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Yidan Prize 2026: Spotlight on Education and Healthcare Innovators

The Yidan Prize Foundation, a significant philanthropic entity, made headlines today as it unveiled the laureates of the Yidan Prize 2026 at a press conference held in Hong Kong. This year marks the tenth anniversary of the award, which has been pivotal in recognizing efforts to transform education globally. The distinguished jury, led by Andreas Schleicher, the Director of Education and Skills at the OECD, has selected Professor Paul W. Glewwe as the recipient of the 2026 Yidan Prize in the Education Research category.

Professor Glewwe has been honored for his groundbreaking work in breaking down barriers to learning. He has developed effective policies and interventions grounded in rigorous research that aim to support the potential of children from vulnerable communities, paving the way for a healthier and more prosperous future for them. Alongside him, the Yidan Prize for Education Development has been awarded to Professor Susan P. Walker, Professor Sally Grantham-McGregor, and Dr. Susan M. Chang-Lopez. They have been recognized for creating an evidence-based early childhood model influencing child development and further life prospects, especially in resource-limited settings, amongst displaced individuals, and in indigenous communities.

Significance of the Awards

Each recipient of the Yidan Prize is awarded 30 million HKD (approximately 3.8 million USD), which includes a monetary prize of 15 million HKD and an additional 15 million HKD for project funds that will further their work and enhance their reach. Since its inception in 2017, the Yidan Prize Foundation has awarded a total of 600 million HKD (around 77 million USD) to 25 laureates, supporting their initiatives in nearly 60 countries and regions.

According to Dr. Charles Chen Yidan, the founder of the Yidan Prize, "The actions of our laureates and the impact of their efforts over the past decade have made the Yidan Prize a benchmark for educational development globally. Each successive laureate brings new ideas to this mission, demonstrating further ways to shape the future of education."

Yidan Prize honors individuals whose work is future-oriented, innovative, transformative, and sustainable. Nominations for the Yidan Prize 2027 will open from October 27, 2026, to March 2, 2027.

Pioneering Research on Education and Its Impact

Professor Paul W. Glewwe, from the University of Minnesota, has received the 2026 Yidan Prize in education research for showcasing how socio-economic, health, and nutritional factors extend beyond traditional school conditions and significantly influence children's academic outcomes. His influential work has enhanced the understanding of the connections between poverty, inequalities, and education, playing a crucial role in introducing reading, numeracy, and abstract reasoning indicators into World Bank household surveys.

By integrating randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to assess the effectiveness of educational programs and policies, he has aided governments and development organizations in steering resources towards solutions that have been verified to improve learning outcomes. Moreover, he was among the first economists to incorporate social-emotional competencies into economic analyses of education and development. His pioneering research spanning over 15 developing countries has significantly impacted educational policy and practice worldwide.

Dr. Elizabeth M. King, the chair of the jury for the Yidan Prize in Education Research, emphasized the importance of Glewwe’s contributions, asserting, "Transforming education systems and outcomes is achievable when unyielding scientific rigor combines with a strong desire to improve people's lives. For nearly 40 years, Paul Glewwe has exemplified this uncompromising stance. He has equipped governments with evidence necessary for prudent spending, provided teachers with tools for more effective instruction, and granted millions of children from vulnerable communities the opportunity to learn, develop, and escape the trap of intergenerational poverty."

Advancing Early Childhood Development

The 2026 Yidan Prize in Education Development awarded to Professors Susan P. Walker, Sally Grantham-McGregor, and Dr. Susan M. Chang-Lopez honors their work on Reach Up – an evidence-based early childhood intervention. Starting their academic careers with a focus on health and nutrition, they have recognized the crucial role of early stimulation and good caregiver interactions in child development and their future outcomes. This insight has allowed them to devise practical solutions enabling caregivers to provide appropriate stimulation for children aged 0 to 4.

Reach Up employs low-cost activities embedded in daily routines that are adaptable to local cultures. The program fosters caregivers’ knowledge, skills, and confidence in communicating, playing, and responding to support children’s cognitive development. It is currently implemented in over 21 countries across the Caribbean, Latin America, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, integrated within existing health, social service, educational, and humanitarian frameworks. The curriculum and materials for Reach Up are freely available, and the program is continuously evaluated and adapted to enhance its effectiveness.

Dorothy K. Gordon, the chair of the jury for the Yidan Prize in Education Development, noted how the laureates have contributed to early childhood education: "Reach Up provides children with a greater chance for an equitable start in learning, education, and life. The awardees have demonstrated that sustainable change is achievable through the combination of scientific evidence, partnerships, and local leadership. The extensive global impact of their work arises from the quality and rigor of groundbreaking, interdisciplinary research coupled with a suite of well-designed interventions."

Yidan Prize Summit 2026: Looking to the Future of Learning

The 2026 laureates will partake in a three-day dialogue at the Yidan Prize Summit taking place in Hong Kong from December 3 to 5, 2026. Following last year’s discussion regarding education’s future, this year's summit will highlight the ongoing transformation of education as not merely a location but as a driving force for well-functioning ecosystems reliant on human relationships, creation, and deep learning in the age of AI. The ceremony for the Yidan Prize 2026 will occur on the final day of the summit.

For media inquiries, images of the Yidan Prize 2026 laureates and jury members are available for download [here]. The complete justification from Dr. Elizabeth M. King, chair of the jury in the education research category, and from Dorothy K. Gordon, chair of the jury in the education development category, can be found on the Yidan Prize Foundation's official website.

Founded in 2016, the Yidan Prize Foundation aims to create a better world through education, forming a global community of change-makers – researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and philanthropists – working collaboratively to promote shared standards of excellence, co-create future directions in the field, and accelerate large-scale transformations.