Since 2009, the WISE Awards and WISE Prize for Education have highlighted over 100 global innovative solutions and individuals in education and, throughout the past 15 years, many of them have grown to become more impactful, have contributed to the work of WISE, have scaled to new regions, and more. The legacy of the WISE Awards and WISE Prize for Education stemmed from the vision of Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, with the aim to elevate players in the field of education.
Now, in 2024, WISE is launching the next generation of the WISE Prize as one sole initiative, identifying a group of finalists to partake in this competition. WISE will identify and provide support through capacity building and mentorship to organizations tackling new challenges ahead.
This iteration of the WISE Prize will work with the chosen finalists over the span of one year to develop solutions that addresses one of the following key education challenges:
Improving the teaching of the Arabic language
Develop a solution to improve the effectiveness of teaching, acquisition and use of the Arabic language.
Accelerating foundational literacies
Create a personalized learning tool to accelerate basic literacy and numeracy skills, particularly in under-resourced areas.
Addressing challenges in A.I.
Design a tech-based intervention to equip youth with skills to navigate challenges of increasing presence in an A.I.-driven market and society, such as biases and disinformation.
Requirements
Any type of legally registered organization including colleges, universities, academic networks, schools, civil society, community organizations, governments, international agencies, private-sector companies and non-profit entities working in the field of education are invited to apply. The organization should be in operation for at least 12 months with established programs or products.
Representation from any education sector including pre-primary, primary, secondary, tertiary, EdTech, vocational training, higher education, special needs education, informal learning, lifelong learning and more, are welcome to apply.
Applications should be for original works and projects, and should be submitted by a representative working within the project. All applicants should therefore guarantee that their organization, or they themselves, originate the project, and should not hold WISE liable for any action or claim from a third party with respect to the project submitted.
Prize Details
Organizations submit a proposal to address one of three education challenges
A shortlist of applicants undergo a thorough due diligence process
An external committee of education experts identify 4-6 finalists
Finalists develop an education solution over a 12-month period
Financial support of $100k – $150k USD provided to support the solution development
Access to tailored mentorship to drive solution development
Access to capacity-building for team members
Progress monitoring and support from WISE
A $1 million USD Prize* awarded at the 2025 WISE Summit
TIMELINE
The deadline for submission of applications is 15 March 2024, 17:00 GMT
A shortlist of projects will undergo a due diligence process April – August 2024
The external committee will review shortlisted applications
A group of finalists will be revealed October 2024
Solution development, support and mentorship will run November 2024 – November 2025
The $1 million Prize* will be awarded at the 2025 WISE Summit
