School Innovation Incubators initiative launched

Qatar Tribune

3 days ago

QNA
Doha
The Ministry of Education and Higher Education, the Ministry of Sports and Youth, and the Qatar Scientific Club launched the school innovation incubators initiative.
The launch took place at the Qatar Scientific Club headquarters on Tuesday. The event was attended by Minister of Communications and Information Technology HE Mohammed bin Ali bin Mohammed Al Mannai; Minister of Sports and Youth HE Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani; Minister of Education and Higher Education HE Lolwah bint Rashid bin Mohammed Al Khater; as well as several senior officials and representatives of partner entities.
The initiative, which is supported by the Social and Sport Contribution Fund (DAAM), aims to create a school environment that encourages innovation and scientific thinking, and enables students to develop their skills in science, technology, and research, enhancing their future contribution to building a sustainable knowledge economy.
In this context, Director of the Youth Affairs Department at the Ministry of Sports and Youth Fawaz Abdullah Al Musaifri confirmed that the school innovation incubators initiative includes eight innovation incubators distributed across eight schools across the country. The incubators were designed and implemented under the supervision of the Qatar Scientific Club.
Faculty members at the participating schools, who operate innovation incubators, underwent special training courses, which will later contribute to the qualification and training of students using the incubators, both during the summer and during the upcoming academic year.
He pointed out that this initiative fulfills both the Qatar National Vision 2030 and the Ministry of Sports and Youth's vision of an active and responsible youth with a sense of patriotism, and a society that practices sports. He emphasized the Club's commitment to nurturing outstanding students, enabling them to play a significant role in its activities and events, as well as involving them in its various external participations, whether through the Ministry of Sports and Youth or the Ministry of Education and Higher Education.
Director of Administrative and Financial Affairs at the Qatar Scientific Club, Fatima Al Mohannadi, said the participating schools were distributed across eight schools, four for boys and four for girls. The aim she explained, is to develop students' skills in various fields of science, including technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Al Mohannadi added that the initiative aims to provide an environment similar to the digital manufacturing labs located at the Qatar Scientific Club, which contain the latest technical equipment, in addition to other educational materials, including tools for robotics and artificial intelligence applications.
Assistant Director of the Educational Guidance Department at MOEHE and Director of the STEM Project at the Ministry, in a statement to QNA, stated that the key feature of the school innovation incubators initiative is that it seeks to promote the concept of creative learning among students, in addition to moving away from traditional methods, especially in various aspects of innovation. Furthermore, the initiative encompassed eight municipalities across the country through the eight participating schools.
The school innovation incubators were equipped with specialized laboratories for digital manufacturing, 3D printing, robotics, artificial intelligence, electronics, and communications. They also provided dedicated spaces for project design and implementation, as well as technology libraries containing advanced tools and materials that enable students to transform their ideas into viable prototypes. The science club oversaw the preparation of these facilities and provided necessary technical training to teaching staff.
During the event, the students showcased their innovative projects, which reflected the extent of their benefit from the experience and the opportunities it provided for them to apply and develop their ideas. A group photo was then taken to mark the occasion.
At the conclusion of the event, the organisers expressed their pride in this initiative, as it represents the beginning of a practical path that integrates the educational process with innovation. It also strengthens the school's position as a true laboratory for ideas, contributing to the development of a confident, productive generation that actively participates in achieving Qatar National Vision 2030.
In this regard, the Ministry of Education and Higher Education invited parents who wish to have their children participate in innovation programs to visit the Maarif portal, summer clubs' section, on the Ministry's website, and select the innovation program from among the available activities.