WISE Foundation:Announcing the world's first major international prize for education

Announcing the world's first major international prize for education

Education is the foundation of human endeavour. It is a basic right and a powerful catalyst for social, cultural, political and economic development. Education is the key to the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals, whether they relate to child and maternal health, gender equality, or the alleviation of poverty and hunger. It is a pathway to solutions which will allow the equitable and sustainable development of our globalised world.
Our mission is centred on promoting and protecting education, as well as encouraging excellence, so that quality education becomes accessible to all.
The establishment of the WISE Prize for Education demonstrates our determination to accelerate the development and transformation of education by bringing to light the most eminent leaders and drawing the world's attention to their outstanding contributions in a spirit of competition. This new prize is a milestone in the development of international education. While other major international prizes celebrate such disciplines as physics, chemistry, economics or peace, there has until now been none for education, which is a prerequisite for achievement in all those areas.
It is our aim that this prize should raise global awareness of the crucial role of education in all societies, and create a platform for innovative and practical solutions that might help alleviate some of the challenges which education faces around the world.
Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser
Chairperson of Qatar Foundation