Latest news with #YoC
Qatar Tribune
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Qatar Tribune
Education minister showcases Qatar's expanding cultural diplomacy through YoC initiative
Tribune News Network Doha As the Years of Culture (YoC) initiative celebrates its 15th edition in 2025, Qatar marks a new chapter in cultural diplomacy with its most ambitious programme yet — simultaneous partnerships with two countries in a single year. This bold evolution is the focus of a newly published opinion piece by Minister of Education and Higher Education HE Lolwah bint Rashid Al Khater in Arab News, titled 'Qatar's Cultural Diplomacy as a Global Platform.' First launched in 2012 as a bilateral cultural exchange programme, the Years of Culture was originally designed to raise global awareness of Qatar ahead of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, the first to be held in the Arab world. Over the past decade, the initiative has grown into a cornerstone of Qatar's international outreach, building long-term, cross-sector collaboration through cultural and creative engagement. 'In an increasingly interconnected world, culture has become a critical language of diplomacy,' writes Al Khater. 'What began as a platform to welcome the world to Qatar has transformed into a mechanism for long-term, reciprocal collaboration across sectors and borders.' Through a diverse array of programming, ranging from street art installations and collaborative museum exhibitions to culinary exchanges, archaeological fieldwork, and trade fairs, Years of Culture exemplifies a decentralised and inclusive model of diplomacy. It invites participation not only from diplomats and policymakers, but also from chefs, students, economists, volunteers, and artists. Legacy is a recurring theme in the op-ed. Examples include the 'On the Move' exhibition, which debuted as part of Qatar-MENASA 2022 and later toured in China, and the multi-year collaboration with Moroccan artist Sara Ouhaddou, which spans exhibitions, capacity-building, and the revival of traditional glassmaking techniques in Morocco. A recent memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between Qatar and France in 2024 further underscores the programme's long-term policy impact, building on the foundations laid during the Qatar-France 2020 Year of Culture. The article also reflects on how Qatar is redefining cultural exchange, not as a unilateral export or import of identity, but as a co-created, evolving dialogue. This is evident in the growing presence of contemporary Qatari art in former partner nations such as Germany, Russia, and China, where young Qatari and Qatar-based artists gain global visibility and form lasting international networks. Looking ahead, the Years of Culture is poised to expand beyond the model of annual bilateral partnerships into a continuous, multidimensional platform for global engagement. Born in Doha, but resonating far beyond,' writes Al Khater, the programme is now seen as a cultural and intellectual hub, encouraging dialogue, creativity, and mutual respect in an era of shifting global narratives.
Qatar Tribune
4 days ago
- Science
- Qatar Tribune
Qatar takes part in Chileforum to share views on educational innovation
Tribune News Network Doha In a bid to deepen international dialogue on the future of education, representatives from Qatar participated in a high-level forum on 'Reimagining Education: New Paths for Educational Innovation', hosted by Fundación Reimagina in Santiago, Chile. The event, held as part of the Qatar-Chile 2025 Year of Culture (YoC), brought together educators, policymakers, and innovators to explore new models for educational reform and cross-sector collaboration. 'Promoting collaboration between organisations, countries and sectors is a core value of Fundacion Reimagina. In order to fulfil our mission of ensuring education that responds to the challenges of 21st-century society, we require partnerships and exchanges that guarantee higher educational quality and the development of key skills, such as creativity, critical thinking and digital proficiency. This requires a profound and practical approach to innovation, which we aim to promote at this meeting with Years of Culture and WISE,' said Ana María Raad, founder of Reimagina and AprendoLAB. The forum featured contributions from Aurelio Amaral, director of programmes at the World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE), an initiative of Qatar Foundation, and Hazem Idriss, deputy director of community development at Qatar Museums. Their presence underscored Qatar's growing role in fostering education and cultural diplomacy as tools for building bridges across continents. A recent example of this commitment is AprendoLab, a project by Fundación Reimagina that was named one of the six 2024–25 WISE Prize for Education Finalists. The finalists have been working over the past year to develop solutions for fundamental challenges in education systems, such as accelerating foundational literacies, improving the teaching and learning of Arabic, and addressing emerging challenges of artificial intelligence in education. AprendoLab, headquartered in Chile, supports stronger teacher-student engagement through digital resources designed to close educational and technological gaps. Currently being piloted in Chile, Mexico and Ecuador, the project focuses on enhancing both teacher capacity and student learning outcomes. 'Innovation in education requires a systems-thinking approach—one that values grassroots ideas and connects them with global frameworks,' said Amaral on the sidelines of the forum. 'Events like this are essential for bringing diverse voices together to co-create inclusive, resilient learning ecosystems.' Amaral also highlighted WISE's global role in advancing education through research, policy dialogue, and cross-sector partnerships. Since its founding in 2009 by, WISE has become a global platform for educational transformation. Idriss's participation in the forum coincided with a broader visit to Chile and Argentina, where he is conducting site assessments for Qatar Museums' international volunteer programme, an initiative that became an integral part of annual Years of Culture programming during the Qatar-Indonesia 2023. The programme pairs Qatari and Qatar-based students, artists, and staff with local communities in host countries to promote experiential learning and skill exchange.
