#Hong Kong #Yidan Prize #Paul W. Glewwe #Reach Up

Yidan Prize 2026 Recognizes Pioneers in Educational Transformation

On September 4, 2026, the Yidan Prize Foundation held a press conference in Hong Kong to announce the laureates of the Yidan Prize 2026. Celebrating its tenth anniversary, the prize aims to acknowledge and support change-makers in the field of education from around the globe. This year, the jury, chaired by Andreas Schleicher, Director of Education and Skills at OECD, selected notable individuals for their groundbreaking contributions to education at the crossroads of health, nutrition, and economics.

Award Winners and Their Contributions

Paul W. Glewwe

Professor Paul W. Glewwe was honored with the Yidan Prize for Educational Research. Renowned for his extensive research, he has effectively demonstrated how childhood education outcomes impact socioeconomic, health, and nutritional factors beyond traditional school inputs. His pioneering work involved the integration of literacy, math, and abstract reasoning indicators into the World Bank's household surveys, significantly aiding policymakers in understanding the nexus of poverty, inequality, and education. Glewwe has also been at the forefront of employing randomized controlled trials to assess educational program efficacy, guiding governments to direct resources toward approaches that demonstrably enhance learning outcomes. His insights have influenced educational policy and practice across more than 15 developing countries.

Susan P. Walker, Sally Grantham-McGregor, and Susan M. Chang-Lopez

The Yidan Prize for Educational Development was awarded to Professors Susan P. Walker, Sally Grantham-McGregor, and Dr. Susan M. Chang-Lopez for their impactful early childhood intervention program, Reach Up. Focused on enhancing caregiver stimulation in the critical early years (0-4 years), the project leverages low-cost, culturally adaptable activities rooted in daily routines to empower caregivers. The program, now operational in over 21 countries across the Caribbean, Latin America, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, aims to build caregivers’ knowledge and confidence, fostering cognitive development in children. The materials for Reach Up are freely accessible and regularly evaluated to ensure their effectiveness.

Financial Commitment and Past Achievements

Each laureate of the Yidan Prize will receive a total of 30 million Hong Kong dollars (approximately 3.8 million US dollars), which includes a cash reward of 15 million Hong Kong dollars and an unrestricted project fund of the same amount to support their future work. Since its inception in 2017, the Yidan Prize Foundation has disbursed a total of 600 million Hong Kong dollars (around 77 million US dollars) to 25 laureates, promoting their work in nearly 60 countries and regions all over the world.

A Beacon for Global Education

Dr. Charles CHEN Yidan, the founder of the Yidan Prize, remarked, "Our laureates' work and collective influence have turned the Yidan Prize into a beacon that illuminates pathways forward in global education over the last decade. Each laureate strengthens this commitment, bringing groundbreaking ideas and expanding the ways we shape the future of education."

An Upcoming Summit for Innovation

The laureates will participate in the Yidan Prize Summit from December 3 to 5, 2026. Building on last year's discussions about the future of education's role as a catalyst for thriving ecosystems, this summit will delve into how education can function as a powerful driver for human connectivity and deep learning in the AI era. During this event, the laureates will receive their awards in a celebratory ceremony.

Conclusion

The Yidan Prize not only brings recognition to these inspiring individuals but also emphasizes the critical importance of innovation and evidence-based practices in education. The work of the 2026 laureates embodies the essence of transformative education that seeks to reshape lives and communities for the better. As the submission window for nominations for the Yidan Prize 2027 opens from October 27, 2026, to March 2, 2027, the foundation continues to search globally for individuals whose contributions may lead to significant changes in the educational landscape.

For more information about the Yidan Prize and its laureates, please visit yidanprize.org.