The WISE Awards Honor World's Best Initiatives in Innovative Education

Six projects from around the world are awarded for their transformative impact on education and society

DOHA, Qatar, Sept. 25, 2012 /CNW/ - The World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) announces six groundbreaking projects from around the world as Winners of the 2012 WISE Awards under the theme "Transforming Education".

Now in their fourth year, the WISE Awards identify, showcase and promote innovative educational projects from all sectors and regions of the world in order to inspire change in education.  Winning projects, which are selected for their concrete, positive impact upon society, receive global visibility and a prize of $20,000 (U.S.).

Hailing from Bangladesh, Cambodia, Chile, Denmark, India and the United States of America, the winning initiatives have been selected for their tangible, positive impact upon society and their innovative approach to solving important global problems.

The diverse projects offer unique solutions to today's most important challenges, from poverty to climate change. Solutions include unconventional business models to assist low-income families with affordable education, as well as original ways of bringing high-quality education to remote and destitute parts of the world.

This year one of the WISE Awards is for a project that, in addition to "Transforming Education", has best provided innovative financing of primary education. The winning project comes from Bangladesh, where solar-powered floating schools ensure year-round primary education to students in flood-prone areas, even during the height of the monsoon period.

This emphasis on primary education reflects the support of Qatar Foundation Chairperson Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser for United Nations Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 2 on achieving universal primary education. The WISE focus in 2012 on an innovative financing project is designed to stimulate efforts worldwide to reach MDG 2.

Finalists and Winners of the WISE Awards will participate in the annual WISE Summit taking place November 13 - 15 at the Qatar National Convention Centre in Doha, Qatar, under the theme "Collaborating for Change".

List of the 2012 WISE Awards Winning Education Initiatives:

• Cristo Rey Network Corporate Work Study Program, United States of America
• PSU Educarchile, Chile
• RoboBraille, Denmark
• Satya Bharti School Program, India
• Solar-Powered Floating Schools, Bangladesh (WISE Awards Winner for innovative financing of primary education)
• Transforming Steung Meanchey Through Education, Cambodia

WISE 2012 will take place in Doha 13-15 November 2012. http://www.wise-qatar.org

To find out more about the WISE Awards, please visit: http://www.wise-qatar.org/awards

SOURCE: World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE)

WISE Press Office, [email protected], [phone]