Virtual Education Forum sheds light on innovation, solutions

HE Sheikha Hind bint Hamad al-Thani, Dr Hassan Rashid al-Derham and HE Dr Mohamed bin Abdul Wahed al

The Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE) held yesterday the Virtual Education Forum 2021 under the slogan ‘Visions and Aspirations...Beyond Challenges’.The forum aimed to develop goals and visions that would contribute to enhancing the quality of education in Qatar and its continued development, and to find innovative solutions to anticipate the future of education after the Covid-19 pandemic, the MoEHE said in a statement.At the forum’s opening, HE the Minister of Education and Higher Education Dr Mohamed Abdul Wahed al-Hammadi gave a speech in which he reiterated the ministry’s commitment to holding the forum to explore new ideas in the education field, Qatar News Agency (QNA) reported.He noted that the ministry was more committed to hold the forum this year, despite the Covid-19 pandemic, in light of the impact it was having on education. He said the slogan, ‘Visions and Aspirations...Beyond Challenges’, perfectly captured the essence of the goals of the forum this year, HE Dr al-Hammadi said the MoEHE is keen to ensure that education continues uninterrupted for students using modern technologies, adding that this year’s forum will represent a good opportunity to benefit from the experiences of participants.He stressed that the ministry, despite the pandemic, has achieved an important feat in ensuring that education continues uninterrupted by adopting an alternative ecosystem for the educational process. This decision has helped students continue their education and write their tests and some of the students managed to go to university as a result, the QNA report states.HE the Minister also extended his thanks to Qatar Foundation Vice-Chairperson and CEO HE Sheikha Hind bint Hamad al-Thani for her active participation in the forum, and the leading role she plays in supporting the educational process in Qatar. For her part, HE Sheikha Hind stressed the importance of improving the quality of education and science.She said that bringing about change and proposing solutions for development means having a real belief that education makes it possible for individuals to have a sense of citizenship and enable them to success in their lives. She added that it is important to realise that every child is different depending on their needs and skills, adding that it is the duty of the educational system to support the needs of every child and grow their skills.“We have to remember that every child is different. Each student has varying needs, interests and talents, and we need to provide them with the support and confidence to grow,” she said. “And when we succeed in providing this, then I have no doubt our children will grow up happy and fulfilled, with the capacity to create a living, healthy community.”For his part,  Qatar University President Dr Hassan bin Rashed al-Derham said holding the forum is part of continuing endeavours to support the educational process since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. He noted that the impact of the pandemic was clear in the choice of this year’s slogan, and the topics on the forums agenda in terms of the required educational strategies in light of the pandemic.He noted that the world is currently seeing unprecedented changes in the flow of information and the introduction of innovative technologies. He added that these changes were behind the establishment of a knowledge-based society.Dr al-Derham said scientific research is an important tool for the production and proliferation of knowledge, adding that it is also the starting point for building a knowledge-based society.