Every year, we’re honored to recognize the brilliant work of people who are raising the bar for education—which moves us all towards a better world. We’re delighted to introduce our 2023 Yidan Prize laureates.

Professor Michelene (Micki) Chi, 2023 Yidan Prize for Education Research

Shai Reshef, 2023 Yidan Prize for Education Development

This year, our independent Judging Committee chose two individuals who are creating opportunities for learners to fulfil their potential: through supporting teachers with a framework to encourage active learning in the classroom, and by opening pathways to higher education through flexible, low-cost, accredited programs.

Micki’s work repeatedly puts perceived wisdom to the test—deepening our understanding of how students learn and how best to build classroom practice around them. For decades, she’s analyzed, organized, and synthesized theories of teaching and learning. Based on that, her groundbreaking ICAP framework offers educators a robust structure for fostering critical and creative thinking from foundation stages to further education.

Shai founded University of the People: a US-based, tuition-free, non-profit, accredited online university. Open to all, University of the People lowers financial, geographical, cultural, and political barriers to quality higher education and unlocks the employment opportunities that follow. Since its launch, enrolment has grown to over 137,000 students globally. Many of them are from areas where demand for university places far outstrips supply, and 16,500 are refugees.

Hear from the Chairman of our Judging Committee, Dr Koichiro Matsuura

And learn more from our press release here.