The UNESCO King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa Prize for the use of ICT in education is now accepting candidatures. The theme of the 2020 edition is the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance the continuity and quality of learning.

In the context of the education crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this focus is all the more important. Indeed, the use of new technologies to respond to the crisis reveals both their potential and the need to support their development – so that they can help to improve learning and inclusivity rather than exacerbate existing inequalities.

Technology innovations fueled by AI have the potential to locate and reach excluded and marginalized groups and provide quality learning programmed for learners in emergency contexts or learners with physical and cognitive disabilities.

Benefits

Two winners will be selected by the Director-General of UNESCO based on the recommendations of an international Jury, and each winner will receive a reward of USD 25,000 and a diploma during a ceremony in Paris.

Eligibility Criteria

• 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
• For the application to be considered, it should be nominated by either the National Commission of the UNESCO Member State or an NGO in official partnership with UNESCO.
• All applicants are encouraged to get in touch with the NGO or National Commission ahead of the application process. Self-nominations will not be accepted.
• Governments of UNESCO Member States as well as NGOs in official partnership with UNESCO are invited to elicit and nominate up to three projects, which are in line with the 2020 theme and meet the selection criteria.

For more information, visit UNESCO.