Partners | WISE

AUF

Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF) is a multilateral association of approximately 700 tertiary education institutions in 81 countries spread throughout the world. AUF endeavors to contribute to development through respect for cultural variety and action guided by tri-partite mission of the university: learning, research and service in the community.

With nine regional offices, AUF is present on every continent, with more than 420 agents stationed in 63 branch locations. Through its global reach, AUF has an enormous capacity to mobilize (particularly in the Southern Hemisphere) the expertise and resources of its networks and member institutions, especially in the following regions: Africa, America, Southeast Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, Western Europe and the Arabic world.

As a partner to institutions for higher education and research, the AUF operates by means of several collaborative programs, designed specifically to support research and education through (i) encouraging and facilitating scientific collaboration; (ii) training the future leaders of development; (iii) supporting research and excellence; and (iv) sharing international expertise.

AUF’s extensive network has proved very valuable in working with universities and in providing support to higher education projects through the exchange of international expertise. Furthermore, AUF’s capacity to mobilize its networks of knowledge transfer and exchange offers considerable promise in finding possible solutions to issues such as ICT in education, global sustainability conflict resolution, civil rights and minorities, university governance and education markets.

www.auf.org

13.05.09 - Bernard Cerquiglini, Chancellor AUF

“As WISE has the ambition to deal with the challenges of education for the 21rst century through inter-cultural dialogue and academic excellence, the Agence universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF) has offered its expertise and its knowledge on the field to the Qatar foundation.

AUF is delighted to join this Summit that will allow its members to share experiences and to exchange rich innovations and reflections with other partners.”

Bernard Cerquiglini, Chancellor Agence universitaire de la Francophonie-AUF

IAUP

Founded in 1964, IAUP is the world’s preeminent organization of university chief executive officers (presidents, rectors and vice-chancellors). IAUP’s mission includes providing a worldwide vision of higher education, sponsoring effective networking between university leaders, and promoting peace and international understanding through education. IAUP was responsible for the Year of Peace initiative adopted by the United Nations and continues to co-sponsor a committee of the United Nations on conflict resolution and peace. IAUP holds NGO and ECOSOC status at the United Nations with formal consultation rights at UNESCO. It works closely with other organizations, such as the World Bank, to enhance educational opportunities and build higher educational capacity around the world.

www.iaup.org

06.04.09 - J. Michael Adams, President-Elect IAUP

"IAUP is an enthusiastic partner with the Qatar Foundation in launching this most important initiative. We agree with H.G. Wells, who wrote in 1920 that, "Human History becomes more and more a race between education and catastrophe." Whatever we do to promote the universal improvement of education from cradle to old age is effort well spent. IAUP applauds the Qatar Foundation for its global leadership."

J. Michael Adams, President-Elect IAUP

RAND Corporation

Since 1948, the RAND Corporation has operated as an independent non-profit organization. RAND’s mission is to help improve policy and decision-making through research and analysis. Of the approximately 1,600 people working at RAND, more than 950 are part of the research staff. RAND researchers represent nearly every academic field and profession, from engineering and behavioural science to education, medicine and economics. A wide range of sponsors commission RAND to conduct research that meets their needs, as well as fulfills RAND’s mission.

Since 1970, RAND also has operated an innovative and respected graduate school specializing in public policy analysis. The Pardee RAND Graduate School (PRGS) is the world's leading producer of Ph.D.'s in public policy analysis.

RAND's three principal U.S. locations are Santa Monica, California; Arlington, Virginia; and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; a fourth office is located in Boston, Massachusetts. The RAND Gulf States Policy Institute has offices in Jackson, Mississippi, and New Orleans, Louisiana. RAND Europe is located in Cambridge, UK and Brussels, Belgium. The RAND-Qatar Policy Institute is in Doha, Qatar.

www.rand.org

20.04.09 - Dr. James Thomson, RAND President and Chief Executive Officer

“RAND is pleased to partner with the Qatar Foundation to launch the WISE initiative. The WISE forum will provide a valuable international meeting place for leading policymakers, practitioners, and scholars. These participants will be able to interact with each other to recognize and promote innovations that hold the promise of meeting education challenges around the world.”

Dr. James Thomson, RAND President and Chief Executive Officer

IIE

The Institute of International Education is among the world’s largest and most experienced international exchange organizations.
An independent non profit established organization in 1919, IIE is dedicated to increasing the capacity of people to think and work on a global basis. The Institute’s vision of “Opening Minds to the World” is based upon the belief that international educational exchange forms the strongest basis for fostering the mutual understanding necessary for worldwide peace and progress.

Through many years of experience, IIE has developed efficient systems and best practices to implement scholarship, exchange, and leadership development programs worldwide. IIE
programs are characterized by a commitment to excellence, diversity, and technological innovation; extensive networks within the higher education community in the United
States and abroad; and a highly experienced staff combining strong program management skills and detailed world area knowledge.

IIE implements more than 200 international exchange programs benefiting over 18 000 men and women from 175 countries.
Foremost is the world renowned Fulbright Program, which IIE has administered on behalf of the U.S. Department of State since the program’s inception in 1946. The Institute also serves corporations, foundations, and government agencies worldwide, making available testing and advising services, scholarships, information on opportunities for international study, emergency assistance to students and scholars, and the IIE Network membership program that links colleges and universities around the globe.

www.iie.org

11.03.09 - Allan Goodman, President and CEO IIE

"Thanks to the Qatar foundation's vision and support, educators will now have their own davos-like forum.
The goal of WISE is to share scalable best practices so that more young people than ever will have access to the knowledge needed to improve the world we share.”

Allan Goodman

ACU

Established in 1913, the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) is the oldest inter-university network in the world. Today ACU combines the expertise and reputation of over ninety years' experience with new and innovative programmes designed to meet the needs of universities in the 21st century.

Over 500 institutions in 37 countries are currently in membership and ACU is expanding to be fully representative of the range of public and private universities throughout the Commonwealth. ACU's universities share Commonwealth values, including freedom of expression, a common language and many similarities in organisation and management. The Association forms an extensive network to facilitate internationalisation and for a sharing of problems, solutions and best practice across a variety of higher education environments. As higher education becomes ever more international, the benefits of membership of the ACU are now greater than at any time in its hundred year history.

www.acu.ac.uk

06.04.09 - Professor John Tarrant, Secretary General ACU

“The Association of Commonwealth Universities is delighted to be a partner in this exciting initiative. The demand for higher education is growing rapidly alongside a rising appreciation of its importance to both individuals and to national economies and societies. Our member universities are rising to the challenge in a great variety of innovative ways and the summit provides an excellent opportunity to share experiences and to benchmark performance against other education leaders.”

Professor John Tarrant, Secretary General ACU