Time is running out to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Innovation is driving society forward faster than ever. Complex global challenges are deepening the learning crisis. The way we teach and learn must catch up. A philanthropic foundation takes the charge by spotlighting innovative solutions that can shape and transform education.

The Global Business Coalition for Education estimates that by 2030 half of all young people across the world, more than 800mn in total, will not have the basic skills necessary for the workforce. Failing to prepare all learners for the pressing needs of the future could widen existing education gaps. Challenges ranging from conflict to climate change disrupt learning and deepen the global learning crisis. Education must transform to ensure effective, equitable teaching and learning. Unesco estimates school drop-out and education gaps will cost the global economy up to $10tn per annum by 2030. That is the deadline — just five years away — for achieving SDG4: to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.

To build a better future, the Hong Kong-based Yidan Prize Foundation amplifies the most innovative and impactful ideas in the theory and practice of education through its annual award, the Yidan Prize — the world’s highest accolade in education.

This year, the Yidan Prize goes to Professor Wolfgang Lutz of the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis in Austria and the team behind Can’t Wait to Learn, an evidence-based intervention developed by the War Child Alliance, represented by Professor Mark Jordans, Marwa Zahr and Luke Stannard. They are recognised for their innovative work in elevating the role of education in global sustainable development through demographic research and advancing education in emergencies through equitable technology.

“As the world evolves, so must education. The Yidan Prize champions changemakers and innovative solutions that advance education in a rapidly changing world. The exceptional achievements of our 2024 laureates are critical in preparing the next generations for an uncertain future,” says Dr. Charles Chen Yidan, philanthropist and founder of the Yidan Prize.

Transformative ideas in action

The 2024 laureates’ work addresses some of the major factors behind the global learning crisis, including shrinking education budgets and inequitable access to learning opportunities.

Wolfgang Lutz was awarded the 2024 Yidan Prize for Education Research for statistically showing the long-term benefits of near-term investment in education. Regarded as one of the world’s leading demographers, Lutz has created new assessments of education’s impact on sustainable development goals, including health, economic growth, gender equity and climate resilience.

One of the most impactful applications of his approach has been in introducing education as a key variable in climate change analysis, showing that better education enhances adaptive capacity to climate change.

Lutz plans to use the Yidan Prize funding to establish two research centres in partnership with the University of Cape Town in South Africa and the Chulalongkorn University in Thailand. Respectively, the centres will train statisticians in Africa to support policy decision-making and conduct studies on the role of education in enhancing disaster preparedness and climate resilience in coastal areas.

“Education is the bedrock for human progress. My research seeks to provide evidence for policy makers globally to understand the multiplier effect of education for a sustainable future. With Yidan Prize’s project funds, I hope to support building research capacity in Africa and Asia and spotlight education as the key to enhancing resilience,” says Lutz.

The team from War Child Alliance, represented by Mark Jordans, Marwa Zahr and Luke Stannard, was awarded the 2024 Yidan Prize for Education Development for using technology to widen educational access for over 205,000 marginalised children through their intervention, Can’t Wait To Learn.

In line with national curricula, Can’t Wait to Learn uses digital technology to deliver quality education to children in conflict-affected and resource-constrained settings in eight countries and regions: Chad, Lebanon, northeast Syria, Uganda, Ukraine, South Sudan, Sudan, and Jordan. Children taking part in the intervention learn to read and count at their own pace using tablets, laptops and mobile phones. The cost-effective platform is proven to build foundational literacy and numeracy skills. Notably, the team co-designs content with children and educators to make sure the games are culturally relevant and accessible. The team plans to use the Yidan Prize funds to scale, test and optimise the intervention based on evidence from research and implementation experience.

“Technology can be transformative for children learning in some of the world’s most challenging environments,” says the team in a statement. “The Yidan Prize encourages us in our belief that innovative, iterative and evidence-based approaches can be a major tool for positive change, and will help us meet our goal to reach over 500,000 marginalised children by the end of 2028.”

Uniting to reimagine education

Fostering a powerful network of dedicated innovators is vital for driving change at scale. To date, the Yidan Prize Foundation has awarded a total of HK$480mn ($61.6mn) to recognise and support its laureates, half of which (HK$240mn, approximately $30.8mn) is an unrestricted project fund for laureates to expand their work in over 50 countries.

The 2024 Yidan Prize laureates point to avenues for transformation. There is no more important time to join forces to lift the world to a more sustainable future — and everyone can play a role. Educators, researchers, policymakers, NGOs and communities must collaborate now to ensure the next generation has access to the opportunities and resources they need to thrive in the future.

“In times of complex global challenges, it is vital to recognise the critical need to put education at the centre of global development. By bridging innovative research and proven practices to address education needs, we move closer to achieving the UN’s SDG4,” says Lucy Lake, director of global engagement at the Yidan Prize Foundation.

This article originally appeared on Financial Times 26 September 2024. No endorsement by Financial Times is implied.