Doha, June 07 (QNA) - Qatar Foundation for Education (QF) on Sunday launched the accreditation framework for the "Rasekh" initiative, which seeks to align international education with local cultural and linguistic identity.

The Foundation also announced the inaugural cohort of schools from Qatar and the wider region that will embark on this educational pathway.

The announcement was made during the "Rasekh" Forum, convened at the Multaqa Building in the Education City Student Center, in the presence of Yousuf Al Naama, Chief Executive Officer of QF, alongside leaders of international private schools and local and international education partners.

The event marked a new phase in the implementation of the initiative, established by QF's Pre-University Education.

Rasekh supports schools in strengthening Arabic as a language of learning and knowledge production, while aligning international curricula with the local context, embedding core values into daily school life, and directing innovation toward community needs and local challenges.

During the forum, QF unveiled the first cohort of participating institutions, comprising QF schools and international private schools from Qatar and the region, thereby laying the groundwork for expanding the reach of Rasekh in the future.

The forum also featured the launch of the "Roots" (Juthoor) awareness campaign, designed to bring the message of Rasekh closer to the community through a symbolic identity reflecting the initiative's role in supporting the Arabic language and reinforcing values and identity.

The campaign is anchored in three principal messages: "Roots Empower the Arabic Language", "Roots Instill Values", and "Roots Reinforce Identity".

These messages stem from the campaign's overarching theme, "Toward an Education that Deepens Roots and Creates Lasting Impact".

Through a contemporary Arab visual identity, the campaign targets parents, students, and the wider community through diverse digital content.

Participants at the forum discussed ways to benefit from Rasekh accreditation as a practical and measurable roadmap that enables schools to align educational processes with the local context without compromising international academic standards.

In this regard, Vice President of Strategic Educational Initiatives at QF's Pre-University Education (PUE), Sheikha Noof Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani, said that Rasekh represents a practical pathway for advancing international education in Qatar.

It approaches educational quality from a broader perspective that extends beyond what students learn to encompass how they perceive themselves within the learning process and their connection to their language, environment, and values, she said.

What matters most, Sheikha Noof noted, is ensuring that the international education experience provides students with a firm foundation of belonging and confidence, enabling them to contribute to their communities and engage with the world with awareness and capability.

The forum also witnessed the launch of the Rasekh Framework and Accreditation Model, in addition to a presentation entitled "Rasekh Ecosystem: Resources and Initiatives", delivered by Mariam Al Hajri, Chief Executive Officer of Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships at QF's Pre-University Education.

A panel discussion brought together Farida Aboudan, Education Programme Specialist at the UNESCO Regional Office for the Gulf States and Yemen; Mary Tadros, Senior Manager for Development and Recognition for Africa, Europe and the Middle East at the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO); Fatima Hassan Fadlallah, Qatar Branch Manager at Cambridge University Press & Assessment; and Samia Beshara, Executive Director of Tarsheed Foundation.

The panelists underscored their institutions' support for bilingualism, curriculum localization, and the promotion of values within international education.

The IBO highlighted its longstanding support for multilingualism and learning in more than one language, noting that the Rasekh framework is closely aligned with its philosophy by connecting learning to the Arabic language, culture, heritage, values, and local context.

Cambridge University Press & Assessment noted that its programs incorporate flexible educational frameworks that enable schools to adapt content, utilize local examples, and integrate national language, culture, and social values without compromising international academic standards.

UNESCO emphasized the importance of its partnership with QF as a bridge between global knowledge and local expertise.

The partnership strengthens identity through bilingual education, reinforces belonging and social cohesion, safeguards cultural diversity, and broadens opportunities for families and local communities to participate in education while facilitating the transmission of traditional knowledge and cultural values.

The Rasekh framework is built upon four standards that translate its objectives into practical and measurable school-based practices.

These include strengthening Arabic as a language of identity, innovation, daily learning, and knowledge production; localizing curricula by aligning international standards and programs with local contexts and national priorities; embedding ethical and citizenship values within educational environments; and fostering both local and global innovation by transforming knowledge into impactful solutions and projects that address local challenges while remaining receptive to global trends.

In addition to QF schools, the inaugural cohort of Rasekh schools includes Al Maha Academy for Boys, Al Maha Academy for Girls, Al Jazeera Academy, Arab International Academy Doha, Arab International Academy Lusail, Al Baccalaureate School - Amman in Jordan, and Hossam Eddine Hariri High School in Lebanon.

The inaugural cohort is expected to contribute to the development of practical models that demonstrate how international schools can adopt the Rasekh framework to enhance educational quality, strengthen institutional identity, and improve student outcomes.

The Rasekh accreditation pathway consists of integrated stages, including application and institutional commitment, self-assessment, external review and evaluation, accreditation, and periodic reviews aimed at continuous improvement.

Schools that fulfill the framework's requirements will receive Rasekh accreditation certification, the right to use the Rasekh Quality Mark, and membership in the Rasekh Schools Network.

They will likewise benefit from sustained professional and educational support designed to deepen and reinforce the framework's long-term impact. (QNA)