DOHA REACH Out To Asia (ROTA) announced that Qatar has been selected to host the 2013 iEARN Annual Conference and Youth Summit, for the first time in the GCC. The conference, to take place in July 2013, will gather experts from all over the globe under one roof to discuss issues pertaining to education and the enhancement of cooperation between scholastic institutions. “We are honoured that Qatar has been selected to hold such a prestigious event,” said Essa al Mannai, ROTA director. “The country has more than one element that attracted the organising committee to hold the conference in Doha. For example, iEARN has a unique opportunity to increase its regional reach by holding the conference in Qatar. Moreover, because of the country’s multi-cultural fabric, it provides an exceptional environment and platform to share experiences. “After all, iEARN encourages collaboration between different educational entities. Qatar, in essence, is a microcosm representing that,” he added. The International Education and Resource Network (iEARN) is a nonprofit organisation that connects schools and youth organisations worldwide via a virtual network to empower young people, encourage inter-scholastic collaboration, and debate world issues in real time. The iEARN-Qatar started in March 2008 as a pilot programme. Since then it has developed and reached over 70 schools in the country. Reach Out To Asia, in its capacity as the sole representative of iEARN in Qatar, has been supporting the programme by offering free workshops to over 300 teachers and by providing a platform for iEARN teachers and students to showcase their projects. “We believe that it is crucial to hold the international conference in Qatar,” al Mannai further said. “We consider that the next two years as vital to ensure the continuing sustainability of iEARN-Qatar. “The conference will provide a nexus for the programme expansion not only in the country, but for the region as well.” Because ROTA’s core mission is to ensure access to education to empower youths all over Asia, both iEARN and ROTA share the same vision. Holding the conference under the umbrella of ROTA in Qatar is beneficial to both parties. In turn, one of the greatest benefactors will be Qatar itself. “Qatar’s 2030 Vision aims to create a sustainable and economically diverse society in two decades,” explained al Mannai. “The key to the success of this vision is in education, and by bringing the conference to the country, the topic of education is brought to the forefront, and the result may be the acceleration of the goals as set forth by the Vision.” http://www.qatar-tribune.com/data/20111009/content.asp?section=nation4_1

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