UNESCO ICT in Education Prize

poltu shyamal/Shutterstock.com

UNESCO ICT in Education Prize

The UNESCO King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa Prize for the Use of ICT in Education recognizes innovative approaches in leveraging new technologies to expand educational and lifelong learning opportunities for all, in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Goal 4 on education.

Established in 2005 with the support of the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Prize rewards individuals and organizations that are implementing outstanding projects and promoting the creative use of technologies to enhance learning, teaching and overall educational performance in the digital age. An international Jury selects two best projects annually. Each prizewinner receives US$ 25,000, a medal and a diploma during a ceremony at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. Every year the Prize has a specific theme, which, while being in line with UNESCO’s mandate and values, advocates for responsible and ethical use of information and communication technologies.

The 2025 call for nominations is open

Deadline for application and nomination: 28 April 2025

Theme of the 2025 edition: Preparing learners and teachers for the ethical and responsible use of artificial intelligence.

Education systems play a foundational role in helping both teachers and learners develop the AI competencies needed to navigate a world where AI is becoming increasingly pervasive. This requires cultivating critical AI literacy, including an understanding of how the technology works, its evolving capabilities, strengths, limitations, and risks. It involves not only technical knowledge but also ethical and critical awareness of AI tools. With critical AI competencies, teachers and learners can effectively steer AI use toward desired educational outcomes and contribute to the co-creation of future tools.

Within this context, the 2025 UNESCO ICT in Education Prize seeks to surface and spotlight best practices that empower young generations and education stakeholders with key AI skills, fostering critical thinking and enabling them to navigate and harness this transformative technology responsibly.

Nomination process

February 2025: Launch of the call for nomination
28 April 2025: Deadline for submission
May 2025: International Jury meeting
September 2025: Award ceremony

Read the guidelines: English - French
Read the user guide to submit a nomination: English - French

Individuals
institutions
non-governmental organizations or other entities.

Be relevant to the theme of the year
The project should be ongoing for at least 1 year
The project and its organization should not be affiliated to UNESCO or receive any funding from UNESCO

Integrated approach to the use of AI: The project should demonstrate an integrated approach that addresses technical understanding of AI with critical reflection on implications on society and environment at large, ensuring that learners and educators not only develop practical AI skills but also cultivate the ability to evaluate, responsibly use, and co-create AI technologies in the project context.
Pedagogical relevance: The project should demonstrate an alignment with sound pedagogical principles, with an intent to ensure that the design, content, and delivery methods are appropriate for the target groups.
Promotion of inclusive learning opportunities: The project should consider inclusion in the design and implementation, so that they are equally accessible to all members in the target groups. The project can also be designed specifically for underserved communities such as refugees, learners with special educational needs, speakers of minority languages, etc.
Evidence of progress: The project should provide proof of its results, including the number of individuals reached, impact on target groups, and other achievement of pre-set project targets. The project may consider building evidence base to inform scale-up or future adaptation.
Potential for replicability and scalability: The project demonstrates the potential to be replicated in other contexts and shows promise for further optimization and scaling to expand its impact.

Note: If digital tools are used for the delivery of the project activities, the Prize prioritizes projects that deploy tools offering unrestricted access to their core features without imposing any fees for target users.

The International Jury consists of five independent members who are recognized figures in the field of ICTs in education selected also with a view to equitable geographical distribution and gender equality. They have been appointed by the Director-General for a period of two years.