WISE Organizes International Conference on Covid-19 Implications

Doha, April 21 (QNA) - Education Disrupted, Education Reimagined, a two-day online gathering organized by the World Innovation Summit for Education - a global initiative of Qatar Foundation (QF) - and the Salzburg Global Seminar, brought together experts from around the world to analyze the consequences of COVID-19 for educational ecosystems, and how the pandemic could mark the start of a road to change. HE QFs Head of Educational and Community Programs Al Jawhara Al-Thani, told the online audience: "This is a global reset button for everyone it is not a chance for education systems to be passive. "The whole world has to hold up to the responsibility of innovating, and thinking about what we can do better and do differently, because we cannot wait for someone else to do it for us. We have to serve our communities and think about their needs right now, and I believe this has put a lot of education systems in the hotseat, forcing them to think about how they interact with their community" HE added. Her Excellency said that when the time comes for schools to reopen, educators should consider "how to can make it a space for a richer human exchange" and "how to build intentionality into what weve been doing accidentally". And while the pandemic has led to much of the conversation about the future of education being centered around remote learning, Her Excellency added: "When we have conversations about traditional education spaces, we can be dismissive of the power of the schools physical space and this isnt about the traditional classroom, its about human interaction and how this space can become a microcosm of the world outside. I believe we cant discount that traditional environment, because our separation from it has allowed us to see how important it is. It is about using that space and the time we spend with each other within it in a very meaningful way." For his part, QFs Education Advisor Francisco Marmolejo said: "If we talk about this crisis as being a catalyst for change, it may be an opportunity to recognize that, globally, todays education systems are still facing many challenges in terms of equality of access, especially from people from disadvantaged sectors of society." Other challenges, he said, include the acute inadequacy of education offerings. "In the case of higher education, its very evident there is an excessive academic workload, while there is also very limited articulation with the previous levels of the education systems and also a significant emphasis on disconnected knowledge. "Consciously designing for a new normal will require significant political willingness, an eagerness to disrupt, eagerness to consider innovative and feasible ideas, a participatory approach - especially with teachers and parents - and more informed decision-making based on evidence. We cannot miss this opportunity for the disruption of education systems, in order to more adequately prepare the next generation of professionals and the next leaders of our societies." he added. He also shared his view that, in the past, education systems have based too many decisions "on anecdotes and emotions, not on rationalistic evidence", adding: "Something that this crisis is helping all of us to recognize is that, in a way, we have been missing the point. "The significant emphasis we have placed just on the employability skills of people is, in my opinion, preventing us seeing and remembering that, at the end of the day, education is about forming personas. It is about integral, responsible citizens who, for sure, are employable, but more importantly are committed to their community and with a broad perspective on what happens in the world. "This is a unique opportunity for the new generation, and for us as educators, to become more humble and tolerant, and for our education systems to ensure the students of today and the professionals of tomorrow will have a sense of solidarity and social responsibility, and that they care for their community. And while we might be totally confused at this point, that is fine being confused means we care, and really want to find the solutions." (QNA)