In an interview with Qatar News Agency (QNA), CEO of the Education Excellence Award Maryam Abdullah al-Mohannadi said the award is a new and important milestone in its journey, noting that the anticipated crowning moment has a special character not only for the winners but also for everyone who contributed to achieving this excellence by individuals, institutions, schools and universities.
She pointed out that the award’s goal since its launch in 2006 was not just to honour the winners, but to build a generation of distinguished cadres capable of contributing effectively to the development process, adding that the winning of more than 1,000 participants in the award throughout the sessions represents a true national wealth embodied on Saturday in many of them holding leadership positions in various sectors, which proves that the excellence they achieved was not just a title but an achievement materialised into a real impact.
She highlighted that the award has now become a platform for refining competencies and enhancing ambition, stressing that those in charge of the award view excellence as a sustainable journey that does not end with the end of the honouring.
Al-Mohannadi underlined the importance of investing in this excellence more by enhancing the role of the winners in supporting future generations to achieve excellence, embodying the Award’s slogan: “With Excellence, We Build Generations”, and contributing to shaping the features of the future, which enhances Qatar’s position as a centre for creativity and scientific innovation.
Regarding the aspirations of this session, al-Mohannadi said that the aspirations of this session lie in welcoming a new group of distinguished individuals who are not satisfied with achieving academic achievement only, but also realise their national and societal responsibility in employing their excellence to make a tangible impact at various levels.
She explained that this session represents a new page added to the record of achievements of the award and its legacy that has extended for more than 18 years, crowning more than a thousand distinguished men and women, and these factors are a clear confirmation of Qatar’s commitment to investing in national human capital.
In a related context, al-Mohannadi stressed the importance of this group continuing its journey of excellence not only by winning the award but also by leaving clear fingerprints that contribute to achieving the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030, especially since sustainable and effective excellence has always been the goal that everyone seeks through this award.
She also stressed that the patronage of His Highness the Amir for this award is a clear message to these distinguished people that the country needs their minds and arms to build its renaissance and prosper its future.
She indicated that the great moral value of the Education Excellence Award is represented in this generous patronage, which is not just an honour for the winners, but rather an appreciation for all members of the educational sector in Qatar, and evidence of the great interest that the wise leadership pays to the march of science and excellence.
In another context, al-Mohannadi about the increase in the number of winners in this session compared to the previous session, considering that the growing number of participants and winners is a natural reflection of one of its main goals, and a real contribution to enhancing the culture of creativity and excellence in Qatari society, as the more distinguished people there are, the greater the positive impact we aspire to in various academic, research and professional fields.
Al-Mohannadi emphasised that excellence is not exclusive to any particular group but is accessible to anyone who seeks it.
She noted that all opportunities and resources are available for those who know how to utilise them in a country with a distinguished educational system offering numerous quality educational and research opportunities, expressing her hope for more participation and the continuous attraction of ambitious minds, enhancing the award’s role as a catalyst for achievement and innovation in Qatar.
Regarding ongoing efforts to raise awareness about the Education Excellence Award, al-Mohannadi mentioned that the award’s executive committee announced the launch of three promotional booths at Katara, West Walk, and Place Vendome Mall from Feb 20-22. These booths aim to introduce the award, highlight its importance, and encourage students and schools to participate. They also provide an interactive experience for visitors to learn about the success stories of previous winners and the award’s impact on supporting education and research excellence in Qatar.
She added that these booths are part of the award’s efforts to promote a culture of excellence and innovation within the Qatari community, adding that the Education Excellence Award is not just an honour but a sustainable incentive to qualify future leaders and enhance the spirit of creativity and excellence in various fields.
Al-Mohannadi highlighted that the activation of these booths would rely primarily on the voluntary efforts of the Award committee members, organizers, and judges, along with volunteers from students, previous and current winners, and candidates interested in the award. They are the best ambassadors for the award, inspiring their peers and effectively conveying the Award’s message, motivating others to strive for education excellence and achieve similar accomplishments.
On the selection process for the judging committees and their role in evaluating award applications, al-Mohannadi explained that the selection of the judging committees, responsible for receiving and evaluating applications, was done meticulously based on standards ensuring transparency and accuracy in the evaluation process.
She revealed that the award includes nine specialised judging committees with about 45 members dedicated to ensuring that the evaluation process reflects the standards of education excellence and innovation. Al-Mohannadi pointed out that despite not being full-time, the importance and high status of the award motivate them to exert effort and accomplish their tasks with professionalism.
Al-Mohannadi added that the judging committees play a pivotal role in the success of the award. Their role extends beyond evaluation to actively contributing to instilling a culture of excellence and supporting innovators, adding that being part of the judging system has become prestigious, given the Award’s esteemed position. Many experts and educators aspire to be part of this journey that helps build an educationally and practically distinguished generation capable of serving the nation and society.
Regarding the award’s role in fostering innovation and keeping up with digital developments, al-Mohannadi noted that the Award has promoted a spirit of innovation among students, researchers, and educational institutions through its criteria, which encourage candidates to adopt research methodologies, creative thinking, and community contributions.
Al-Mohannadi explained that with each cycle, the award becomes more than just an honour; it serves as a real incentive driving candidates to develop new ideas and explore unconventional horizons in their education, academic, research, and community fields.
She emphasised that in the era of the digital revolution and artificial intelligence, innovation has become essential for achieving excellence, reflected by the award through the recognition of research projects and educational initiatives employing the latest technologies and smart solutions.
Al-Mohannadi added that participation in the award opens up opportunities for candidates to acquire new skills, and enhances their culture of creativity and sustainability in thinking, which enables them to contribute effectively to achieving Qatar’s vision of building a knowledge-based and innovative economy.
As for the participants who were not lucky, the CEO of the Education Excellence Award expressed her appreciation for the efforts of all participants for their valuable participation in the award, as simply going through this experience is an indication of ambition and an important step towards excellence, and not winning the award does not mean not deserving, but rather an opportunity for development and improvement.
She called on the participants who were not lucky in the award to seek feedback and benefit from it, and to continue striving for excellence, as there are many distinguished people who were not lucky in their first attempts, but they persevered and developed themselves until they achieved victory in subsequent sessions.
She continued by saying that many great success stories began with unsuccessful attempts at first, but they turned into inspiring achievements thanks to persistence and continuous development. There are some categories that allow the opportunity to reapply in the upcoming sessions, and we are proud of the stories of the distinguished people who have had the honour of winning the award after more than one attempt. Excellence is an ongoing journey, and with striving and perseverance, goals are achieved.
Regarding the future plans for the next session of the award, al-Mohannadi confirmed that work is underway to present a strategic project to develop the award, in a manner befitting its legacy that spans nearly two decades, and in a manner that reflects its future ambitions.
She noted that this project aims to develop all elements of the award, starting with the visual identity, through the target groups, and ending with the evaluation criteria, to ensure that the award continues to stimulate excellence and innovation.
She explained that specialised expertise has been sought, under the direct supervision of the Board of Trustees and the Award Development Committee, to ensure the presentation of a renewed and solid vision that enhances the award’s position as an integrated system for excellence in the State of Qatar.
The latest developments and details of this project will be announced soon after work on it is completed, ensuring that the award remains at the forefront of initiatives supporting education and creative excellence in Qatar.
On the other hand, the CEO of the Education Excellence Award appreciated the pivotal role played by the Qatari family, which has become an incubator for excellence, and many Qatari families have presented more than one distinguished person to the award throughout the sessions, as the award has become a community culture that reflects ambition and the pursuit of leadership.
She extended her warmest congratulations to the winners, their families and relatives, and to the schools and institutions that sponsored their excellence and contributed to their achievement, praising the efforts of educational institutions and families in sponsoring and supporting excellence and distinguished people, because achieving success is not an individual act, but rather the result of joint efforts.
Al-Mohannadi explained that although the actual number of winners in this session is 79, dozens of people from teachers, schools, supervisors, families and institutions contributed to achieving this distinction, which supports excellence in Qatari society and makes it an essential element for the development and leadership process.
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