Pioneering learning fest draws to a close

Doha Learning Days (DLD), Qatar’s first experiential learning festival, has drawn to a close in Education City.Hundreds took part in the DLD’s packed programme of events which drew participation from across the spectrum of the community, including school pupils and teachers, artists and musicians, educators, and entrepreneurs in this celebration of learning.Organised by World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE), an initiative of Qatar Foundation (QF), the festival opened with a spectacular musical story performance.The delightfully original narrative story, developed by Qatar Reads, reflected the relationship between local culture and today’s modern, technological world.Over 50 local and international partners co-curated a varied programme of sessions over the six-day festival, with experiential activities around several themes: science and technology, wellness, sustainability, empowerment, and special needs and accessibility.Offshoot activities included practitioner workshops and sessions with WISE Summit speakers.The festival’s focus on innovative experiential learning for different abilities and aptitudes formed part of the DLD’s aim to be a catalyst for education focused on re-centring learning human values, de-constructing existing learning frameworks, and a process of re-learning to build thriving societies.Strategic partner organisations supporting the DLD included the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, ExxonMobil Qatar, and Qatar Rail.WISE chief executive Stavros N Yiannouka said: “Doha Learning Days has been an incredible opportunity to show why innovation in education is at the core of our efforts at WISE.“The tremendous support from the community highlights the importance of this kind of event, to give everyone the opportunity to learn skills in an environment that encourages interactive, hands-on learning.”The full range of sessions at the DLD included: “Learning Labs”, for school students to join STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics)-related sessions with partners such as ibTECHar; a “Networking Majlis”, where high school students were introduced to university and professional life through speed mentoring; and STEM speaker sessions with the event sponsor, ExxonMobil Qatar, and QF partner universities.Torba Market presented a Sustainability Series exploring ways to be more sustainable in Qatar.Qatar Rail engaged the community through an art project reflecting the themes of sustainability and local culture.Selected artworks created by participating students are to be featured along Qatar Rail’s Green Line stations.