Omna Nour

Reach Out To Asia Signs Agreement with ictQATAR

• ICT to connect Middle East and Asian school communities

Doha, QATAR, 25th October, 2007 - Qatar based NGO Reach Out To Asia (ROTA) and a delegation from ictQATAR have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), formalizing plans for a partnership on the Connect ROTAsia Knowledge Network.
The Connect ROTAsia Knowledge Network will function by creating access to a web-based portal that will allow ROTA's schools and universities to be "twinned" with Qatari based schools and universities. The twinning will enable the schools to share projects and curriculum, partake in collaborative projects and create a partnership between students, teachers and faculty members. The objective is to increase educational opportunities, enhance existing education quality and bridge cultural divides throughout Asia including the Middle East.
The MoU will see ROTA benefit from the knowledge and expertise ictQATAR gained in developing the School Knowledge Network in conjunction with the Supreme Education Council. The School Knowledge Network, launched in 2006, allows teachers, students and parents from 12 independent schools in Qatar to connect online.
Omnia Nour, ROTA's director commented on the signing: "I would like to express ROTA's sincere thanks to ictQATAR. Their support, sharing of information and experience in such like projects will be of great benefit to ROTA and the development of the Connect ROTAsia program, in particular the Knowledge Network. We look forward to developing this partnership to the benefit of the mutual goals and are proud that with their help, we will together be working towards increasing the educational opportunities across Asia."
Dr Fakieh, ictQATAR's e-Education Program Manager, commented, "ictQATAR is looking forward to working alongside ROTA to enrich school communities in Qatar and around the globe by helping them to realize their full potential through information and communication technologies. We commend ROTA's vision which recognizes the role information and communication technology can play in advancing a knowledge-based society."
The signing was attended by representatives from ictQATAR: Peter Churchward - Executive Director of ICT Development Programmes, Peter Kruger - Executive Director of Planning and Institutional Relations, Dr Ghada Omar Fakieh - e-Education Program Manager, and Elaine Farah - Planning and Institutional Relations Specialist.
ROTA Director, Omnia Nour signed the MoU, and was supported by other ROTA staff members: Cherie Clark-Moore - Head of Connect ROTAsia, and Eve Benson - Head of Marketing & Communications.
For further information on the Connect ROTAsia Knowledge Network or ROTA, send an email to rota@qf.org.qa.

ROTA Director, Omnia Nour and Executive Director of ICT Development Programmes, Peter Churchward shake hands after signing a MoU about the Connect ROTAsia Knowledge Network.