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The Yidan Prize

Recognizing changemakers in education since 2017

The highest accolade in education

We recognize the brightest minds in education and build a community around them. A community that promotes collaboration, shares what works, and is as strong in research and testing as it is in practical application. That's why our prizes span two areas:

 

Education Research
Recognizing researchers whose work strengthens teaching and learning through a deeper understanding of learning sciences or effective education policy.

 

Education Development
Recognizing leaders who are advancing practice through innovative ideas and interventions that make quality education more accessible to all.

 

Each year, we award our laureates a gold medal, a cash prize of HK$15 million (shared equally for teams), and a project fund of HK$15 million to help them scale up their work.

 

We welcome all nominations; our process is open to everyone. You don’t need to be invited to nominate a team or individual for either the Education Research or Education Development prize.

 

Find out more about making a nomination for the Yidan Prize.

Our independent Judging Committee

Our judges put the 'prize' into Yidan Prize Foundation: they go through each nomination carefully, analyze the entries, and decide on our laureates. There are two panels — one for each prize — both overseen by our Chairman.

Meet the judges

What our judges look for

We are looking for detailed evidence that the nominee(s)’ research output is original, creative, and ground-breaking in that it

 

  • offers new frameworks, methods, and data that advance our understanding of how to improve the quality, effectiveness, and equity of teaching and learning
  • engages with new topics in education that can inform potential policy areas for improving education outcomes broadly
  • uses a fresh approach to examining persistent obstacles to educational development, such as by using a multi-disciplinary research approach.

We are looking for detailed evidence that the nominee(s)’ research output:

 

  • has influenced the way other researchers in the regional or global community undertake their research
  • has sparked research and policy change in some settings — and could spread to many more
  • examines one or more of the critical challenges facing students and educational institutions, contributing to the knowledge and understanding of changemakers about how to improve education systems and advance educational development
  • meets the global bar for high-quality scientific method.

We are looking for detailed evidence that it the nominee(s)’ research output:

 

  • has developed new evidence and new methods that other researchers can use to upgrade their own research
  • is widely recognized by other education researchers as major contributions to improving how education can shape society for the better
  • has developed the skills of other researchers, especially younger ones, who can advance the quality of education research
  • has influenced the mindset of the global education community — researchers, policymakers, and other stakeholders — in looking for solutions
  • has a strong potential to create the kind of long-lasting change that improves the education system and makes the world better.

We are looking for detailed evidence that the nominee(s)’ research output:

 

  • identifies and examines the most important issues and challenges that education communities in the region and around the world will be facing in the future
  • understands and recognizes the obstacles that education changemakers will need to address in the future
  • ensures that education is meaningful and relevant in a changing world, and builds skills for the future (e.g. critical thinking, digital literacy, adaptability, collaboration)
  • identifies the costs of not addressing education’s greatest issues for the future development of the world.

Final considerations

What are the nominee(s)’ future research plans?

  • What are the plan’s key areas of focus?
  • What are the plan’s expected impacts?
  • What do the nominee(s) hope to achieve in three years?

You can find a full breakdown and more information about how to nominate an individual or team in our nomination guide.

 

Download it in English, French, Portuguese, Simplified Chinese, and Spanish.

More to explore
Our global community
We make greater, faster progress together. That's why we’re bringing people closer together, so we can speak with a shared voice on issues that matter in education.
MEET OUR COMMUNITY
Our laureates
The Yidan Prize laureates are individuals and teams who have made significant contributions to improving education quality and expanding access to learning.
Meet the changemakers

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