Developing an ideas bank of impactful education initiatives
Ideas for change
Learning is essential for society and the world to progress. The Yidan Prize was founded on the belief that education promotes well-being and should be available to everyone.
We aim to bring that closer to reality by supporting exceptional initiatives and collaborations in learning and education.

Africa Fellows in Education Program
Putting evidence at the heart of education policy in Africa
Africa Fellows in Education Program
Putting evidence at the heart of education policy in Africa
Quality education underpins global development. And quality evidence leads to sound policy and systems. This program aims to build a network of researchers across sub-Saharan Africa, strengthening research capacity and evidence-based policy making in Africa.
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‘Leap forward’ through early years
Building strong foundations for future learning
‘Leap forward’ through early years
Building strong foundations for future learning
Dr Rukmini Banerji uses the Yidan Prize project funds to drive Pratham’s early childhood programs. Their goal is to help children receive quality early learning, reducing the need for catch-up interventions down the road.
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PhET Global: STEM Education for All
Increasing the access to and quality of science education
PhET Global: STEM Education for All
Increasing the access to and quality of science education
Professor Carl Wieman uses prize funds to expand the global impact of PhET Interactive Simulations, and establish a global, scalable model for impacting education in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). This project addresses a grand challenge facing nations around the world: engaging and educating the next generation in STEM.
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The Learner Guide Hub
Enabling marginalized girls to attend school in sub-Saharan Africa
The Learner Guide Hub
Enabling marginalized girls to attend school in sub-Saharan Africa
Ms Lucy Lake and Ms Angeline Murimirwa uses prize funds to accelerate CAMFED’s Learner Guide program. Their goal is to enable five million girls to attend secondary school in sub-Saharan Africa in five years’ time.
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OECD Growth Mindset workshop
A collaboration between Yidan Prize, OECD and Professor Carol S. Dweck
OECD Growth Mindset workshop
A collaboration between Yidan Prize, OECD and Professor Carol S. Dweck
This collaboration looks at how growth mindset can be effectively taught on a wider scale in advanced economies. The project builds on Professor Dweck’s research into growth mindset, and new PISA data that shows there has been no real improvement in learning outcomes for at least a decade. It seeks to understand where growth mindset practices do and do not work, and why.
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Play-based early childhood development programs
Creating high impact and scalable ECD solutions
Play-based early childhood development programs
Creating high impact and scalable ECD solutions
Sir Fazle Hasan Abed KCMG (April 1936 – December 2019) applies award funds to explore the possibilities of integrating technology in low resource settings, offering support to parents, and training to play leaders.
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Developmental language disorder research
Professor Usha Goswami applies award funds to reveal neural basis of DLD
Developmental language disorder research
Professor Usha Goswami applies award funds to reveal neural basis of DLD
Children with DLD have difficulties understanding and using spoken language for no obvious reasons, affecting how well they learn in schools. Worldwide, over 15 million children are affected by this disorder. This project aims to be the first in the world to reveal the neural basis of DLD, by collecting matched neuroimaging and sensory data for DLD children via simple listening tasks.
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Synthesis in Educational Research
Professor Larry Hedges applies funds to develop the three strands of this project
Synthesis in Educational Research
Professor Larry Hedges applies funds to develop the three strands of this project
With the Yidan Prize funds, The Statistics for Evidence-Based Policy and Practice (STEPP) Center was founded in 2019 to facilitate collaboration between statisticians, researchers, policymakers and practitioners. The organisation focuses on using evidence to guide decisions, especially in education and applied social sciences.
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edX MicroBachelors programs
Professor Ananat Agarwal applies funds from the award to extend the scope of edX
edX MicroBachelors programs
Professor Ananat Agarwal applies funds from the award to extend the scope of edX
Designed to be a pathway to today’s top jobs, MicroBachelors programs offer a series of graduate level courses from leading universities. The programs provide comprehensive learning in a specific career field. Industry-leading employers recognize the courses for their real job relevance. The courses pave the way to a full master’s degree.
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The Escuela Nueva education model
Ms Vicky Colbert applies the award to match the funds needed to implement the Escuela Nueva education model
The Escuela Nueva education model
Ms Vicky Colbert applies the award to match the funds needed to implement the Escuela Nueva education model
The Yidan Prize funds are used by Ms Vicky Colbert to support the strategic developments of FEN, focusing on two main initiatives including providing matching funds to implement the EN model in Colombia, and developing specific activities for internal Research & Development initiatives.
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