By Joseph Varghese/Staff Reporter

The 14 education projects shortlisted for the World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) Awards 2013 showcase some of the most innovative practices in education from across the globe. The awards will be announced next month.
The projects also represent all the continents. From New Zealand to Canada and Chile to China, they are a true representation of the educational practices all over the world.
The projects also reflect the limitations of education in the most remote areas of the world as well as the efforts to overcome them.
The shortlisted projects are Elige Educar (Chile), Immersed in Creativity (Taiwan), Radiophone (India), Student Bank Project (Thailand),  Charity School for the Children of Migrant Workers (China), SAT or Sistema de Aprendizaje Tutorial (Nicaragua), PEAS or Promoting Equality in African Schools (Uganda and Zambia), Pathways to Education (Canada), Te Kotahitanga (New Zealand), Studio Schools (UK), Medersat.com (Morocco), Alison  (Ireland), The Mobile Solar Computer Classroom (Uganda) and iThra Youth Initiative (Saudi Arabia).
The projects focus on diverse areas of education. Te Kotahitanga addresses the national challenge of the continuing social, economic and political disparities between the descendents of the Anglo-European people and the indigenous Maoris in New Zealand.
SAT is a non-formal education programme allowing marginalised rural students to complete secondary education through local economic development. Charity School is the first effort in China to provide education for migrant children by establishing low-cost educational opportunities.
Mobile Solar Computer Classroom provides ICT and computer training in schools and communities that lack the resources to acquire such services. Similarly, iThra is an innovative and hands-on education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) to young people.
Immersed in Creativity trains Taiwanese students to become creative global citizens through exposure to art and culture.
Elige Educar aims to dignify the profession of schoolteachers in the public eye, and attract talented students to enter the field.
PEAS is an effort in unlocking the potential of youth by delivering equal access to affordable, quality secondary education. Student Bank Project aims to economic empowerment of marginalised youth in hard-to-reach areas in Thailand through training classes and an online banking system.
Alison provides high-quality free education and workplace skills training online to anyone via interactive, self-paced multimedia. The Studio School is a new concept that seeks to address the growing gap between the skills and knowledge required to succeed.
Radiophone uses technology to provide literacy and numeracy skills to marginalised children while Medersat.com promotes quality pre-school and elementary education in poor rural areas.
A jury headed by Dr Sheikh Abdulla bin Ali al-Thani, chairman of WISE and the president of Hamad Bin Khalifa University will evaluate the projects and decide on the six winners of the WISE Awards 2013. The winners will presented the awards and $20,000 each on the second day of the WISE summit to be held in Doha from October 29-31.