Doha: HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation, attended the Qatar Foundation Schools Showcase at Qatar Science and Technology Park, where students presented innovative projects and ideas spanning Artificial Intelligence, sustainability, science, technology, the arts, and interdisciplinary research.
According to Qatar News Agency, HE Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al-Thani, Vice Chairperson of Qatar Foundation, also attended the showcase - organized by Qatar Foundation's (QF) Pre-University Education - which reflects QF's commitment to fostering innovation-driven learning and connecting students with real-world environments where they can present their ideas and engage with industry experts, researchers, and QF alumni.
The showcase served as an interactive platform bringing students from QF schools together with partners from the academic and industry sectors, while providing them with the opportunity to present their projects to the wider community, reflecting the role of education in preparing a generation capable of transforming ideas into solutions and future-focused innovations.
President of QF's Pre-University Education, Abeer Al Khalifa, stated that showcases such as this demonstrate that talent development does not begin at university or in the workplace, it starts much earlier, in schools. She emphasized that when young people are given opportunities to apply their learning, engage with authentic challenges, and communicate their ideas with confidence, they begin to see themselves as contributors to Qatar's future from an early age.
Al Khalifa further explained that creating platforms of this kind helps to position K-12 education as a key part of Qatar's long-term talent development journey. She highlighted that by connecting students with researchers, industry partners, and innovators across the multiversity ecosystem and beyond, QF is intentionally strengthening the link between education and the future economy, while reinforcing the importance of innovation, leadership, and problem-solving from the earliest stages of learning.
The showcase featured around 50 student projects addressing real-world challenges across artificial intelligence, sustainability, health, and culture. It also included participation from industry partners within the public and private sector, as well as QF's Qatar Science and Technology Park and Hamad Bin Khalifa University, the Qatar Research, Development and Innovation Council, Qatar National Library, and QF alumni, which provided students the opportunity to see the direct connection between their projects and Qatar's future priorities.
Mehdi Benchaabane, Vice President of QF Schools within QF's Pre-University Education, explained that the IB Middle Years Program Personal Project forms the academic foundation of the showcase, encouraging students to identify real-world challenges, conduct research, and develop meaningful projects. The showcase itself provides a platform where these ideas move beyond the classroom into real-world application.
Benchaabane noted that the transformation students experience after participating in the showcase is significant and impactful, explaining that many initially view their projects as academic requirements, but leave seeing them as ideas with real potential for future development and application.