from exploring best practices in education and tracking the latest trends to addressing challenges in education the world innovation summit for education wise 2012 offered an insight into how collaboration can inspire innovation in education vishakha sharma reports strong collaborations are often the source of best ideas but can they actually inspire effective and longterm innovations in education with this in mind the fourth edition of the world innovation summit for education 2012 wise brought together more than 1000 academic corporate political and social leaders from over 100 countries at the qatar national convention centre in doha to explore the theme collaborating for change how can the world through newage education address the complexities and interrelated challenges facing the world today what are the creative solutions to access financing and teaching how do we improve strategies to share success and enhance institutional processes these and several other questions were discussed and deliberated upon by participants during the threeday summit november 1315 his excellency abdulla bin ali althani chairman of wise in his welcome address said wise is an ideal platform for multisectoral collaboration in building the future of education we have to consider how education can be reshaped to meet the major challenges of modern life against the backdrop of globalisation and despite stark inequalities among and within societies according to her highness sheikha moza bint nasser chairperson qatar foundation organisers of the summit wise it is through education that a collective mind of communities is formed that helps in building a future which is innovative the summit offered interactive discussions with speakers experts and members from the wise community attendees got an opportunity to collaborate interact and share best practices during the several plenary sessions and debates also some of the other sessions focused on innovations and projects along with workshops to facilitate collaboration on specific issues road ahead for jenna brashear a graduate student at vanderbilt university us collaborating with learners is the best way to teach them how to collaborate along with acquiring other important 21century skills emphasising on collaboration brashear said collaboration with learners makes education more responsive and effective for learners by increasing involvement learners show willingness to engage in active citizenship in the future and finally it helps in building a curriculum that incorporates reallife materials talking about the importance of private partnerships for overall growth of education andrew p swiger senior vicepresident exxonmobil corporation said collaboration of government philanthropic institutes and business is needed for education to reach out to the world this is because the role of business brings real knowledge in the economic space in the communities we operate in however according to irina bokova directorgeneral unesco education is also becoming part of a global political agenda she pointed out that education today is not just about human rights any longer but also an answer to questions on globalisation or for that matter economic crisis education empowers people it is