As many as 15 projects have been chosen for their innovative and impactful approaches to today's most urgent challenges in education by the World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE).

It has revealed the names of the projects selected as 2015 WISE Awards finalists, said a statement.

These projects, coming from around the world, represent some of the most innovative and effective approaches to key current global education challenges, it said.

Inaugurated by Qatar Foundation in 2009, under the leadership of its chairperson, Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, the WISE Awards identify and promote the most innovative and effective approaches to key global education challenges, and build a network of change-makers to inspire others around the world.

Selected by a pre-jury of international education experts, the 2015 WISE Awards Finalists will offer creative solutions in access, quality education, the teaching of STEM and entrepreneurial skills, said the statement.

Together they will address a wide range of issues that represent common global challenges, it said.

The WISE Awards Finalist projects were selected according to strict criteria. They had to demonstrate innovative thinking and a concrete positive impact on communities and societies, as well as the potential to be replicated in other contexts and regions.

The WISE Awards winning projects will be announced in September and celebrated at the seventh World Innovation Summit for Education, November 3 to 5, 2015 in Doha, Qatar.

In addition to publicity and networking opportunities, each will receive $20,000.

The 2015 WISE Awards Finalists include Al-Bairaq - Qatar; Bridge International Academies - Kenya; Children's Video Library in Sign Language - Argentina; Discovering Diversity - Australia; The Educate! Experience - USA/Uganda; The Edible Schoolyard Project - US; GirlEng - Girls in Engineering Program - South Africa; INEE - The Inter-Agency Network for Education in Emergencies - US; the Lab on a Bike - India; Lights to Learn - Spain/Latin America; Nafham - Egypt; NetEase Open Course - China; Teacher Changemakers Movement - UK; The Talking Book Program - US; and Universe Awareness, UNAWE - Netherlands.

Dr Asmaa Al-Fadala, head of research at WISE, said: ”The 2015 WISE Awards Finalist projects present creative solutions to diverse education challenges around the world. Beyond their contributions to improving education practice and enabling individuals and communities in their own regions, these projects are a rich and inspiring source of ideas for others elsewhere.” - TradeArabia News Service - TradeArabia News Service