Doha: HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, has inaugurated the 12th World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE 12). The summit, themed "Humanity.io: Human Values at the Heart of Education," is taking place on November 24 and 25 at the Qatar National Convention Centre. It brings together leaders, experts, and innovators from over 150 countries.
According to Qatar News Agency, the opening ceremony saw the attendance of HE Vice Chairperson of Qatar Foundation, Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al-Thani, alongside ministers and heads of diplomatic missions accredited to the State of Qatar. In her opening address, HH Sheikha Moza stressed that education should foster creativity and innovation rather than mimicry. She highlighted that WISE was created to promote unconventional thinking and break traditional molds.
Sheikha Moza emphasized that education is a fundamental human right essential for dignity, justice, and progress, not a service or privilege. She called for a global reassessment of educational achievements and barriers, noting the knowledge disparity that exists globally. She pointed out that many regions, particularly in the Arab, African, Asian, and Latin American worlds, are absent from global scientific platforms due to educational and institutional imbalances.
She posed critical questions about whether deficiencies lie within individuals or their environments, leading to broader inquiries about the conditions necessary for educational advancement. She announced the launch of a new WISE index to measure education quality, integrating social and cultural values into academic assessments. The WISE Awards will support initiatives that enhance education quality worldwide.
Her Highness reflected on the rapid pace of scientific progress, noting that humanity transitions between eras within decades, propelled by technological advancements. She highlighted the unique challenges posed by artificial intelligence, cautioning against technological dependency and emphasizing the need for ethical governance of AI.
Sheikha Moza warned of the dangers when science is divorced from values and ethics, citing weapons of mass destruction as an example. She referenced global conflicts as manifestations of the absence of human conscience in scientific endeavors. She raised questions about the future of education in the AI era, urging proactive solutions to align education with technological changes.
She concluded by advocating for an education system rooted in human values to restore dignity to science and humanity. She called for an education that promotes truth, justice, and beauty, serving as a means of liberation. She wished the summit's participants success in their endeavors.
The WISE Summit continues to establish itself as a global platform for discussing educational futures, bringing together leaders and experts to build equitable educational systems. Since its inception, WISE has hosted over 15,000 participants globally, fostering collaboration and innovation to tackle educational challenges.