Challenges such as equity and quality have always been present in education, said Dorothy K. Gordon, head of the judging panel for the Yidan Prize for Education Development, and board member at the UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education. She talked about the need to transform education and ensure no one is left behind. “And we have new challenges that are coming up because we recognize that the job market has shifted so much. We need to transform education, if we're going to build the kind of society that we want.”
“The Yidan Prize is exceptional because for the first time we're putting a spotlight on education, and the difference that can make for development overall,” said Gordon. “We're rewarding those people so that people pay attention to the way they have worked.”
She explained that the prize is awarded to those making a transformative impact in education — people who are passionate and committed, have a systematic approach, and who recognize the power of partnerships and networks in order to make a difference.
Awarded annually, the Yidan Prize recognizes individuals or teams who have contributed significantly to education research and development. Laureates receive a total sum of 30 million Hong Kong dollars — around $3.9 million. Half of the sum is a project fund, supporting the laureates to scale up their work.
Speaking to Devex, Gordon explained the pressing challenges in education and why a prize recognizing change-makers in education development is so important. She also shared what the judges are looking for in a strong nomination and encouraged people with truly innovative and transformative solutions to apply.
Do you know a change-maker in education development? Nominations for the 2023 Yidan Prize are open and will close on March 31. Learn more at https://yidanprize.org/
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