Qatari Project in the Running for the 2017 Wise Awards

Shams Generation, an initiative of Qatar Solar Technologies (QSTec), has been selected by the World Innovation Summit for Education as one of the 15 finalists for the 2017 WISE Awards.

Each year the WISE Awards recognize and promote projects that are taking innovative approaches to today’s most urgent education challenges across the world.

Qatar-based Shams Generation is an interactive learning program that combines art, science, reused material, and solar energy. Named after the Arabic word for sun, the project aims to promote creativity as well as build awareness of solar energy and develop the region’s solar industry.

“The education of our youth on sustainability, renewable energies like solar, and the protection of the environment is tremendously important for the future of our planet,” said Dr. Khalid Klefeekh Al Hajri, QSTec Chairman and CEO, and Founder of Shams Generation.

“QSTec established Shams Generation in Qatar to address these important challenges head on. We are very proud of what we have achieved so far with this important initiative, and we are honored to have been selected as a WISE Award finalist.”

Ameena Hussain, Director of Programs and Community Development, WISE, remarked, “We congratulate Shams Generation of QSTec for making it to the finalist stage. The WISE Awards celebrate transformative projects that disrupt the status quo in the form of innovative solutions and creative models to improve access and quality of education in different parts of the world. The WISE Award finalists reflect our commitment to empowerment, collaboration, and transformation through education.”

A total of 15 projects were named as finalists for the 2017 WISE Awards. They come from nine countries and were selected by a pre-Jury of internationally recognized education experts.

The finalists were evaluated according to strict criteria. They must be successful, innovative education projects that have already demonstrated a transformative impact on individuals, communities, and society. They must be financially stable, have a clear development plan, and be scalable and replicable.

The six WISE Awards winning projects will be announced in September 2017 and celebrated at the eighth World Innovation Summit for Education, November 14-16, 2017, in Doha, Qatar. In addition to publicity and networking opportunities, each will receive $20,000 (US).

For further information, visit http://www.wise-qatar.org/wise-awards.