‘Ideas Box’, one of the winning projects, is a mobile education unit to support refugees and other vulnerable populations. It was also a 2014-15 WISE Accelerator project.
DOHA: The World Innovation Summit for Education yesterday announced six projects winning the 2016 WISE Awards.
The awards recognise innovative initiatives addressing key education challenges.
The winning projects originate from Canada, Lebanon, Brazil, France, India, and the US and address education issues related to personalised learning, female employment, student underachievement, education in emergency contexts, and adult literacy.
WISE, of Qatar Foundation (QF), is an international initiative driving innovation and collaboration in education.
Since 2009, recipients of the awards have joined a network of other successful and pioneering projects through which they gain global visibility and are given an opportunity to collaborate through various platforms, such as WISE Communications, WISE Publications and the WISE Summit. The projects also receive $20,000 each and are celebrated at the WISE Summit and other WISE events.
Independent education consultants from Parthenon-EY assess the applicants and a jury of international education experts evaluates 15 shortlisted projects that aim at building a network of change-makers and inspire others around the world.
Dr. Abdulaziz Al Horr, CEO, Qatar Finance and Business Academy, one of the 10 education authorities who form the jury, said: “The 2016 WISE Awards embody the notion of ‘education as empowerment’.
“Each winning project can be seen as a tool to overcome some of the world’s biggest education challenges. We are confident that this recognition will support the projects in promoting new ideas and practices and building a better future for all.”
Stavros N Yiannouka, CEO, WISE, said, “We are happy to introduce the projects to a wider audience through the awards. We are confident that they are strong models that will inspire others to help build a more secure and prosperous future for individuals and societies everywhere through education.”
‘JUMP Math’, a winning project, uses a guided discovery method to teach K to 8 math in Canada, the US, Spain, and Bulgaria.
‘Education for Growth and Value Creation’, based in Lebanon, supports the socio-economic status of rural Lebanese women through vocational education and training in tourism.
‘Geikie’ is a personalised learning programme that supports students in Brazil who take the Exame Nacional do Ensimo Médio.
‘Ideas Box’ from France and a 2014-15 WISE Accelerator project, is a mobile education unit consisting of compact media centres with laptops, tablets, e-readers, books, cameras, games and other resources to support refugees and other vulnerable populations.
‘Little Ripples’ is an American project in Chad that reduces the barriers to early childhood education among Darfuri refugees through home-based education.
In rural India, Tara Akshar works to reduce high rates of adult illiteracy among women.
