With access to a broad and dynamic environment that spans education, research, and community development, teachers are uniquely positioned to work across disciplines, institutions, and subject areas to bring learning to life for their students.
And this concept of redefining classroom boundaries is particularly relevant as this week marks World Teachers’ Day – a time to recognise the dedication, innovation, and impact of educators.
Waddah al-Alem, a physics teacher at Qatar Academy for Science and Technology, part of the QF’s Pre-University Education (PUE), highlighted the central role collaboration plays in his teaching approach.
“As a STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) teacher, collaboration is very important – it’s the bridge that connects all the subjects together,” he said. “I collaborate with the Innovation Centre, with math teachers, my fellow science teachers – and also with the arts, Arabic, and English departments.”
Thanks to the QF’s integrated ecosystem and the open campus environment of Education City, such collaboration extends far beyond the classroom.
“At the QF – because we are part of one entity, with an open campus – students can take advantage of Education City’s different facilities and institutions, like Qatar National Library, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, or Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar,” said al-Alem.
Maryam al-Sulaiti, talent manager at the PUE, sees collaboration as being more than an occasional initiative – it is part of everyday life at the QF.
“Collaboration is how we bridge the gap in student skills – and we do this daily,” she said. “At the QF, schools don’t work in isolation. They work together through shared training programmes, joint initiatives, and ongoing professional development.”
“This is supported through various programmes and by providing a unified vision that brings all our schools together under the overarching mission of Qatar Foundation,” she added.
A key driver of this collaboration is the QF’s Education Development Institute (EDI), which plays a pivotal role in supporting professional growth.
The EDI offers regular training opportunities, led either by experienced teachers within the QF community or by external subject matter experts.
This exchange of ideas helps enhance teaching practices and ensures that educators are equipped with the latest pedagogical tools.
QF schools also benefit from structured time set aside for development and collaboration.
One example is Professional Day, which takes place every Tuesday in International Baccalaureate schools, where students leave early to allow teachers to participate in training sessions, peer collaboration, or inter-school workshops.
The PUE’s annual Teaching and Learning Forum brings together educators from across the QF ecosystem for a full day of learning, networking, and professional enrichment, while the PUE Forum, which took place this week, allows attendees to share innovative teaching and learning practices, foster collaboration, and celebrate achievement.
“There’s a strong focus on working together and learning from one another,” al-Sulaiti added.