will be given the opportunity to pitch their projects to an audience of relevant experts, practitioners, and stakeholders.
2016-17 cohort
The 2016-17 Learners’ Voice cohort consists of 26 outstanding Learners from 25 countries rigorously selected from a diverse pool of applicants who, through their academic, professional and/or personal work, strongly demonstrate their commitment to and engagement in the field of education. In a key component of the program, the Learners are tasked with developing innovative, educational interventions to a pressing social issue identified by WISE. This year the participants were engaged in theoretical and practical components relating to the Global Forced Migration and Displacement Crisis.
The Learners participated in two intensive residential sessions delivered by expert faculty, online project development, project piloting and the final project pitch at WISE 2017.
First Residential Session
In March, the Learners’ Voice Program hosted a residential session in Athens, Greece for the first time since its inception in 2010. The two-week intensive session brought together 25 participants, including youth from refugee communities, to explore the global forced migration and refugee crisis, which is the program’s thematic focus for 2016-17.
This first residential session comprised interactive workshops led by the Yale World Fellows and various experts from Oxford University, Harvard University, the University of Bologna and Save The Children, among others. The workshops were designed to spark creative thinking and discussion among the participants around both practical and theoretical knowledge of the challenge topic, in addition to developing their communication, leadership and project development skills. The group also devoted attention to supporting the work of organizations working with both urban and camp refugee communities in Athens, including the Khora Community Centre, METAdrasi, Orange House, Project Elea, and Organization Earth.
Project development is a key component of the program; teams were tasked with developing grass-roots projects to support the refugees and organizations working on the ground. The residential session concluded with the presentations of five group projects to a panel of education experts including Mr. Stavros N. Yiannouka, CEO, WISE, and Dr. Stefanos Gialamas, President of the American Community Schools of Athens, as well as representatives from Project Elea, METAdrasi, and Organization Earth.
The Athens residential session was designed to enable the participants to apply their skills and knowledge as they research and develop innovative educational projects throughout the year. The Learners will continue to develop their group projects online with the support of mentors. In June, they will meet again for a Second Residential Session in Madrid which will address social entrepreneurship and design thinking modules delivered by Babson College and expert faculty.
Successful projects will be presented at the WISE 2017 Summit in Doha in November.
Online Project Development
In this component, participants work in project teams which were formed in the first residential session and participants continue to develop the projects throughout the year with guidance from the Learners’ Voice Team and expert mentors from the WISE community. After thorough evaluation, selected projects will be invited to pitch to an audience of relevant stakeholders, including potential donors and partners at the 2017 WISE Summit.
Second Residential Session
The 2016-17 Learners’ Voice Cohort gathered at Santander Financial City in Madrid May 28 to June 10 for their second residential session, focusing on social entrepreneurship and communication skills. The intensive sessions were delivered in partnership with Banco Santander’s Global Universities Division, and facilitated by experts from Babson College and other specialists.
Since their first residential session in Athens in March, the Learners have been engaged in online project development with expert mentors to help them build their group projects. One of the main objectives of the second residential session was to support teams in further developing these social initiatives, and to design a pilot. Selected projects, intended to address challenges faced by refugees and the displaced, will be piloted with a target community in July and August. The pilot will allow teams to develop a proof of concept and gather data from beneficiaries to improve their projects.
In the final phase, based on thorough evaluation, selected teams will present their projects to potential partners and stakeholders at WISE 2017 in November.
Piloting
Based on the strength of the project proposals, selected teams have the opportunity to pilot their projects with the target community. The purpose of the pilot is to test the idea on a small scale and evaluate its benefits, risks and feasibility. The pilot phase will be conducted in partnership with organizations on the ground.
Pitch
Based on the findings from the pilot and the strength of the final submission, selected teams will be given the opportunity to pitch their projects to an audience of relevant experts, practitioners and stakeholders.
First Residential Session
In March, the Learners’ Voice Program hosted a residential session in Athens, Greece for the first time since its inception in 2010. The two-week intensive session brought together 25 participants, including youth from refugee communities, to explore the global forced migration and refugee crisis, which is the program’s thematic focus for 2016-17.
This first residential session comprised interactive workshops led by the Yale World Fellows and various experts from Oxford University, Harvard University, the University of Bologna and Save The Children, among others. The workshops were designed to spark creative thinking and discussion among the participants around both practical and theoretical knowledge of the challenge topic, in addition to developing their communication, leadership and project development skills. The group also devoted attention to supporting the work of organizations working with both urban and camp refugee communities in Athens, including the Khora Community Centre, METAdrasi, Orange House, Project Elea, and Organization Earth.
Project development is a key component of the program; teams were tasked with developing grass-roots projects to support the refugees and organizations working on the ground. The residential session concluded with the presentations of five group projects to a panel of education experts including Mr. Stavros N. Yiannouka, CEO, WISE, and Dr. Stefanos Gialamas, President of the American Community Schools of Athens, as well as representatives from Project Elea, METAdrasi, and Organization Earth.
The Athens residential session was designed to enable the participants to apply their skills and knowledge as they research and develop innovative educational projects throughout the year. The Learners will continue to develop their group projects online with the support of mentors. In June, they will meet again for a Second Residential Session in Madrid which will address social entrepreneurship and design thinking modules delivered by Babson College and expert faculty.
Successful projects will be presented at the WISE 2017 Summit in Doha in November.
Online Project Development
In this component, participants work in project teams which were formed in the first residential session and participants continue to develop the projects throughout the year with guidance from the Learners’ Voice Team and expert mentors from the WISE community. After thorough evaluation, selected projects will be invited to pitch to an audience of relevant stakeholders, including potential donors and partners at the 2017 WISE Summit.
Second Residential Session
The 2016-17 Learners’ Voice Cohort gathered at Santander Financial City in Madrid May 28 to June 10 for their second residential session, focusing on social entrepreneurship and communication skills. The intensive sessions were delivered in partnership with Banco Santander’s Global Universities Division, and facilitated by experts from Babson College and other specialists.
Since their first residential session in Athens in March, the Learners have been engaged in online project development with expert mentors to help them build their group projects. One of the main objectives of the second residential session was to support teams in further developing these social initiatives, and to design a pilot. Selected projects, intended to address challenges faced by refugees and the displaced, will be piloted with a target community in July and August. The pilot will allow teams to develop a proof of concept and gather data from beneficiaries to improve their projects.
In the final phase, based on thorough evaluation, selected teams will present their projects to potential partners and stakeholders at WISE 2017 in November.
Piloting
Based on the strength of the project proposals, selected teams have the opportunity to pilot their projects with the target community. The purpose of the pilot is to test the idea on a small scale and evaluate its benefits, risks and feasibility. The pilot phase will be conducted in partnership with organizations on the ground.
Pitch
Based on the findings from the pilot and the strength of the final submission, selected teams will be given the opportunity to pitch their projects to an audience of relevant experts, practitioners and stakeholders.
2015-16 cohort
Throughout 2016 the Learners were engaged in residential sessions and online and on-site activities intended to build their knowledge of current issues in education as well as their entrepreneurial, communication, and leadership skills. The first residential session was held in Doha, January 4-12, 2016, and included modules on education, communication, and leadership delivered by Prof Thomas Cassidy and the Yale World Fellows.
The second residential session was hosted by WISE partner Banco Santander (through its Santander Universities program) in Madrid, May 30-June 10, 2016. Babson College and Studio Banana delivered a series of practical workshops on social entrepreneurship, innovation, and disruptive thinking.
A core component of the Learners’ Voice Program is the development of group projects that address critical issues in education. The cohort developed five projects during the year addressing diverse education challenges including social integration, education in emergency contexts, and student motivation. Each team had the opportunity to visit a site between June and August to conduct primary research and further develop their project proposals.
After thorough evaluation, two teams of Learners were selected to present at the WISE-LIFE China Forum on Education in Beijing on November 5, 2016. The presentation session provided the Learners with a platform from which to pitch their projects, and to discuss them with an audience of experts and practitioners.
The following projects were presented at the WISE-LIFE China Forum:
- HaloHalo- a skill-sharing platform which creates opportunities for authentic in-person encounters that supports both refugees and locals in developing new skills, reconnecting with their passions, and ultimately broadening their cross cultural networking.
- Edulink– a student engagement program for public school students in Qatar intended to make education more relevant to students’ lives through guest speakers and field visits.
After thorough evaluation, two teams of Learners were selected to present at the WISE-LIFE China Forum on Education in Beijing on November 5, 2016. The presentation session provided the Learners with a platform from which to pitch their projects, and to discuss them with an audience of experts and practitioners.
2014-15 cohort
The 2014-15 Learners’ were engaged in various activities which aimed to build their knowledge of current issues in education as well as their entrepreneurial, communication and leadership skills.
The Program was delivered through two core residential sessions. The first residential session was held in Doha from January 5-13, 2015 and covered modules on education, and communication and leadership, delivered by faculty from local educational institutions and the Yale World Fellows, respectively.
The second residential session was hosted by Learners’ Voice partners Banco Santander (through its program Santander Universities) in Madrid from June 1-12, 2015, where Babson College and Studio Banana delivered a series of workshops on social entrepreneurship and disruptive thinking.
A core component of the Learners’ Voice Program is the development of group projects seeking to address critical issues in the field of education. The following project proposals were developed during the course of the year and were selected to present at the 2015 WISE Summit on November 4th in Doha, Qatar.
- The Connected Cultures Project which builds cross-cultural competence through non-formal education for youth.
- EmpaFest: The DIY Empathy Festival – an initiative that develops empathy through a transformative program for teenagers
- The Pantok Initiative that provides access to education for out-of-school children by adapting internationally-recognized home-schooling models to refugee camp contexts.
- Bila Hodood – an online clearinghouse for special needs education that centralizes the dissemination and delivery of special needs teaching and training
- The Imagine Project which utilizes the use of inquiry- and activity-based educational methods and technologies to increase student engagement, performance and overall development.
2013-14 cohort
The 2013-14 Learners’ were actively engaged in various activities designed to develop their knowledge of current education issues as well as entrepreneurial, communication, and leadership skills.
The Program was delivered through two core residential sessions. The first residential session was held in Doha in January, covering modules on education and social entrepreneurship delivered by faculty from Wheelock College and Babson College (USA), respectively. The second residential session was hosted by Learners’ Voice partners Banco Santander (through its program Santander Universities) in Madrid, where Yale World Fellows and Studio Banana delivered a series of dynamic workshops on leadership, communication, and disruptive thinking.
The main goal of the Program is for the Learners to develop a project that addresses a critical issue in the field of education. The following project proposals have been developed during the course of the year:
- Duende: A project addressing the social exclusion and stigmatization of Children Born of War in Uganda through arts education.
- ConnectEd: A mobile and web platform to improve student engagement and performance;
- Orenda: A project engaging displaced populations in educative programs through the model of ‘co-creation’.
- Teach Abroad: An online platform to connect volunteer English teachers from all over the world to community centers in Haiti’s most marginalized areas;
- iSTEAM: A dynamic educational curriculum that uses cutting-edge technology such as 3D printing to bring 21st-century skills to students in Qatar
- Passion to Profession: An innovative platform educating students about academic and career choices, and helping them make decisions based on their skills and passions.
In addition, the Learners participated in the following international education conferences where they were given the platform to share their views, present their projects and grow their networks:
The 9th Annual Education and Development Conference, Bangkok, Thailand
From March 5 to 7, 2014, four members of the WISE Learners’ Voice Program, Jyoti Rahaman (Bangladesh), Esther McFarlane (South Africa), Ahsan Malik (UK) and Khalid Al-Saegh (Qatar) will be participating in the 9th Annual Education and Development Conference in Bangkok, Thailand. The event, organized by Tomorrow People Organization, is a forum and networking place for all those interested in exploring and discussing the interdependence between education and development.
For the first time this year, the WISE Learners will have the opportunity to present to an open audience the progress made on the design of their collective projects, which seek to address crucial issues in the field of education. Some of the project ideas include: increasing access to education using container schools, reintegrating children “born of war” in Uganda through arts education, empowering youth with effective career guidance, and enhancing STEAM education – Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics – with 3D printers.
During the conference, the Learners will also be interviewing selected participants, blogging, and tweeting on their experience.
The Global Education & Skills Forum, Dubai, UAE
Four WISE Learners, Mariem Fekih (Tunisia), Fatima Ramadan (Spain), A’quilah Saiere (Singapore), and Abdullah Ahmad (Pakistan) will be attending the Global Education and Skills Forum (GESF) that will take place in Dubai, UAE, from March 15 to 17, 2014.
The Learners will be participating in panel discussions and workshops, as well as networking with business leaders, government representatives and practitioners from the field of education.
The GESF is under the Patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and is co-organized by UNESCO, Varkey GEMS Foundation and the UAE Ministry of Education, amongst other organizations. This year’s forum will focus on the themes of education, employment and equity.
The 14th International Common Ground Conference on Diversity in Organizations, Communities and Nations, Vienna, Austria
When diversity meets innovation – Learners present their ideas at the Common Ground Conference in Vienna.
Interdisciplinary thinking, global conversations, and cross-institutional intellectual collaboration – these are the core ideas behind the 14thInternational Common Ground Conference on Diversity in Organizations, Communities and Nations , taking place in Vienna, Austria from 9 to 11 of July.
Four Learners, Evanne Nowak (The Netherlands), Maeve Dunne (Ireland), Nikhil D’Souza (India) and Muetaz Hamed (Yemen) will be taking part in the conference to present the projects they have been working on within the year-long Executive Education Program.
This is the second time this year that the Learners have been given the opportunity to introduce their concepts to a large international audience, all of the offered solutions addressing a pressing educational issue.
The conference, organized by Common Ground Publishing, aims at creating a privileged interdisciplinary meeting space for a diverse and creative knowledge community around the following topics: Identity and Belonging, Organizational Diversity, Education and Learning in a World of Differences, and Community Diversity and Governance.
The 9th Annual Education and Development Conference, Bangkok, Thailand
From March 5 to 7, 2014, four members of the WISE Learners’ Voice Program, Jyoti Rahaman (Bangladesh), Esther McFarlane (South Africa), Ahsan Malik (UK) and Khalid Al-Saegh (Qatar) will be participating in the 9th Annual Education and Development Conference in Bangkok, Thailand. The event, organized by Tomorrow People Organization, is a forum and networking place for all those interested in exploring and discussing the interdependence between education and development.
For the first time this year, the WISE Learners will have the opportunity to present to an open audience the progress made on the design of their collective projects, which seek to address crucial issues in the field of education. Some of the project ideas include: increasing access to education using container schools, reintegrating children “born of war” in Uganda through arts education, empowering youth with effective career guidance, and enhancing STEAM education – Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics – with 3D printers.
During the conference, the Learners will also be interviewing selected participants, blogging, and tweeting on their experience.
The Global Education & Skills Forum, Dubai, UAE
Four WISE Learners, Mariem Fekih (Tunisia), Fatima Ramadan (Spain), A’quilah Saiere (Singapore), and Abdullah Ahmad (Pakistan) will be attending the Global Education and Skills Forum (GESF) that will take place in Dubai, UAE, from March 15 to 17, 2014.
The Learners will be participating in panel discussions and workshops, as well as networking with business leaders, government representatives and practitioners from the field of education.
The GESF is under the Patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and is co-organized by UNESCO, Varkey GEMS Foundation and the UAE Ministry of Education, amongst other organizations. This year’s forum will focus on the themes of education, employment and equity.
The 14th International Common Ground Conference on Diversity in Organizations, Communities and Nations, Vienna, Austria
When diversity meets innovation – Learners present their ideas at the Common Ground Conference in Vienna.
Interdisciplinary thinking, global conversations, and cross-institutional intellectual collaboration – these are the core ideas behind the 14thInternational Common Ground Conference on Diversity in Organizations, Communities and Nations , taking place in Vienna, Austria from 9 to 11 of July.
Four Learners, Evanne Nowak (The Netherlands), Maeve Dunne (Ireland), Nikhil D’Souza (India) and Muetaz Hamed (Yemen) will be taking part in the conference to present the projects they have been working on within the year-long Executive Education Program.
This is the second time this year that the Learners have been given the opportunity to introduce their concepts to a large international audience, all of the offered solutions addressing a pressing educational issue.
The conference, organized by Common Ground Publishing, aims at creating a privileged interdisciplinary meeting space for a diverse and creative knowledge community around the following topics: Identity and Belonging, Organizational Diversity, Education and Learning in a World of Differences, and Community Diversity and Governance.
After thorough evaluation, the following projects were selected to present at the 2014 WISE Summit:
- Duende (Facebook page, Twitter feed)
- iSTEAM
- Passion to Profession (Facebook page, Twitter feed)
- Orenda (Facebook page, Website, Twitter feed)
2012-13 cohort
The 2012 group of Learners was present at the 2012 WISE Summit where they joined forces with the 2011 Learners to report from the event through video interviews and blogs, and took part in Debates, Workshops and a Forum session.
Throughout 2013, the Learners were involved in a year-long Executive Education Program. They gathered in Doha in June to take part in a residential session during which they had lectures and practical workshops on education, public policy and decision-making, social entrepreneurship, leadership and communication. They also worked in groups to learn how to address an educational challenge from a practical point of view through project work.
In order to deepen their understanding of educational issues, they also visited international conferences, networking and brainstorming with education experts from around the world and reporting live on the following events:
- Empower 2013: ROTA’s 5th Annual Youth Conference on Leadership, Service Learning and Global Citizenship, Doha, Qatar
- THE 2013, Doha, Qatar
- Asian Youth Forum and the 46th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors at the Asian Development Bank, New Delhi, India
- WISE/BC collaborative event, Manchester, UK
- Wheelock College Inaugural International Conference, Global Challenges and Opportunities Facing Children, Youth and Families, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
The outputs of the Learners’ annual activities and insights gained from these international conferences were presented at the 2013 WISE Summit held on October 29-31, 2013, in Doha, Qatar.
2011-12 cohort
The WISE Learners recruited in 2011 attended the Summit that year and worked throughout 2012 on the theme Increasing Access to Relevant, High-Quality Education for All Learners through Innovation. Seven groups investigated access to education at various levels, including early childhood education and lifelong learning.
To inform their research, several 2011 Learners participated in key global events during the year.
Learners also visited two WISE Awards winning projects: School-Business Partnerships (Morocco) and the Self-Sufficient School (Paraguay), which allowed them to gain on-the-ground experience and understanding of educational challenges in two very different contexts.
The Learners presented the results of their year-long project at WISE 2012 through a dedicated Learners’ Voice Debate and shared the lessons learnt with their peers. Through active networking and meetings, they also sought expertise and advice from members of the WISE community to discuss projects they are currently involved with and ideas that they would like to develop in the future.
Our community
2019-20 Learners
Greece
Egypt
Nigeria
Brazil
Nigeria
Kenya
United States of America
Tanzania
United States of America
Germany
Azerbaijan
Cambodia
Canada
Pakistan
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Pakistan
Austria
Jordan
Vietnam
Jamaica
Qatar
Pakistan
India
Argentina
Qatar
2017-18 Learners
Qatar
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Argentina
Australia
Argentina
Colombia
United States of America
Pakistan
United States of America
Liberia
India
Australia
China
Bangladesh
Nigeria
Egypt
United States of America
2016-17 Learners
Sudan
France
Italy
Algeria
Sudan
United States of America
Qatar, Palestine
China
Brazil, Japan
Palestine
Philipines
Syria
China
Pakistan
Ukraine
Spain
Argentina
Saudi Arabia
Australia, Afghanistan
2015-16 Learners
Nigeria
Kyrgyzstan
Saudi Arabia
Qatar
Iran
Romania
Bosnia and Herzegovina
China
DR Congo
Uganda
Morocco
Palestine
Bangladesh
Canada
Jordan
United States of America / Syria
Colombia
Botswana
Pakistan
Pakistan
Qatar
Spain
Brazil
Pakistan
2014-15 Learners
Somalia
South Sudan
Yemen
Qatar
Qatar
Qatar
Sudan
Mongolia
Afghanistan
India
Australia
United States of America
Cyprus
Vietnam
Argentina
Pakistan
Belarus
Spain
United States of America
Pakistan
Bangladesh
Serbia
Haiti
2013-14 Learners
Nigeria
Pakistan
Pakistan
Asma Al Khulaifi
Qatar
Qatar
Qatar
Qatar
United States of America
Singapore
Morocco
France/Tunisia
United States of America
India
Ireland
Syria
Tunisia
Guatemala
Yemen
Bangladesh
United Kingdom/Pakistan
South Africa
Zimbabwe
The Netherlands
Haiti
Bangladesh
Spain/Sweden
Greece
Indonesia
Pakistan
2012-13 Learners
Canada
Bahrain
Cameroon
Qatar
Qatar
Qatar
Qatar
Palestine
Afghanistan
Syria
Pakistan
The Netherlands
United States of America
Tunisia
Haiti
Qatar
Colombia
Jordan
Poland
Kenya
Indonesia
Haiti
Egypt
France
Vietnam
Egypt
Philippines
Yemen
Sierra Leone
2011-12 Learners
Eritrea
Qatar
Yemen
Qatar
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Trinidad and Tobago
Qatar
Haiti
China
Argentina
United States of America
India
Indonesia
Egypt
Palestine
United States of America
Tanzania
Haiti
Kenya
South Africa
Sierra Leone
Vietnam
Philippines
Afghanistan
Yasmeen Dawwas
Palestine
Zainab Sultan
India
Mentors
A central element of the WISE Learners’ Voice Program is the development of group projects that seek to introduce innovative solutions to pressing education issues. To support Learners in the development of their projects, we match groups with mentors from the WISE community who provide expert guidance on the development of their project ideas.
The role of the mentor is to share expertise, provide advice and exchange ideas with their group. The mentoring component has been an essential element of the Learners’ Voice Program and has added immense value to the experience of the Learners.
The following expert contributors have participated as mentors since 2013.
Kiron Open Higher Education, Turkey
Education Impact & The World Bank, United States of America
Education Sector Working Group, Greece
University of Bologna, Italy
IMC Weekend School, the Netherlands
Voluntary Service Overseas, Nepal
Immersed in Creativity, China
Cultural Infusion, Australia
Jordan Education Initiative, Jordan
Knowledge Platform, United States of America
Langua Jovenes, Mexico
Places4All, Portugal
Silatech, Qatar
IThra Youth Initiative, Saudi Arabia
Shidulai Swanirvar Sangstha, Bangladesh
EUROCLIO, the Netherlands
Studio School, United Kingdom
Pathways to Education, Canada
Ambassadors
Executive Director, Social Inclusion Foundation
Argentina
Global partnerships, Generation
Sweden, Canada
International Non-Governmental Organisation practitioner & strategist, Amnesty International
Argentina
Consultant, EY
Italy