WISE begins hunt for new team of learners

WISE learners are seen with chairman Dr Abdulla al-Thani

Following the success of the 2010 and 2011 Learners’ Voice Programme, in which 49 learners from 31 countries were selected to participate, the World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) has kicked off its search for its 2012 team of learners.WISE has invited representatives of institutions, organisations, programmes and networks to nominate outstanding and motivated young learners.For the first time, learners are also invited to apply personally by submitting an application which needs to be endorsed by a recommender. The WISE Learners’ Voice Programme engages young learners and supports their development as change-makers and advocates in the field of education. The 30 young people will be invited to participate actively in the 2012 WISE Summit in Doha (November 13-15) and will have the opportunity to take part in global experiences throughout 2013.Since 2011, selected WISE learners have had the opportunity to work collaboratively on the theme of Increasing Access to Education through Innovation. In order to research the theme, they attended the 6th World Youth Congress in Brazil, the eLearning Africa conference in Benin, and the India Youth Forum, among other important events. They also visited on-the-ground projects to gain practical insights and understanding of the issue.Highly motivated learners/recent graduates with outstanding or original academic/learning experiences, aged 18 to 25 (as of November 13, 2012) can apply or be nominated.The official nomination/application form can be downloaded from the WISE website: www.wise-qatar.org. Only the first 300 applications received online will be evaluated. The deadline for submission is June 30.Participants should be currently enrolled in (or recently graduated from) a course of study at a recognised college, university or training programme and be willing to contribute some of their time to the programme throughout the year. WISE is dedicated to building the future of education through innovation. This global collaborative initiative was inaugurated in 2009 by Qatar Foundation, under the leadership of HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser. Its mission is to address the challenges facing 21st century education, to expand dialogue around the world and to implement practical and sustainable solutions. To this end, WISE holds an annual international summit that provides a unique platform and meeting place for thought leaders and experts to share best practices in education. WISE is also a year-round initiative devoted to reaching outside the traditional circles of the education community to promote innovation and implement concrete actions.