#Hong Kong #Yidan Prize #Uri Wilensky #Mamadou Ly

The Yidan Prize 2025: Celebrating Visionaries in Education

On September 29, 2025, the Yidan Prize Foundation, a prominent global charitable organization, unveiled the awardees for the Yidan Prize 2025. This year's prestigious honor was awarded to Professor Uri Wilensky and Mamadou Amadou Ly for their remarkable contributions towards enhancing literacy skills in complex systems and fostering multilingual education for children in developing regions.

A Commitment to Educational Innovation

The Yidan Prize is recognized as one of the highest accolades in the field of education, specifically aimed at individuals and groups whose work significantly impacts educational theory and practice. It seeks to reward innovative, transformative, and sustainable initiatives that can pave the way for future educational success.

Professor Wilensky, a distinguished scholar at Northwestern University, has been awarded the Yidan Prize for Education Research due to his groundbreaking work in agent-based modeling (ABM). His innovative programs aim to enhance understanding among students of complex phenomena—ranging from climate change to economic instability—by allowing them to construct models that illustrate the emergent patterns arising from interactions of individual agents. His free and open-source tool, NetLogo, is a testament to his commitment to providing resources that cater to diverse educational needs, bridging gaps across age groups and settings.

Mamadou Amadou Ly, the recipient of the Yidan Prize for Education Development, serves as the Executive Director of the Associates in Research and Education for Development (ARED). Under his leadership, ARED has developed effective bilingual education models that enhance core literacy skills among children both within school systems and beyond. His transformative methods emphasize instruction in languages that students already speak, alongside languages they are required to learn, thereby fostering a scalable approach to bilingual education across West and Central Africa.

Insights from the Awarding Committee

The independent judging committee for the Yidan Prize placed special emphasis on the need for innovative and scalable ideas in education, particularly in light of declining overall investment in educational development globally. Andreas Schleicher, chair of the Yidan Prize committee for educational research, praised Wilensky’s work for equipping students with the tools necessary to navigate complex, interconnected systems in today’s world, thereby increasing their confidence in tackling real-world problems.

In parallel, Dorothy Gordon, chair of the Yidan Prize committee for education development, underscored the significance of Mamadou Amadou Ly's efforts in promoting equity and inclusivity in education. She highlighted that his forward-thinking practices in multilingual education provide pathways to literacy and opportunities for learners worldwide while ensuring the maintenance of cultural and linguistic identities.

The Future of the Yidan Prize

The upcoming award ceremony is scheduled to take place on December 6, 2025, in Hong Kong, a fitting location for a celebration dedicated to global educational advancement. The annual Yidan Prize Summit will also convene on December 5-6 to further discuss innovative ideas shaping the future of education.

In addition to their accolades, both laureates will each receive HKD 30 million (approximately USD 3.8 million), half of which is an unrestricted project fund intended for the expansion and scaling of their educational initiatives.

The Yidan Prize Foundation continues to affirm its mission to enhance global education standards and promote life-changing educational practices. With a total of HKD 540 million (approximately USD 69.2 million) awarded since its inception, the foundation remains steadfast in recognizing the achievements of innovative educators and researchers in over 50 countries. Through fostering collaborative efforts and shared solutions, the Yidan Prize aims to illuminate pathways towards a brighter future for education worldwide.

For more detailed information and updates on the Yidan Prize, please visit the official website or follow their social media profiles on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.