The World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) has concluded a series of high-level meetings in Paris and Brussels focusing on the current refugee challenge to European education sectors.
The WISE Prize for Education laureate, Dr Sakena Yacoobi, was a featured speaker at the roundtable discussions as well as the informal discussions in both European capitals.
In Brussels, WISE officials met with the European Union commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, Christos Stylianides, who expressed his interest in the work of WISE and Qatar Foundation as well as possible collaboration on future education initiatives.
Also in Brussels, WISE partnered with the government of Norway in organising a high-level roundtable discussion on refugee issues. The engagement was an opportunity for the participants to explore successful creative solutions that are transforming lives through education and skills development.
The panel brought together several prominent speakers including Dr Sakena Yacoobi and Oda Helen Sletnes, the Norwegian ambassador to the European Union. Stavros N Yiannouka, CEO, WISE, also spoke at the event.
In Paris, WISE partnered with the French education magazine L’Etudiant, and under the patronage of Unesco, took part in a high-level panel discussion focusing on the current refugee challenge to education sectors. The discussion was presented before an audience of some 100 education experts and officials from international organisations and associations.
Dr Sakena Yacoobi addressed the panel in a discussion entitled, ‘Education and Displaced People: Why is it important to open our schools and universities to refugees?’ Dr Yacoobi remarked: “We want refugees to be part of a country, not a burden. Education is the solution. We have to develop an innovative curriculum to encourage leadership, accountability and values.”
The Brussels and Paris events organised by WISE were focused on a wide range of refugee-related challenges and opportunities. Areas of discussion included education and skills development being key to helping displaced individuals of all ages to reconstruct their lives; and how higher-skilled refugees can benefit the local economy.