HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser at the second Annual Teaching and Learning Forum. PICTURE: AR al-Baker/HHOPL

HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, chairperson of Qatar Foundation (QF), attended the second Annual Teaching and Learning Forum yesterday.
The event, which brought together 1,000 teachers from across the country, was organised by the Education Development Institute (EDI), part of QF’s Pre-University Education.
The Forum was also attended by a number of dignitaries and senior officials from Qatar Foundation, including HE Sheikha Hind bint Hamad al-Thani,vice chairperson of Qatar Foundation; Saad al-Muhannadi, president of Qatar Foundation; Dr Siva Kumari, director general of the International Baccalaureate (IB) among others.
A memorandum of understanding  was signed between Qatar Foundation and the International Baccalaureate (IB) during the event. The agreement aims to promote research and hold joint conferences to support the growth of educators in Qatar, and the region. IB will also provide access to experts in order to build internal capabilities, and together, the organisations will identify further areas of mutual interest.
The Teaching and Learning Forum falls under QF’s wider, year-round professional development programme to promote continuous life-long learning for teachers in primary and secondary schools.
Sheikha Noof Ahmed bin Saif al-Thani, head of the Teaching and Learning Forum 2015, said:  “To improve education and develop the skills of teachers, we have also agreed on several partnerships and agreements with the Supreme Education Council, the International Baccalaureate, Georgetown University in Qatar, Qatar University and Harvard University, and there will be more in the future.”
Sir Ken Robinson, an internationally recognised leader in the development of education, creativity and innovation  delivered the keynote speech at the opening session. He emphasised the importance of placing creativity at the heart of education, saying: “Children have tremendous depths of creative power; we just have to understand it, recognise it, and compliment it. It’s there. The aim of education is to enable students to understand the world around them, and talents within them, so that they can become fulfilled individuals and active, compassionate citizens.”
The event featured 80 workshops divided into three different sessions. Addressing different topics, the sessions were carefully selected to hone the skills and knowledge of the participating teachers.