Call for nominations – UNESCO-Hamdan Prize for Teacher Development in the field of quality education for sustainable development

Closing Date for receipt of national nominations: 24 September 2021

Each Government may endorse up to 5 nominees – through a national selection process.

Candidates nominated for the prize may be institutions, organisations or educational or research institutes.

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 Quality Education, which is one of UNESCO’s priorities. The prize aims to support, encourage and benefit those working to enhance the performance and effectiveness of teachers (1) for quality education for all. It will also serve to facilitate the global sharing and dissemination of outstanding practices related to teachers. The objective of the Prize is in conformity with UNESCO’s policies and is related to the Programme of the Organisation in the field of education and teacher development.

The prize money consists of US$300,000 to be divided equally among three winners ($100,000 each), paid directly by the Donor, and a certificate for each of the three Prize-winners.

1 Please note the term ‘teachers’ should be understood as including all educators, such as those involved in delivery of further and higher education programmes.

The programme/ 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:

(a) By demonstrating innovation aimed at promoting effectiveness of teachers;

By producing teaching materials or other special aids designed for the development of innovative teaching and learning;

By mobilising initiatives and/or means likely to contribute to enhancing teacher effectiveness;

(b) In addition, the following criteria will be taken into consideration:

The program/project must be ongoing for at least three years for its results to be evaluated and its effectiveness verified;

It must represent an outstanding contribution to the fundamental objectives of UNESCO and the UN in the fields of quality education for sustainable development; the work accomplished must be exemplary and likely to stimulate similar initiatives; it must have shown itself to be effective in mobilising new intellectual and material resources;

Each nomination shall be accompanied by a recommendation by the nominating body (Department of Education) and must follow the template of the application form i.e.

(a) A description of the candidate’s background and achievements;

(b) A summary of the results of the work, publications and other supporting documents of major importance, submitted for consideration;

(c) A definition of the candidate’s contribution to the Prize’s objectives.

5 national nominees recommended by the National Commission (Department of Education, Ireland) will apply directly to UNESCO by the 31st October 2021.

The prize-winner/s, if possible, shall give a lecture on a subject relevant to the work for which the prize has been awarded. Such a lecture shall be organised during or in connection with the Prize ceremony.

Further details and an application guide can be found here.

National nominees will be selected by the Department of Education and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science based on the information provided by the candidate in the above application form and which in the view of both Department’s have made the most significant contribution to enhancing teaching and learning, in line with UNESCO’s principles and objectives in this field.

The application form is contained below.

The application form should be completed in full and returned by e-mail to ESD@education.gov.ieby close of business on Friday 24 September 2021.