Yidan Prize

{{Short description|Global education research and development award}}

{{Infobox award

| name = Yidan Prize

| previous_awards =

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| image = Yidan Prize Medals.jpg

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| alt = Four gold-coloured medals, two showing obverse, two reverse, dated 2017. The layout of the medal for "Education Development" is mirrored for the "Education research" medal. On the former a person stands looking at a pine tree. On the latter, they sit beneath it.

| image_caption = Yidan Prize medals

| type =

| awarded_for = Contributions to education research and development

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| country = Global

| ribbon =

| obverse = A human figure and a pine tree growing from a mountain rock, with the words "Yidan Prize"

| reverse = The words "Education Research" or "Education Development", the winner's name and the year

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| firstawarded = {{Start date|2017}}

| total_awarded = 16

| total_recipients = 19

| website = {{Official URL}}

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The Yidan Prize (/i:dan/) is an annual award founded in 2016 by Chen Yidan for "contributions to education research and development". The prize is financed and governed by a {{currency|2.5 billion|HKD|passthrough=yes}} (about US$320 million) independent trust.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-38639891|title=Chinese billionaire offers biggest education prize - BBC|work=BBC News |date=18 January 2017 |access-date=2017-09-22}}{{Cite web|date=2017-12-10|title=Carol Dweck and Vicky Colbert win largest education prize|url=https://ie-today.co.uk/news/carol-dweck-and-vicky-colbert-win-largest-education-prize/|access-date=2021-04-19|website=Independent Education Today}}{{Cite news|url=https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/chinese-billionaire-seeks-ideas-from-canadian-universities-for-education-prize/article33469746|title=Chinese billionaire seeks ideas from Canadian universities for education prize - The Globe and Mail|newspaper=The Globe and Mail|date=2 January 2017 |access-date=2017-09-22}}{{Cite web|url=https://news.mit.edu/2016/yidan-prize-for-education-research-and-development-announced-1031|title=Yidan Prize for Education Research and Education Development announced at MIT - MIT News|website=www.news.mit.edu.com|access-date=2017-09-22}} It is a global, inclusive education award which recognizes changemakers who inspire progress in education for a better world, and has been referred to as the largest education prize on Earth.{{Cite web|last=Newton|first=Derek|title=The Largest Education Prize On Earth|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/dereknewton/2020/12/22/yidan-the-largest-education-prize-on-earth/|access-date=2021-09-28|website=Forbes }}

Prizes

File:Yidan Prize Summit 2017.jpg

The Yidan Prizes consist of a gold medal designed by ink-brush artist {{ill|Kan Tai-Keung|qid=Q8976292}},{{cite web |last1= |title=Have you seen the Yidan Prize medals? |url=https://www.instagram.com/yidanprize/reel/CwzQ59Khlcw/ |publisher=Yidan Prize Foundation |access-date=7 May 2025}} a cash prize of {{currency|15 million|HKD|passthrough=yes}} and a project fund of HK$15 million to each of the winners or winning teams, one for education research, the other for education development. It is supported by a US$320 million endowment.{{Cite news|url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/stanford-professor-wins-inaugural-4-million-yidan-prize|title=Stanford professor wins inaugural $4 million Yidan Prize|date=2017-09-19|work=Times Higher Education|access-date=2017-09-21}} Prizes are awarded at the annual Yidan Prize Awards Presentation Ceremony in conjunction with an education conference.

Adjudication process

Nominations may be submitted by universities, government agencies, and think tanks{{Cite news|date=2017-01-18|title=Chinese billionaire offers biggest education prize|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-38639891|access-date=2021-04-19}} and are reviewed by a committee involving Kōichirō Matsuura, Andreas Schleicher and Dorothy Gordon.{{Cite web|date=2016-06-13|title=2030 vision: 5 ways the world's educators must adapt to the new machine age|url=https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/1974288/2030-vision-5-ways-worlds-educators-must-adapt-new-machine-age|access-date=2021-04-19|website=South China Morning Post}}

Laureates

Two awards are given each year, one for education research, the other for education development.

{{-}}

= Education Research =

class="wikitable"

|+ Laureates for Education Research

YearLaureate

!Image

Notes
2017Carol S. Dweck150pxThe award ceremony took place during December 2017 in Hong Kong.{{Cite news |url=https://news.stanford.edu/2017/09/19/stanford-psychologist-recognized-4-million-prize/ |title=Stanford psychologist recognized with $4 million prize |last=University |first=Stanford |date=2017-09-19 |work=Stanford News |access-date=2018-08-14}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/russellflannery/2017/12/10/stanford-columbia-educators-win-first-yidan-prizes-from-tencent-co-founder/#6087bae0163a |title=Stanford, Colombia Educators Win Tencent Co-Founder's First Yidan Prizes |last=Flannery|first=Russell |work=Forbes |access-date=2018-08-14}}
2018Anant Agarwal150px{{Cite web |title=It's Time for Colleges to Stop Overlooking Hispanic Adults |url=https://www.chronicle.com/article/It-s-Time-for-Colleges-to/244539 |access-date=2021-04-19 |website= Chronicle.com}}{{Cite web |title=Anant Agarwal, MIT professor and edX CEO, wins Yidan Prize |url=https://news.mit.edu/2018/anant-agarwal-mit-professor-edx-ceo-wins-yidan-prize-0918 |access-date=2021-04-19 |website=MIT News |publisher=Massachusetts Institute of Technology}}{{Cite web |last=Pao |first=Jeff |date=2018-09-17 |title=Yidan Prizes announced for supporters of education sector |url=https://asiatimes.com/2018/09/yidan-prizes-announced-for-supporters-of-education-sector/ |access-date=2021-04-19|website=Asia Times }}
2019Usha Goswami

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{{cite web|url=https://www.techlearning.com/news/2019-yidan-prize-laureates-announced |title=Yidan Prize Laureates Announced |work=Tech & Learning |date=September 19, 2019}}
2020Carl Wieman150pxAmerican physicist, for his work in STEM education and for his research-based improvements to university teaching and the transformation of how science is taught in major universities. When awarded the prize, Wieman stated:

{{blockquote|I am thrilled and honored to have the work of my research group recognized in this way. This prize will accelerate our efforts to improve education for students throughout the world.}}

2021Eric A. Hanushek150pxPaul and Jean Hanna Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution of Stanford University
2022Linda Darling-Hammond150px{{cite web |url=https://yidanprize.org/global-community/laureates/ |title=Yidan Prize laureates |publisher=Yidan Prize Foundation |date=November 23, 2012}}
2023Michelene Chi

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{{cite web |title=Our laureates |url=https://yidanprize.org/laureates |publisher=Yidan Prize Foundation |access-date=23 April 2025}}
2024Wolfgang Lutz150px

= Education Development =

class="wikitable"

|+ Laureates in Education Development

YearLaureate

!Image

Notes
2017Vicky Colbert150pxThe award ceremony took place during December 2017 in Hong Kong.
2018Larry Hedges{{Cite news |date=2018-09-15 |title=The Billionaire Who Quit Tencent to Pledge His Money to Teachers |work=Bloomberg.com |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-09-15/the-billionaire-who-quit-tencent-to-pledge-his-money-to-teachers |access-date=2021-04-19}}{{Cite web|title=Yidan Prize names 2018 laureates|url=https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/education/yidan-prize-names-2018-laureates-1537173830|access-date=2021-04-19|website=The Financial Express}}
2019Fazle Hasan150px
2020{{Plainlist|

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Both from Camfed, a Non-governmental organization (NGO) that seeks to eradicate poverty in Africa through the education of girls and the empowerment of young women, were awarded the prize for their contributions to education for girls and education development in Sub-Saharan Africa.{{Cite web |title=Meet Yidan Prize 2020 Laureates |url=https://observatory.tec.mx/edu-news/2020-yidan-prize-laureates |access-date=2021-12-24 |publisher=Institute for the Future of Education |date=October 2020 }} Lucy Lake, CEO of the NGO stated:

{{blockquote|This Prize brings a spotlight to the power of our growing movement led by young women who are the experts on what it takes for the most marginalized girls to succeed. Together, we will launch our ambition to support five million girls in school, and it will be game-changing.}}

2021Rukmini Banerji

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CEO of Pratham Education Foundation.{{Cite web|date=2021-09-28|title=Meet the 2021 Yidan Prize Laureates|url=https://yidanprize.org/resource-center/news/2021-yidan-prize-announcement/|access-date=2021-09-28|website=Yidan Prize Foundation}}
2022Yongxin Zhu

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2023Shai Reshef150px
2024{{Plainlist|

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all of War Child Alliance.

Worldwide "Educating for the Future" Index

In 2017 the Yidan Prize Foundation released a Worldwide "Educating for the Future" Index{{Cite web|date=2017-10-20|title=Future not so bright in index|url=https://www.thestandard.com.hk/section-news/section/4/187659/Future-not-so-bright-in-index|website=www.thestandard.com.hk}} (researched by the Economist Intelligence Unit){{Cite web|title=New Zealand is world-leading in preparing students for the future » Education NZ|url=https://enz.govt.nz/news-and-research/ed-news/new-zealand-is-world-leading-in-preparing-students-for-the-future/|access-date=2021-04-19|website=enz.govt.nz}} comparing the education in 35 developed and developing economies (ranking by 16 indicators of education policy, "teaching environment" and "socio-economic environment"),{{Cite news|url=http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/edtechresearcher/2017/10/a_blueprint_for_the_future_of_education_-_the_worldwide_educating_for_the_future_index.html|title=The Worldwide Educating for the Future Index - A Blueprint for Change|newspaper=Education Week|date=24 October 2017 |access-date=2017-10-27 |last1=Holland |first1=Beth }} placing New Zealand and Canada in the top two places.{{Cite web|date=2017-09-19|title=New Zealand 'top in world' for preparing students for future|url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/new-zealand-top-world-preparing-students-future|access-date=2021-04-19|website=Times Higher Education (THE)|language=en}}

References