16th National Week for Scientific Research and Innovation Concludes

National Week for Scientific Research and Innovation

The Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MOEHE), in cooperation with the Qatar Research, Development and Innovation Council (QRDI), concluded the activities of the 16th National Week for Scientific Research and Innovation 2024.

Held from Sep. 29 to Oct. 3 at the Qatar National Convention Center, the weeks activities, aimed to enhance students research, investigation and innovation skills, instill a spirit of cooperation and competition among them, achieve excellence in scientific research, highlight students research projects that address contemporary problems and provide them with the necessary support, provide an opportunity for distinguished projects to participate in regional and international competitions, and cooperate and coordinate with partners in state institutions concerned with scientific research.

Assistant Undersecretary for Educational Affairs at MOEHE, Maha Zayed Qaqaa Al Ruwaili and Executive Director of the Program Office at QRDI Council, Dr. Hisham Mohieldin Saber honored the students and teachers who won the National Scientific Research and Innovation Competition 2024, whose research achieved the highest levels of excellence and creativity, in addition to honoring the supervisors.

In his speech to mark the occasion, the Executive Director of the Program Office at QRDI Council said that the Council began this fruitful partnership with MOEHE many years ago, with the aim of promoting the culture of scientific research and innovation among Qatari youth, exploring national talents, and providing the opportunity to empower and support them to lead the path of scientific research and innovation in the State of Qatar.

He noted that scientific research and innovation have become a fundamental axis of the axes entrusted with achieving sustainable development and the transition towards a knowledge-based economy, as defined by the Third National Development Strategy 2024-2030, which requires everyone in the scientific research community in the country to exert more effort and be more passionate and innovative in their offering.

Dr. Saber stressed in a related context that the achievements made over the past years stand as a testament to the genius and creativity of students, especially since they are the builders of the future. He added that, thanks to the cooperation between the Ministry and the Council, and the guidance and support of the joint work team and school administrations across the State of Qatar, students presented 811 research papers in eight categories that comply with international standards, while 96 evaluators from various scientific disciplines participated in the process of reviewing and evaluating the research papers, qualifying 465 research papers for the first scientific evaluation stage, of which 150 papers succeeded in qualifying and participating in this exhibition.

He pointed out that the MOEHE has agreed to increase the number of research projects participating in the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in the United States of America to nine research projects, while nine winning projects will participate in the National Competition for Scientific Research and Innovation to represent the State of Qatar in the ITEX competition in Malaysia next May. In this regard, he praised the excellent performance presented by the Qatari team last year by winning ten gold medals for the preparatory and secondary stages. 

For her part, Director of the Curriculum and Learning Resources Department at the MOEHE Sarah Al Sharim noted that the annual celebration of the National Week for Scientific Research and Innovation represents a unique platform for students to present their research and projects and share them with the community, in addition to developing their innovative and research skills, and an incentive for teachers to document their strategies in the field of educational differentiation in procedural research, which represents the first key to professional development, and helps them develop realistic solutions to solve problems, which enables them to better understand the educational process, and thus the ability to bring about the required change to achieve the necessary and continuous development, which is positively reflected on their students.

Al Sharim said that out of the MOEHE's keenness on effective partnership with institutions and bodies concerned with scientific research in the country, the National Week for Scientific Research and Innovation was held in cooperation with the Qatar Research, Development and Innovation Council (QRDI), which participates with the ministry in sponsoring student researchers and providing them with the necessary support to develop their research, which complements and is consistent with the ministry's efforts to prepare a generation of researchers, proficient in scientific research skills, and capable of providing innovative and pioneering solutions that can be applied, contributing to achieving comprehensive development.

She pointed out that the competitions and exhibitions that have been organized in schools in the State of Qatar since 2009 until the 16th edition in 2024, embody the efforts of students who presented research with high-quality standards, in all educational stages and in the most important scientific topics under the supervision of their teachers and families, to ensure the continuous development of their capabilities. She noted that the 16th edition of Scientific Research and Innovation achieved added value with the originality of the problems addressed by the research and the innovative solutions it presented.

In her speech, the Director of the Curriculum and Learning Resources Department at the MOEHE revealed that 2,383 male and female students participated in the Scientific Research and Innovation Competition for the academic year 2023-2024, from 232 public and private schools from various educational stages. They submitted 1,220 research projects, of which 254 research projects qualified, conducted by 534 male and female students. The distinguished ones will be selected according to the deliberate arbitration criteria for international participation and competitions.

As for procedural research for teachers, she explained that 368 male and female teachers from 116 schools submitted 328 procedural research papers, of which 30 papers from 27 schools qualified, conducted by 33 male and female teachers. She indicated that the growth rate in the number of schools participating in the National Scientific Research Competition reached 21 percent between 2023 and 2024, and 12 percent in the number of participating research projects, accompanied by a growth rate of 11 percent in the number of participating students.

She emphasized that the MOEHE will continue its support for scientific research, enhancing research skills among students and teachers, and stimulating innovation by creating a school environment that encourages creativity and innovation, as well as building the capacities of educational cadres by empowering teachers and discovering, nurturing, and guiding students towards research, innovation, and talent.

The closing ceremony featured a film about the scientific research journey as part of the National Research and Innovation Week and the accompanying exhibition. Meanwhile, Qatari inventor Mohsin Al Shaikh, Senior Director of Environment at Hamad International Airport, presented his successful experience in the field of invention since his studies, and how he overcame the challenges he faced until he established his own project in this context.

In a statement to Qatar News Agency (QNA), Director of Educational Programs at QRDI Abdullah Al Kamali discussed the various stages of the National Research, Development and Innovation Competition and the process of evaluating the participating projects and those who qualified, including procedural research projects for teachers.

He noted the contributions and support of 15 partners and their presentation of special awards to motivate and encourage owners of distinguished research projects, which gives them the motivation to continue research and innovation.

The National Week for Scientific Research and Innovation came as a result of the MOEHE's continuous efforts to hold annual exhibitions for scientific research and innovation since 2009, and to showcase the innovative and distinctive research produced by students' minds, to become one of the most important research forums for the pre-university stage at the level of the State of Qatar, to exchange and spread the culture of scientific research and innovation under the best international educational practices.

(QNA)