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Young innovators and Qatar’s youth have benefitted from the hands-on learning experience they gained at the recently held Rowad 2025, organised by Qatar Development Bank (QDB) under the theme ‘Beyond Boundaries: Scaling, Sustaining, and Succeeding’. During the three-day event, Innovation firm Ibtechar reaffirmed its commitment to empowering young innovators and cultivating a mindset of AI-driven entrepreneurship through various activities.As part of its youth-focused initiatives, Ibtechar organised the interactive workshop ‘Smart Startups: Using AI to Launch and Run Your Business’, in collaboration with its strategic partner, AI Crafters, which has a strong focus on the advancement, adoption and use of AI in professional environments.Delivered by Karima Rahali-Sebti, AI Crafters’ leading AI expert in the GCC, the one-hour session introduced university students to the potential of AI as a startup co-founder, demonstrating how technologies, such as Generative AI, are reshaping how startups are conceived, validated, and scaled.Emphasising Ibtechar’s dedication to building the capabilities of young people and equipping them to become tomorrow’s innovators, co-founder and CEO, Engineer Nayef al-Ibrahim, said: “AI is not just a tool, it is a transformative force that is redefining innovation and entrepreneurship, enabling young minds to create, scale, and lead in ways that were never possible before.” “Through our strategic partnership with AI Crafters and participation in platforms like Rowad, we are proud to empower youth to harness AI’s full potential and shape the future of Qatar’s innovation landscape,” he told Gulf Times in a statement. Through real-world demonstrations, participants explored how AI can accelerate business planning, market analysis, and customer engagement.They worked with leading AI tools to create visuals, draft business plans, and design AI-powered systems for outreach, lead generation, and nurturing. A highlight of the session was the ‘30-Day AI Startup Action Plan’, a structured roadmap that guides students in transforming ideas into viable prototypes within four weeks.The plan encouraged participants to apply what they learnt in real-world entrepreneurial contexts, promoting creativity, discipline, and accountability. Beyond technical skills, the workshop emphasised ethical and responsible AI adoption, encouraging participants to approach innovation with awareness and purpose.The initiative also highlighted Ibtechar’s role in building national innovation capacity and supporting the objectives of the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy and Qatar National Vision 2030. Morad el-Mazyani, co-founder and CEO of AI Crafters, said: “Qatar’s commitment to innovation and AI makes it an inspiring place for us to contribute. Our collaboration with Ibtechar brings global expertise to a thriving innovation ecosystem and empowers young entrepreneurs to apply AI in meaningful, responsible ways.”

The Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MEHE) has launched a project to assess teacher competency in the three compulsory subjects (Arabic, Islamic, and Qatari history) in private schools and kindergartens for the 2025-2026 academic year. In a statement, the MEHE said that this strategic step aims to enhance the quality of private education and improve learning outcomes in core national subjects, noting that the project establishes a unified professional framework to ensure the implementation of compulsory curricula according to clear standards, in a way that contributes to improved teaching performance and the promotion of effective educational practices. This, in turn, enables the continuous development of the learning environment in private schools. The MEHE added that the project will be implemented through an official circular regarding the use of the electronic form, the organisation of introductory workshops for schools, and performance monitoring through periodic reports and feedback collection to ensure continuous improvement. It added that the assessment results will serve as a primary reference for professional competency reports and professional development programmes for teachers. It pointed out that this project represents a qualitative leap in the private education system, embodying Qatar's commitment to raising the quality of education and empowering teachers, thus enhancing the country's position as a leading educational destination, in line with Qatar National Vision 2030, which considers investing in human capital the foundation for building an advanced knowledge-based society. **media[381502]** Assistant Undersecretary for Private Education Affairs Omar Abdulaziz al-Naama affirmed that teachers are the cornerstone of the educational process. Without teachers, no educational system can thrive or progress, he noted, saying that the project aims to support teachers and develop their professional performance. He also pointed out that it is a developmental tool designed to enhance teachers' capabilities and improve their teaching practices, reiterating his thanks and appreciation to teachers as partners in the success of education and the shaping of the future. For her part, Director of the Private Schools and Kindergartens Department and Acting Director of the Private Schools Licensing Department Dr. Rania Mohammed stated that the evaluation criteria are based on official classroom visits and student performance results, with a sizable portion of the evaluation weight dedicated to student success to support the quality of educational outcomes. She further said that the preparation of the standards went through precise stages such as reviewing Arab and international standards and adopting the evaluation items systematically, noting that the project was subject to a pilot application in fifty schools and kindergartens, which included training specialists, conducting classroom visits and collecting feedback to enhance the realism of the standards and developing them.

Al Jazeera Media Institute (AJMI) concluded a new training programme titled 'Little Entrepreneur' for 14 boys and girls. The participants experienced the process of establishing their own projects from the idea to launching phase in a journey aimed at instilling in them initiative and innovation spirit. They were introduced to the world of entrepreneurship through stories, games, and interactive discussions, while learning key concepts such as: entrepreneur, product, customer, and service. The children moved on to selecting project ideas that match their interests and satisfy customer needs. The programme ended with presenting the projects at a business exhibition. Among the standout projects was 'Key Craft,' which produces 3D keychains featuring personalised names or logos. Course instructor Dr Rania El Jammal noted that the experience goes beyond theoretical introduction to entrepreneurship to offer children the chance to live it in practice. The closing exhibition featured Snoonu CEO Hamad al-Hajri, who toured projects and reviewed participants’ work models, expressing his admiration for the quality of their efforts. AJMI will offer several training courses for youth in December, including another round of 'Entrepreneurship for Youth' course.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) confirmed that more than 25,000 Palestinian children in the Gaza Strip have joined the temporary learning spaces established by the agency.UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini said that with the ceasefire in place, the agency is stepping up its “Back to Learning” program in Gaza, both in person and online. He emphasized that UNRWA will continue to expand the number of these learning locations.Lazzarini added that the agency is also providing online classes aimed at reaching approximately 300,000 children in the Gaza Strip.“Literacy and education are an antidote to despair and trauma,” Lazzarini posted on his official X account, noting that none of this would be possible without the dedication of thousands of UNRWA teachers.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) said that more than 8,000 of its teachers in the Gaza Strip are ready to assist in helping children to return to learning and resume their education. In a statement posted on its official account, UNRWA stressed that it is the largest humanitarian organization operating in the Gaza Strip and must be allowed to carry out its duties without obstacles. It affirmed that the children of Gaza have been deprived of education for far too long, stressing the need to enable them to return to school as soon as possible. The Israeli aggression has severely impacted all service sectors in the Gaza Strip, including the education sector. Over 785,000 students have been deprived of their right to education, with the war destroying approximately 95 percent of educational institutions.

University of Doha for Science and Technology (UDST) has signed an Academic Collaboration Contract with three globally recognized UK-based companies: Metaverse Learning Limited, MX Reality Limited, and vGather Limited (Metaverse Hub). The contract marks a milestone in advancing innovation, immersive education, and applied research in Qatar. Through this collaboration, the parties will engage in several key initiatives, including joint applied research projects, and integration of cutting-edge Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Mixed Reality (MR) technologies into education. The companies will also provide training for UDST faculty, internships for students, and contribute to UDST's research proposals and industry-driven initiatives. President of UDST Dr. Salem Al-Naemi commented: "This collaboration is a strategic step toward embedding immersive technologies into applied education and research at UDST. It will enrich the learning experience for our students by allowing them to engage with state-of-the-art VR, AR, and MR tools, and will open new pathways for applied research in areas of national and global relevance. Together, we are positioning UDST as a hub for innovation in Qatar and the wider region, aligned with the national vision for knowledge-based development." CEO of mXreality, Dr. Majid Al-Kader, said: "This partnership represents a powerful collaboration between UDST and our group of businesses — mXreality, Metaverse Learning, and Metaverse Hub. Together, we are committed to accelerating the digital transformation of learning by bringing immersive technology, AI, and innovation into the hands of students. By combining UDST's academic excellence with our expertise in creating engaging, future-focused digital platforms, we will give learners the tools and confidence to succeed in an increasingly dynamic global workforce." This collaboration highlights UDST's commitment to aligning academic learning with real-world innovation, ensuring students and faculty gain access to transformative technologies and global expertise.