| Issue 4
Dr Asmaa E Al Fadala
Putting education at the heart of global development
Research director aims to collaborate, innovate and advocate with partners across the world to raise standards of teaching and learning
For Dr Asmaa E Al Fadala, the field of education has always been one that requires a local understanding and a global outlook. In her pursuit of educational reform, her career path has transitioned from being a physics teacher in Qatar; a science coordinator following her acquisition of a Master’ s degree; to joining the RAND Policy Institute, focusing on educational research.
At Cambridge University, Dr Al Fadala explored case studies of schools in Qatar impacted by educational reform. The research earned her a PhD in Educational Leadership. Afterwards, she joined the World Innovation Summit for Education( WISE), an international initiative aimed at transforming education through innovation. Today, she is Director of Research at WISE, focusing on promoting innovation in education across three‘ pillars’.
“ The first pillar that we focus on requires us to collaborate with renowned institutions around the world, and produce policy-relevant research on a wide range of educational topics,” she explains.“ Secondly, we have programmes that recognize and actively facilitate innovation in education. Lastly, we promote innovation in education through our advocacy work, as we participate in different forums around the world.
“ Our most significant achievement has been that we succeeded in putting education on the global agenda. That was very much part of Her Highness’ s vision following her establishment of WISE in 2009.”
Founded by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser as a global initiative under the umbrella of Qatar Foundation, WISE hosts the biennial WISE Summit. The conference brings together over 1,500 worldwide experts, researchers, and innovators to form new collaborations and develop solutions to inspire creative changes in education. In her role as Director of Research, Dr Asmaa E Al Fadala is central to the success of the project and to WISE’ s international outreach.
“ Our most significant achievement has been that we succeeded in putting education on the global agenda. That was very much part of Her Highness’ s vision following her establishment of WISE in 2009.”
“ Working at WISE has taken my work a step further to reach global platforms,” she says.“ For example, I have been invited to serve as an advisory member of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, working on a new
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