QCERD hosted Australian educational expert, Steve Payne, in August. Payne participated in the formerly mentioned workshop on "Mantle of the Expert", led by British expert Luke Abbott, at the Palestinian Red Crescent Society in Al Bireh. He also oversaw a workshop entitled "The School as a Centre of Society”, and conducted a workshop on “School as a Centre for Social Projects” in which he described cultural development within society. In the context of his work on a partnership project between Palestine and Australia in the areas of arts, education and society, Payne held several meetings with institution directors and university professors. He also visited the Teacher’s Centre in Ni’lin village, where teacher Yousef Khawaja briefed him on the objectives and activities of the centre.