HE Minister of Education and Higher Education Lolwah bint Rashid Al Khater, affirmed that the human being is the cornerstone of any authentic knowledge renaissance, and that human values remain the compass safeguarding the trajectory of progress in a world where technologies accelerate and the contours of knowledge are in constant flux.
HE the Minister delivered her remarks at the opening of the 12th edition of the World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE), held in the presence of HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development; HE Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al-Thani, Vice Chairperson of Qatar Foundation; as well as a number of ministers and heads of diplomatic missions accredited to the State of Qatar.
HE Lolwah Al Khater stated that WISE emerged from a deeply rooted Arab vision with a universal human outlook crafted by HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser - one that positions education as an investment in human potential and in the individual's capacity to contribute. She underscored that the summit has long served as a global platform that reimagines the role of the learner as a partner in shaping the future, rather than a passive recipient of knowledge.
She noted that today's world witnesses technological acceleration to a degree that may appear to outpace humanity, yet these technologies are, in essence, an extension of humanity's enduring pursuit of understanding and innovation. It is from this pursuit that ideas were born, from those ideas that tools were crafted, and from those tools that technologies - now heralded as revolutions - emerged, all reflecting the human mind in its quest to interpret its environment and leave its imprint upon it.
HE the Minister stressed that amid all these transformations, the only constant is the human being, and that human values remain the guiding force for development. She emphasized that human history is not a tale of changing machines, but a story of consciousness continually reshaping itself across the ages.
HE Al Khater underscored that this year's summit theme, "Humanity First: Human Values at the Heart of Education Systems," reaffirms that no intellectual or technological renaissance can be complete unless the human being is both its point of departure and its ultimate aim, and that human values are the foundation preventing knowledge and tools from straying from their rightful path.
Turning to Qatar's own educational journey, she explained that it is not merely a local chapter but part of a broader human narrative - one that began with oral instruction in mosques and kuttab schools and evolved into the early stages of formal education at the start of the 20th century.
She highlighted the "Archaeological School" project as a pivotal moment, recognizing that skill alone is insufficient to build the future; it must be anchored in a guiding intellect and safeguarded by values. She added that the establishment of the Ministry of Education in the 1950s - the first ministry to be founded in the State - reflected early recognition by the leadership that the human being is the foundation of the nation and that investing in the awareness of its sons and daughters is the bedrock upon which institutions are built.
HE the Minister explained that this vision expanded under the leadership of HH the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, during whose era the relationship with knowledge was reimagined through a pioneering university and research ecosystem that consolidated education as a pillar of national advancement and a source of capacity-building.
She affirmed that this educational journey continues today under the guidance of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, who has placed the human being and their values at the core of the national project, linking the quality of education to the learner's ability to make informed decisions in a world of competing narratives.
HE Al Khater pointed to this year's National Day slogan, "With You It Rises, and From You It Awaits," as a reflection of the State's confidence in its youth and future generations - not in natural resources or imported solutions.
She further noted that this vision has been embodied in the Education Strategy 2024-2030, which is built on ensuring equitable, high-quality education; a secure digital ecosystem; and empowering learners to form independent opinions and make decisions as active agents in their environment, rather than mere observers of global change.
Concluding her remarks, HE Lolwah Al Khater stressed that the advancement of nations hinges on their ability to place the human being at the heart of their vision and decision-making, and that global transformations can become opportunities for expansion and growth when humanity is both their starting point and their ultimate purpose.
She also welcomed the delegations participating in the 12th edition of the WISE Summit, expressing appreciation for the efforts of the organizers and voicing hope that the discussions and sessions would yield constructive and effective partnerships that support the future of education worldwide
HE the Minister delivered her remarks at the opening of the 12th edition of the World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE), held in the presence of HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development; HE Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al-Thani, Vice Chairperson of Qatar Foundation; as well as a number of ministers and heads of diplomatic missions accredited to the State of Qatar.
HE Lolwah Al Khater stated that WISE emerged from a deeply rooted Arab vision with a universal human outlook crafted by HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser - one that positions education as an investment in human potential and in the individual's capacity to contribute. She underscored that the summit has long served as a global platform that reimagines the role of the learner as a partner in shaping the future, rather than a passive recipient of knowledge.
She noted that today's world witnesses technological acceleration to a degree that may appear to outpace humanity, yet these technologies are, in essence, an extension of humanity's enduring pursuit of understanding and innovation. It is from this pursuit that ideas were born, from those ideas that tools were crafted, and from those tools that technologies - now heralded as revolutions - emerged, all reflecting the human mind in its quest to interpret its environment and leave its imprint upon it.
HE the Minister stressed that amid all these transformations, the only constant is the human being, and that human values remain the guiding force for development. She emphasized that human history is not a tale of changing machines, but a story of consciousness continually reshaping itself across the ages.
HE Al Khater underscored that this year's summit theme, "Humanity First: Human Values at the Heart of Education Systems," reaffirms that no intellectual or technological renaissance can be complete unless the human being is both its point of departure and its ultimate aim, and that human values are the foundation preventing knowledge and tools from straying from their rightful path.
Turning to Qatar's own educational journey, she explained that it is not merely a local chapter but part of a broader human narrative - one that began with oral instruction in mosques and kuttab schools and evolved into the early stages of formal education at the start of the 20th century.
She highlighted the "Archaeological School" project as a pivotal moment, recognizing that skill alone is insufficient to build the future; it must be anchored in a guiding intellect and safeguarded by values. She added that the establishment of the Ministry of Education in the 1950s - the first ministry to be founded in the State - reflected early recognition by the leadership that the human being is the foundation of the nation and that investing in the awareness of its sons and daughters is the bedrock upon which institutions are built.
HE the Minister explained that this vision expanded under the leadership of HH the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, during whose era the relationship with knowledge was reimagined through a pioneering university and research ecosystem that consolidated education as a pillar of national advancement and a source of capacity-building.
She affirmed that this educational journey continues today under the guidance of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, who has placed the human being and their values at the core of the national project, linking the quality of education to the learner's ability to make informed decisions in a world of competing narratives.
HE Al Khater pointed to this year's National Day slogan, "With You It Rises, and From You It Awaits," as a reflection of the State's confidence in its youth and future generations - not in natural resources or imported solutions.
She further noted that this vision has been embodied in the Education Strategy 2024-2030, which is built on ensuring equitable, high-quality education; a secure digital ecosystem; and empowering learners to form independent opinions and make decisions as active agents in their environment, rather than mere observers of global change.
Concluding her remarks, HE Lolwah Al Khater stressed that the advancement of nations hinges on their ability to place the human being at the heart of their vision and decision-making, and that global transformations can become opportunities for expansion and growth when humanity is both their starting point and their ultimate purpose.
She also welcomed the delegations participating in the 12th edition of the WISE Summit, expressing appreciation for the efforts of the organizers and voicing hope that the discussions and sessions would yield constructive and effective partnerships that support the future of education worldwide