The 12th World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE), organized by Qatar Foundation, got underway at the Qatar National Convention Centre on Monday under the theme ‘Humanity.io: Human Values at the Heart of Education.’

Running until tomorrow, the global gathering will convene more than 200 distinguished speakers and thought leaders from education, academia, technology, policy, and social impact. Over 4,000 people are attending the event.

Speaking at the inaugural plenary session of the summit, Qatar Foundation Chairperson HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser highlighted the importance of the summit in promoting human values in the age of technology and AI.

“WISE was founded to ignite minds,” said Sheikha Moza, during her opening address.

Qatar’s Minister of Education and Higher Education HE Lolwah bint Rashid Al Khater also addressed the gathering.

This year’s summit will examine how education systems worldwide can adapt through a human-centered approach as artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies rapidly reshape societies. WISE 12 brings together influential voices whose work spans continents and disciplines, united by the idea that learning must remain grounded in empathy, equity, and purpose.

Among the headline speakers is writer Laila Lalami, known for her explorations of identity and belonging. She will join Mo Gawdat, bestselling author and former Google X executive recognized for his insights on AI, happiness, and innovation, Nobel Laureate and MIT economist Abhijit Banerjee, whose research has reshaped global understanding of education and poverty, Anousheh Ansari, space explorer and CEO of XPrize, and Lady Marieme Jamme, founder of iamtheCODE and a prominent advocate for digital literacy for girls across Africa.

Additional speakers include Fahad Hamad Hassan Al Sulaiti, Director General of the Qatar Fund for Development, Dr. Michael Fung, Executive Director of the Singapore Institute of Technology, and Omar Al Shogre, Director for Detainee Affairs at the Syrian Emergency Task Force, widely respected for advancing education access in conflict settings.

More than 60 sessions - ranging from plenaries and research dialogues to interactive masterclasses - will address major questions shaping the future of learning.

Topics include ethics and AI, equitable access to quality education, redefining success and well-being in classrooms, and the need for coordinated, cross-sector systems change.

These discussions will unfold across five interconnected thematic tracks: placing human needs at the center of learning; progressive education models; navigating the skills revolution in higher education and lifelong learning; catalyzing multi-sectoral transformation; and advancing education that supports economic opportunity and community resilience.

WISE 12 is supported by several strategic partners, including the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD), and the EAA Foundation, each contributing essential expertise to shape actionable outcomes.

Stavros N Yiannouka, CEO of WISE, described the summit as a timely and critical platform for redefining global education.

“We’re at a defining moment for education systems worldwide. As artificial intelligence and emerging technologies accelerate, it becomes vital to ensure that innovation amplifies human potential rather than replaces it. This summit gathers voices who aren’t only transforming education, but recentering it on the values that make us human.”

The announcement of the 2025 WISE Education Prize winner will highlight extraordinary global contributions to the field.

Since its establishment in 2009, WISE has grown into a unique platform for innovation, research, and collaboration - advocating for an education that brings together technology and compassion, and progress with purpose.

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