Fourth edition of WISE set to open in Doha Tuesday

The fourth annual edition of the World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) 2012 opens here Tuesday at the Qatar National Convention Centre under the theme 'Collaborating for Change'.  This year more than 1,000 prominent education, corporate, political and social leaders from over 100 countries will gather for the three-day Summit and explore how collaboration in many forms and at many levels can become the driving force of efforts to inspire innovation in  education and to design long-term strategies for its renewal.  WISE is an ideal platform for multi-sectoral collaboration in building the future of education. The Summit offers a forum to education experts, academicians, and policy makers from diverse backgrounds to exchange and mull ideas and best practices in education.  The Summit attendees are given an opportunity to collaborate, share best practices and challenge their thinking during interactive Plenary Sessions and Debates. Focus Sessions highlight innovative Best Practices or projects, along with Workshops to facilitate collaboration on specific issues.  Guests can connect with members of the WISE Community, including the holders of the 2012 WISE Awards winning projects and this year s Learners  Voice student delegates.  The WISE Prize for Education, now in its second year, will be awarded during the Summit to an individual or a team in recognition of an outstanding contribution to education. Guests will witness the address by the newly recognized 2012 Laureate at this prestigious event.  More than 70 sessions and all the related activities at the Summit are a unique opportunity for all the participants to find out more about the most cutting-edge practices in education, network with high-level people from all sectors and from all countries, and to actively participate in building the future of education.  The Summit will witness the presentation of WISE Awards. This year WISE has announced six projects from around the world as winners of the 2012 WISE Awards under the theme 'Transforming Education'.  The winners from Bangladesh, Cambodia, Chile, Denmark, India and the United States of America, the winning initiatives were selected by a jury of leading education experts following a pre-selection of 24 WISE Awards finalists from 14 countries.  The winning projects were selected for their tangible, positive impact upon society and their innovative approach to solving important global problems. The winning project receives global visibility and a cash prize of US $20,000.  This year one of the WISE Awards is for a project that, in addition to 'Transforming Education', has best provided innovative financing of primary education. The winning project comes from Bangladesh, where solar-powered floating schools ensure year-round primary education to students in flood-prone areas, even during the height of the monsoon period.