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Future Education: Building Resilience at the Yidan Prize Summit 2024

The 2024 Yidan Prize Summit took place in Hong Kong on December 9, under the theme "Future Education: The Key Role of Resilience." The summit gathered researchers, policymakers, philanthropists, and educational leaders from around the globe to discuss innovative strategies for enhancing resilience in rapidly changing educational landscapes.

Understanding Resilience in Education

Dr. Charles CHEN Yidan, founder of the Yidan Prize, articulated the significance of resilience, stating, "In a world where civilization and technology intertwine, resilience stems from hope. Hope drives us toward better lives, fulfilling our potential, and never giving up." He emphasized the necessity of resilience in education, arguing that resilient individuals contribute to robust economies and thriving societies.

Alicia Herbert, the UK’s Director of Education, Gender, and Equality, delivered a keynote address stressing the importance of systematically fostering resilience in education to prepare for an uncertain future. "Quality research shows how to improve educational outcomes for students from low-income backgrounds. It is essential to ensure that these interventions are grounded in government systems for long-term, large-scale impact," she proclaimed. Collaboration among individuals, teachers, and the educational framework is crucial for driving sustainable transformative change.

Key Discussions on Educational Resilience

During the summit, Professor Zongkai Yang from Wuhan University of Technology discussed an AI-based learning model. He highlighted that AI can support teachers in collaborative teaching, data analysis, and problem-solving, offering learners expanded opportunities to acquire future-ready skills.

Three critical panel discussions delved into the role of resilience in education from the perspectives of students, educators, and systemic frameworks:
1. Empowering Students: Resilience involves equipping students with the skills to thrive within co-constructed systems. Encouraging dialogue with learners, leveraging new digital platforms, and fostering out-of-class learning environments are fundamental for effective engagement.
2. Enhancing Teacher Resilience: Resilience increases with teacher confidence, autonomy, and competencies. Former New South Wales Education Minister Adrian Piccoli discussed engaging teachers in educational reform and underscored the need for supportive environments that nurture teachers’ emotional and social potential.
3. Integrating Perspectives for Educational Systems: Merging research, policy, and practice is vital for creating resilient educational systems. Dr. Becky Telford from the UNHCR and other panelists stressed engaging marginalized groups in developing effective educational solutions, particularly in addressing public health and environmental challenges.

Yidan Prize Winners and Their Contributions

The summit also highlighted the achievements of 2024 Yidan Prize laureates, including Professor Wolfgang Lutz and the War Child Alliance members. Wolfgang emphasized education as a tool for enhancing climate change resilience, stating that combating climate changes necessitates investing in human capital to foster adaptive capabilities. The War Child Alliance representatives noted their program "Can't Wait to Learn" improves access to quality education for students affected by conflict and climate changes, fostering resilience by offering a sense of normalcy.

Conclusion: Collective Responsibility for Education

In closing the summit, Lucy Lake, Director of Global Engagement at the Yidan Prize Foundation, summed up the essential link between education and resilience: "Education is key to fostering resilience on both individual and collective levels. However, we also need to ensure that education itself is resilient, which requires collective responsibility and adequate public funding."

The Yidan Prize continues to stand as a beacon for innovation in education, inviting nominations for transformative educational creators until March 31, 2025. More information can be found at Yidan Prize website along with updates on their initiatives through their social media channels.