SEC to Host Symposium on Fostering Creativity in Students

Doha, Qatar (March 7, 2006) – The Supreme Education Council (SEC) will host the second annual symposium marking the anniversary of the launch of Education for a New Era at the Ritz Carlton Hotel on March 15, 2006. This year’s symposium, entitled “Developing Creativity in Students,” will emphasize the importance of creativity and how Qatar’s three-year-old education reform initiative is striving to produce a generation of students who become critical, creative thinkers - skills that are critical to success in everyday life.

The symposium will feature lively discussions between local and international experts on ways to promote creativity among students, state-of-the-art research on creativity as well as practical ways that teachers and parents can encourage innovative thinking. “Creativity and critical thinking are hallmarks of a world-class education and necessary for the economic competitiveness of all countries,” noted Howaida Nadim, Communications Coordinator for the SEC.

Famed creativity expert and keynote speaker, Dr. James Kaufman will introduce the subject of creativity, its importance and the relationship between creativity and intelligence. Dr. Kaufman is an assistant professor at California State University at San Bernardino and has published and spoken widely on the subject of creativity.

Following the keynote address, a panel of local and international experts will discuss creativity at the school and classroom level. Panelists include Ms. Anna Craft, the founder and director of The Open Creativity Centre at The Open University in England. She will explain strategies to engage, reach and teach creativity to all students as well as give suggestions on how creativity can be integrated within individual cultures and traditions. Dr. Günseli Oral, who has published numerous articles on creativity, will discuss creativity from a Turkish perspective.

Local experts Dr. AbdulAziz Al-Horr will look at the cultural context of creativity and critical-thinking at the GCC level while Ms. Noura Al-Nesf and Ms. Noor Al-Mutawa will show real life examples of how creativity impacts their teaching and learning practices at their Independent School – Al Bayan Educational Complex.

The event will also mark the accomplishments of the SEC and its Institutes over the past three years with a panel of discussion by the three Institute directors - Mr. Adel Al-Sayed, Evaluation Institute; Ms. Sabah Al-Haidous, Education Institute; and Dr. Jehan Al-Meer, Higher Education Institute.

Over 600 educators, parents and stakeholders are expected to join this lively discussion where they will be able to share their experiences and views with colleagues in an atmosphere of stimulating dialogue. Anyone interested in attending the symposium must complete a registration form, which is available on www.english.education.gov.qa

The Supreme Education Council was established by Emiri decree in 2002. It serves as the primary authority on education policy in Qatar and, with its three Institutes, is leading the effort to transform the nation’s schools into a modern, world-class education system. More information about Qatar’s education reform effort, Education for a New Era, is available at www.education.gov.qa.