The World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) has revealed the five projects that will join the 2016-2017 WISE Accelerator programme and benefit from mentoring and access to networking.

Launched in 2014, the Accelerator programme is designed to support the development of young, innovative EdTech projects with high potential for scalability and positive impact in the field of education. The selected projects benefit from a year-long mentorship programme tailored to address their specific needs.

The WISE Accelerator also helps connect the projects with an international network that creates opportunities for knowledge-sharing and identifying donor and investor support.

Kayrn Aguirre is the director of strategic partnerships at Kepler, a university network that brings high-quality affordable degrees to African youth, and a participant in the 2016 Accelerator cohort. “The programme has given Kepler access to incredible resources and expertise as we’ve explored strategies for growth,” she explained.

WISE CEO Stavros N Yiannouka said, “These new projects selected for the WISE Accelerator programme are responding to urgent needs in a variety of settings. They reflect the values of WISE in supporting creative action and empowerment globally, and we are confident they will continue to thrive and grow.”

The projects selected for the 2016-17 WISE Accelerator programme are Edykasyon.ph (the Philippines), Chalk.com (Canada), Aflatoun Education (The Netherlands/global), Learn Syria (Canada/Syria) and Joko's World (Australia).

The 2016-2017 cohort will officially join the WISE Accelerator at an engagement held by WISE, an initiative of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, early next year.

They will be invited to take part in specific working sessions and offered “unique” networking opportunities.

The Accelerator participants have responded to diverse issues such as teacher training, career guidance, access to quality education in refugee camps, and developing students’ awareness of other cultures and teaching them tolerance and empathy through interactive games.

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