Exploring Future-Oriented Education: Resilience at Yidan Prize 2024 Summit

On December 9, 2024, the Yidan Prize Foundation held its annual summit in Hong Kong, which served as a critical platform for discussing the future of education under the theme "Education for the Future: The Core Role of Resilience." This summit brought together researchers, policymakers, philanthropists, and education leaders from around the globe, aiming to exchange innovative ideas to foster resilience in an ever-evolving landscape.

Resilience in Education

At the heart of the discussions was the concept of resilience, eloquently introduced by Dr. Charles CHEN Yidan, the founder of the Yidan Prize. In his opening remarks, he emphasized that resilience embodies hope in today's world, where advancement is often accompanied by conflicts and collaborations. He asserted that resilient individuals contribute to resilient economies and thriving societies, underscoring education's pivotal role in building such resilience.

Alicia Herbert, the Director of Education, Gender and Equality, and Special Envoy for Gender Equality at the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, delivered a keynote speech where she stressed the need for systemic approaches to nurture resilience in education, particularly in preparing students for uncertain futures. She highlighted the existing quality research that supports the improvement of educational outcomes, especially for low-income students, and called for sustainable incorporation of these interventions into governmental systems.

The Role of Artificial Intelligence

Professor Zongkai Yang, President of Wuhan University of Technology, illustrated the integration of artificial intelligence into education. He explained how AI not only supports educators in teaching and data analysis but also equips students with enhanced skill development, preparing them for future challenges.

During the summit, three panel discussions explored resilience from the perspectives of students, educators, and educational systems. Key insights included:

1. Empowering Students: Resilience means equipping students with skills to thrive in collaboratively created systems. Engaging students through dialogue, leveraging digital platforms, and fostering out-of-class learning environments are crucial for enhancing student engagement and resilient mindsets.

2. Supporting Educators: Resilience among educators flourishes when they have confidence, autonomy, and active engagement. Discussions highlighted the necessity of creating supportive environments that build teachers' emotional and social capabilities, enabling them to envision and take on greater roles in education.

3. Integrative Solutions: For educational systems to be resilient, it's essential to connect research, policy, and practice. Dr. Becky Telford from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and her co-panelists stressed the importance of involving marginalized groups, such as refugees, in developing effective solutions. They emphasized integrating education with public health and environmental efforts.

Highlighted Innovations and Future Directions

The summit included informal discussions with this year’s Yidan Prize laureates, such as Professor Wolfgang Lutz and members from the War Child Alliance. They shared insights on the role of education in fostering climate resilience and enhancing well-being in conflict-affected regions. Notably, the War Child Alliance’s “Can’t Wait to Learn” initiative not only expands access to quality education for students impacted by conflict and climate change but also improves their well-being and resilience by restoring a sense of normalcy and hope for the future.

At the closing of the summit, Lucy Lake, Director of Global Engagement at the Yidan Prize Foundation, encapsulated the relationship between education and resilience. She stated that education is crucial in fostering resilience both at individual and societal levels. However, she also insisted that education itself must be resilient and sustainable, requiring collective responsibility and adequate public funding.

The Road Ahead

The Yidan Prize 2024 awards ceremony on December 8 honored the laureates for their exceptional contributions to ensuring equitable and quality education across diverse contexts. As we look forward, nominations for the Yidan Prize 2025 are open until March 31, 2025. Those interested in learning more about this prestigious opportunity or nominating change-makers in education can visit the Yidan Prize website.

The Yidan Prize Foundation, through its initiatives, continues to aim for a better world through education, supporting innovative ideas and practices that meaningfully transform lives and society.