UNESCO ICT in Education Prize 2020

Application Deadline: 18th December 2020

About the Award: Each year the Prize has a specific theme to be taken into account by nomination proposals.

Theme 2020: The Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance the continuity and quality of learning

Technology innovations fueled by Artificial Intelligence (AI) have the potential to locate and reach excluded and marginalized groups and provide relevant learning programmes for learners who are in crises and emergencies; accurately  analyse difficulties faced by students studying in a language other than their mother tongue and facilitate the learning of foreign languages; and facilitate cost-efficient access to quality learning opportunities for large numbers of learners with physical and cognitive disabilities. Moreover, they can support teachers with a better diagnosis of learning problems and personally adaptive feedback to improve pedagogical responses.

To ensure the quality of learning for the marginalized groups and to keep pace with the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 4, UNESCO aims to mobilize its partners to steer the use of AI toward inclusion and equity, and integrate technology innovation as one key pillar of inclusive and crisis-resilient education systems.

In 2020, the Prize will award scalable AI-powered solutions or technology innovations that have proven effective in improving learning outcomes of marginalized groups while ensuring ethical and equitable use of these technologies in education. these technologies in education. Special attention will be given to projects that provide access to education in remote areas or aim to improve the availability and affordability of connectivity for education and learning.

Type: Award

Eligibility: Individuals, institutions, non-governmental organizations or other entities.

• The project should be ongoing for at least for 1 year
• The project and its organization should not be affiliated to UNESCO or receive any funding from UNESCO
• The technology solutions used by the project should be designed completely for public good or for charitable purposes, meaning that they should not be the free parts of commercial applications or application packages that only offer limited functions free of charge while requesting users to pay for advanced functions

Selection Criteria:

• Relevance to the Thematic Focus: The project is in line with the objectives of the Prize and is relevant to the specific theme of the year
• Innovation: The project applies innovative technologies and Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enhanced solutions or blends AI and conventional technologies in a new innovative way
• Evidence of Impact: The project should provide evidence of improved learning outcomes of the targeted beneficiaries
• Potential for Replicability and Scalability: The project should show evidence that it can be replicated in other contexts or have the potential to further optimize and scale its impact
• Inclusion and Equity: The project should use AI or innovative technologies to advance inclusion and equity in education, while taking into account marginalized groups, leaners in crises and emergencies contexts and learners with physical or cognitive disabilities

Eligible Countries: UNESCO member countries

Number of Awards: Not specified

Value of Award: The Prize shall be funded by the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain and shall consist of a one-time contribution sum of US $758,600, which shall cover both the monetary value of the Prize and the costs of administering the Prize.

How to Apply: All projects should be nominated by a National Commission for UNESCO or a NGO in official partnership with UNESCO. Self-nominations will not be accepted.

• It is important to go through all application requirements in the Award Webpage (see Link below) before applying.

Visit Award Webpage for Details

Award Provider: Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain