Inspired by the stark realities of 2020 and the problems affecting us all, our theme for this year is ‘Global Challenges, Local Solutions.’

Over the course of a week, each of our distinguished speakers will collectively try to answer one overarching question: how can we foster more globally inspired, locally customized innovations to address the challenges we’ve all been experiencing in 2020?

New Institutions for a New Era?

In light of the current pandemic, we need global cooperation more than ever. Do our global institutions need to be reformed—or completely rebuilt?

COVID-19 and Education: The largest disruption in the history of education

COVID-19 is no longer just a health crisis. It has led to nationwide school closures in more than 100 countries, impacting over 860 million children and youth. The pandemic is also leading to global questioning and distrust in state institutions, specifically the educational ones, as never before has education been disrupted at this scale. This crisis should serve as a catalyst to support transformative changes in education and a greater shared sense of global responsibility.

Is Multilateralism in Crisis?

QatarDebate is hosting a virtual debate on the efficacy and challenges to multilateralism, in the context of recent world events, such as a global pandemic. A group of talented university debaters will exchange arguments on whether multilateralism has been a success, or a failed experiment?

Educate to Eradicate: Extremism, what’s next post COVID-19?

The pandemic has come with an imminent threat to global economies and hence, societal peace, a fertile ground for desperation and extremism. The role of education is perhaps more crucial than ever to keep such developments at bay. What needs to be done?

Launch of Special Edition E-Book: Education Disrupted, Education Reimagined

Written over the course of the first five months of the COVID-19 pandemic, WISE’s Special Edition E-Book, Education Disrupted, Education Reimagined: Thoughts and Responses from Education’s Frontline During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond  tells the education story during the COVID-19 crisis in real time. It spans over 40 articles and essays written by key stakeholders on education’s frontline during the crisis, including from schools, NGOs, governments, and international organizations.

Calculating the Cure: AI and COVID-19

A discussion on how to use AI and bioinformatics to find candidate drugs for repurposing to meet the challenges of COVID-19. Identifying existing drugs currently on the market to treat a variety of conditions that could also be used to treat COVID-19 offers an opportunity to quickly meet an urgent need, since existing drugs have already completed extensive trials and are available in the market.

Glocalizing Education for a Sustainable Future

Sustainability is a key focus area for QF and QF aims to develop and advocate best practices for environmental sustainability nationally. Aligned to this, our pre-university programs have several strategic initiatives for graduating students who are aware of the UN environmental global goals and can take action to progress towards these goals in the local community.