In line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Goal 4 on education, UNESCO recognizes the innovative use of new technology to enhance educational opportunities and lifelong learning for everyone.
In line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Goal 4 on education, UNESCO recognizes the innovative use of new technology to enhance educational opportunities and lifelong learning for everyone.
UNESCO has awarded the 2022 King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa Prize for the use of information and communication technologies in education to two digital learning platforms.
The recipients are China’s National Center for Educational Technology with their platform “Smart Education of China” and Ireland’s National Forum for Enhancing Teaching and Learning in Higher Education with their platform “The National Resource Hub.”
In line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Goal 4 on education, UNESCO recognizes the innovative use of new technology to enhance educational opportunities and lifelong learning for everyone.
Each of the two winners will receive a prize of $25,000 each for their efforts in providing universal access to public digital learning platforms and educational materials. Additionally, they have worked towards developing digital competences among instructors and students.
The Smart Education of China platform was launched in 2020 and offers a comprehensive range of curriculum-aligned learning resources. It includes 27,000 MOOCs for higher education, 19,000 resources for vocational education, and 44,000 resources for basic education, covering all grades and subjects.
The platform also provides extracurricular resources on topics such as sports, arts, mental health, and well-being, contributing to a holistic learning experience.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the platform played a crucial role in facilitating distance learning with its 13.15 million registered users. The project also focuses on enhancing digital proficiency among over 10 million instructors and reaching students in remote and rural areas, thereby improving educational standards and equity in China.
Meanwhile, the National Resource Hub was established in 2019 as a collaborative platform that serves as a gateway to open educational materials and practices in higher education. It offers over 780 high-quality resources and has garnered 650,000 users from 173 different nations.
In Ireland, more than 5,000 employees from higher education institutions and a network of 628 trained facilitators have completed open courses for professional development through The Hub in Ireland.
To ensure the accuracy and relevance of its content, The Hub employs a rigorous review process and considers user feedback. It promotes diversity and inclusion by featuring gender-inclusive material, providing resources for students with special needs, and catering to low-connectivity environments.
The Award Ceremony will take place in UNESCO’s Paris headquarters on September 7, 2023, as part of the organization’s flagship event, Digital Learning Week. The main topics of discussion will revolve around digital learning platforms and the role of artificial intelligence, particularly generative AI, in guiding the human-centered digital transformation of education.
