Opinion

Thursday, May 16, 2024 | Daily Newspaper published by GPPC Doha, Qatar.

Opinion

Gulf Times

Honourable Qatari stances on Arab solidarity, causes

Qatar has always been concerned with supporting joint Arab action in all domains, be it political, economic, developmental, social, cultural,or humanitarian. Powered by its wise leaderships firm belief in Arab co-operation and joint action as the sole driver of sustainable economic development and prosperity for the people of the Arab world, as well as the means through which Arab states can defend their sovereignty, independence, interests, identity, and causes in all regional and international forums.The participation of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani in both regular and emergency sessions of the Arab League meetings, conferences, and summits, reflect the eagerness of Qatar, its leadership, its government, and its people on joint Arab action to fulfil the Arab people’s aspirations for stability, development, prosperity, security, and peace.According to observer and Arab citizen alike, the participation of His Highness the Amir in Arab summits undoubtedly adds significant momentum through the meetings and discussions of His Highness with Arab leaders on all sort of Arab concerns and issues, protecting Arab achievements and national security, especially in light of the worlds sharp polarisation, blocs, wars, conflicts, rapid changes, and highly sensitive regional circumstances.The Amir has consistently raised Arab causes and highlighted their bright nature characterised by peace, justice, and tolerance, in all Arab summits, UN sessions, Shura Council opening sessions, and during his Arab tours and meetings with his Arab counterparts. His Highness always calls on parties to crises to focus on common interests, resolving issues and disputes through dialogue and political means. He also always calls for protecting national sovereignty, stability, and territorial integrity.The Palestinian people’s just cause has always been and continues to be strongly present in all speeches made by His Highness, constantly emphasising their right to establish an independent state in their national homeland with East Jerusalem as their capital, ending all injustices that befell them. Moreover, His Highness always stresses that the Palestinian people cannot continue to be prisoners to the Israeli occupations arbitrariness and settlement schemes, with successive Israeli governments rejecting any political solution nor submitting to the principles of international legitimacy.Thus, this central cause is at the forefront of Qatar’s political concerns and its international mobilisation priorities and is deeply engraved in the hearts of the Qatari people. Furthermore, the country supports the Palestinian cause at all times and in all forums, utilising all means and resources for its sake.Qatar’s rejection of the Israeli aggression on Gaza and the resulting widespread destruction, devastation, and casualties, as well as Qatar’s role as a trustworthy and impartial mediator, are clear indications that this just cause will always remain a priority, as Qatar sees the rights of the Palestinian people as inalienable rights backed by all international and humanitarian laws, principles, and values.As the 33rd regular Arab League Summit is being held in Bahrain today, Qatar remains steadfast with regards to the Arab nations issues and causes and will spare no effort in supporting the summit’s proceedings and recommendations, in service of the Arab nations interests and enhancing its solidarity and joint action, for the sake of its peoples free and dignified life.Speaking to Qatar News Agency (QNA), HE Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors of the Doha International Center for Interfaith Dialogue Dr Aisha bint Yousuf al-Mannai said that Qatar, guided by its wise leadership, stands by and supports Arab issues and causes, with the Palestinian cause being at the epicentre, adding that the country does so out of conviction, its sense of Arab and religious fraternity and humanitarianism, as enshrined by its policies and permanent constitution.Former Shura Council and Arab Parliament member Dr al-Mannai said that the regional and international tours, as well as the meetings with Arab counterparts held by the Amir, always revolve around the Arab nation’s issues and causes, and promoting the Arab world in a positive light.Moreover, she noted Qatar’s significant and commendable role regarding the events in the Gaza Strip and the suffering of Palestinian families, adding in this context that the 15th Doha Conference on Interfaith Dialogue dedicated special sessions to highlight the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza as a result of the displacement, killing, and destruction cause by the Israeli war on Gaza.She added that given its wise leadership, Qatar is a peace-loving country that strives for the well-being humanity altogether, promoting Arab solidarity and always seeking security, peace, and stability of its Arab sisterly countries and the world as a whole. Among Qatar’s positive efforts towards Arab reconciliation are its brokering peace in Darfur, Sudan, in addition to acting as a mediator between the conflicting Lebanese and Palestinian factions respectively, as well as sponsoring a comprehensive reconciliation in Libya and other initiatives that aims to serve common interests and address challenges. These positions have been widely welcomed and praised at the level of the Arab world and beyond, and have become a matter of pride.It confirms the continued keenness of Qatar, as the Amir, government and people, to strengthen joint Arab action and serve its desired goals, and that it will spare no effort in seeking to enhance Arab co-operation in all fields, in order to achieve the aspirations of the Arab peoples for prosperity and stability, and to activate joint Arab action, as an embodiment of what It is included in its permanent constitution and the established and stable principles of Qatari foreign policy, the main focus of which is to contribute strongly effectively to various efforts on the Arab scene to achieve the goals and aspirations on which joint Arab action is based, and to strengthen its foundations and pillars in an effective and fruitful manner.The fact that Qatar hosted three Arab summits in 2009, including an ordinary and an emergency summit is proof of its support for joint Arab action. Qatari political analyst Dr Abdullah al-Khater emphasised Qatar’s honourable stances towards the Arab nation and its causes in all regional and international forums, adding that the efforts of Qatar and its wise leadership towards their Arab brethren in the form of solidarity, support, and problem-solving, regardless of their nature and scale, is a source of pride for every Arab and Muslim.Dr al-Khater said that Qatar’s fraternal stances towards its Arab brethren are deeply rooted and emanate from its strong conviction in the justice of their causes, foremost among them the Palestinian cause, to which the Amir devotes a vast amount of time, thought, and energy, making the cause for Palestine part and parcel of His Highness’ every speech, calling for justice for the Palestinian people, the establishment of their independent state based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.He pointed out that Qatar’s words and deeds speak volumes for its stances and strong global mobilisation efforts in support of Arab solidarity and unity, constantly offering a helping hand to uphold Arab states economies, stability, and independence.The Qatari political analyst continued by saying that Qatar and its wise leadership feel entrusted with Arab and Islamic causes, sparing no effort to defend them and remain ever-present in addressing all Arab issues and taking part in joint regional and international efforts.In turn, peace and goodwill ambassador, Arab-European centre of human rights in Qatar representative Shaikha Ghanim al-Kubaisi said that Qatar’s supportive stances towards the Arab nation and efforts to enhance Arab solidarity and advocate for Arab interests are well-known to all, for which Qatar receives the Arab and Islamic worlds’ praise.Al-Kubaisi said that Qatar and its wise leadership never hesitate to respond to the calls of the Arab and Islamic worlds and strive for the excellence of their peoples, a national role that will forever be a constant.It is secret to no one that Qatar is a bastion of joint Arab humanitarian action, as the state and all of its various humanitarian and developmental organisations and funds are always at the forefront during crises and disasters that befall the brotherly Arab peoples and their countries, for which Qatar offers relief, development assistance, and mediation efforts in search of solutions.Stemming from Qatar’s dedication to the Arab nation, its well-being, and its excellence, the country chose to hold the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 under the banner of the entire Arab world, resonated in the speech of the Amir at the World Cup opening where he said: “From Qatar, from an Arab country, I welcome everyone to the World Cup 2022.”Thus, at all stages and turning points in the Arab world, Qatar has played a remarkable and renowned role in strengthening Arab solidarity and bias towards peoples issues, and extending a helping hand whenever the need arises in any Arab country.

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Gulf Times

Harnessing AI tech for global advancement of education

Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to revolutionise global education systems and improve the experiences of educators and students alike.AI, experts say, could transform education by enhancing personalisation, boosting digital skills and empowering teachers with advanced capacity-improving tools.They maintain that AI can tailor educational content to individual students’ needs, interests, and learning styles. By analysing students’ performance data, AI systems have the ability to provide personalised recommendations, adaptive learning paths, and targeted interventions to help each student reach their full potential.A new World Economic Forum report explores how artificial intelligence could revolutionise education systems and improve the experiences of educators and students alike.The new research outlines AI’s wide-ranging potential – from personalising learning experiences, to streamlining administrative tasks, integrating AI into educational curricula and more – and finds that a responsible application of emerging technologies could herald a new era in education worldwide.The new report, ‘Shaping the Future of Learning: The Role of AI in Education 4.0’, indicates how emerging technology can help educational systems meet the increased demands for digital literacy and personalised learning environments.Through a series of case studies, it shows how innovative AI applications are already transforming education by improving learning outcomes, empowering educators and equipping students with the skills of the future.“AI is rapidly reshaping the global education landscape,” said Saadia Zahidi, managing director, World Economic Forum.“If deployed safely and strategically, AI can help adapt learning to the needs of each student, enabling an innovative, scalable personalised learning experience that is vital for both student engagement and the effectiveness of educators.”The report analyses the varied opportunities AI introduces to the education sector, emphasising the refinement of assessment processes for more timely and holistic evaluations and insights into student progress. It also details how AI can optimise educator roles by automating and augmenting up to 20% of educator clerical tasks, reducing administrative burdens and enabling more time for teachers to focus on personalisation, improving pedagogy and supporting students’ social-emotional needs.AI’s integration into educational curricula also equips students with essential future skills and knowledge, while personalised learning content and experiences provide tailored educational pathways to meet diverse student needs. AI’s potential to dramatically improve educational outcomes necessitates a proactive approach to harness these technologies while carefully addressing the challenges they pose.These include ensuring equitable access to technology, addressing concerns of data privacy and bias, and navigating the potential displacement of traditional teaching roles.The report calls on policy-makers and educational leaders to integrate AI responsibly into their education systems by ensuring the protection of sensitive information through the implementation of robust data privacy and security protocols.The paper also provides a call to action for stronger collaboration between AI developers and educators to ensure that new AI tools promote better student outcomes.There is every reason to believe that AI has the potential to democratise education, making high-quality learning experiences more accessible, affordable, and effective for learners around the world.However, it is essential to address ethical, privacy, and equity considerations to ensure that AI technologies benefit all students and contribute to the advancement of education globally.

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