Doha: The needs of educators and the importance of advancing their own education so they can enhance how they teach students have been placed in focus as Qatar Foundation (QF) marked the International Day of Education. The day-long event, organized by QF under the theme ‘Education is Everyone’s Responsibility’, was held at Qatar National Convention Centre and included sessions focused on the future of higher education.

According to Qatar News Agency, Qatar Foundation’s President of Higher Education, Francisco Marmolejo, highlighted the unique opportunity the conference provided for innovation and expansion in teaching practices. He emphasized the potential impact on the future of higher education and the lives of students and the community served by these educators. Marwan Kraidy, Dean and CEO of Northwestern University in Qatar, a QF partner university, also emphasized the importance of improving educators to enhance education quality.

Throughout the event, educators from Qatar and beyond shared strategies and teaching methods through case studies, workshops, and panel discussions, aiming to improve teaching practices. Topics included collaboration with students, culturally responsible teaching, and the importance of individual reflection to adjust teaching methods for relevancy.

Dr. Mehdi Riazi, Professor and Associate Dean for Research at Hamad Bin Khalifa University’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences, underscored the importance of understanding learners and the cultural and educational contexts. He stressed the need for teachers to adapt their methodologies to fit socio-cultural, political, and religious contexts effectively.