UNESCO-Hamdan Prize for Teacher Development 2023 (Total prize of $300,000)

Deadline: October 31, 2023

Nominations are open for the UNESCO-Hamdan Prize for Teacher Development 2023. The UNESCO-Hamdan Prize for Teacher Development was created in 2008 to support the improvement of teaching and learning quality in achieving the Sustainable Development Goal 4 on education, which is one of UNESCO’s priorities.

Awarded every two years, the Prize is generously supported by the Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Distinguished Academic Performance (Hamdan Foundation). The Hamdan Foundation was established in 1998 by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance of the United Arab Emirates. The Foundation targets educational excellence and the sponsorship of giftedness and innovation, to improve educational performance at all levels and sectors, honouring all groups and relevant authorities in the education sector and institutions, as well as the individuals who provide outstanding achievements and creations.

Prize

• The Prize of US$300,000 is divided between the three laureates.

Eligibility

Eligible Nominators

Governments of UNESCO Member States via their National Commissions to UNESCO and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in official partnership with UNESCO can make up to 5 nominations. Self-nominations are not accepted.

• National Commissions: the nomination letter is drafted by the President or Secretary General of the National Commission.
• NGOs in official partnership with UNESCO: the nomination letter is drafted by the President or Director-General at headquarters. If the NGO has branches, the Head of the NGO branch may draft the nomination letter, however a communication confirming that the candidate nomination has been approved by the executive leadership at headquarters should be joined to the nomination letter from the branch.

Eligible Nominees

• Institutions or organizations; international or national governmental or non-governmental organizations; educational or research institutions active in the field of teaching and learning.
• Nominations must focus on an established project or programme of the candidate, which is ongoing and has been running for at least three years, and that meets the selection criteria. Attention should be paid to presenting the project/programme of the candidate in a clear and structured way.
• Projects from individuals are not eligible for nominations and will not be considered. Only projects from organizations and institutions may be nominated.

Selection Criteria

The project submitted by candidates shall have made a significant contribution to enhancing teaching and learning, in line with UNESCO’s principles and objectives in this field:

• by demonstrating innovation aimed at promoting the quality and effectiveness of teaching;
• by producing teaching materials or other special aids designed for the development of innovative teaching and learning;
• by mobilizing initiatives and/or means likely to contribute to enhancing the quality and effectiveness of teaching;
• by strengthening coordination and research that inform and enhance teacher quality and effectiveness. 

In addition to the conditions described above, the project must: 

• have been implemented for at least three years, so its results can be evaluated and its effectiveness verified;
• represent an outstanding contribution to the fundamental objectives of UNESCO and the UN in the field of quality education for sustainable development;
• be such that it can be reproduced elsewhere and is likely to foster similar initiatives;
• have shown itself to be effective in mobilizing new intellectual and material resources.

Application

Candidates must register online by filling in an expression of interest form. Eligible candidates will receive an invitation link via email to access the online applications platform, where they must fill in and submit their official application form, which includes uploading their nomination letter. 

Click here to register

For more information, visit UNESCO-Hamdan Prize.