The UNESCO-Hamdan Prize for Teacher Development was created in 2008 to support the improvement of teaching and learning quality in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4 on education, which is one of UNESCO’s priorities.
Awarded every two years, the Prize is generously supported by the Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Distinguished Academic Performance (Hamdan Foundation).
The Hamdan Foundation was established in 1998 by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance of the United Arab Emirates. The Foundation targets educational excellence and the sponsorship of giftedness and innovation, to improve educational performance at all levels and sectors, honouring all groups and relevant authorities in the education sector and institutions, as well as the individuals who provide outstanding achievements and creations.
The Prize amounts to US $300,000, which is equally divided between three winners whose projects aim at improving worldwide the performance and effectiveness of teachers worldwide.
The winners are selected by an International Jury composed of five distinguished professionals chosen for their high-level of knowledge and experience in teacher-related issues.
Eligibility and Nomination Criteria for the Project:
1. Eligible Applicants
- Institutions or organizations, either international or national.
- Governmental or non-governmental organizations.
- Educational or research institutions active in the field of teaching and learning.
2. Nomination Process:
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Candidates must be nominated by an official nominating body, which includes:
1. Member States in consultation with their National Commissions.
2. Non-governmental organizations in official partnership with UNESCO and active in a field covered by the Prize.
3. Application Language:
- Applications must be submitted either in English or French.
4. Project Eligibility:
- Only projects of organizations and institutions will be considered.
- Self-nominations are not eligible for the Prize and will not be taken into account.
- Have been implemented for at least three years, so its results can be evaluated and its effectiveness verified;
- represent an outstanding contribution to the fundamental objectives of UNESCO and the UN in the field of quality education for sustainable development;
- be such that it can be reproduced elsewhere and is likely to foster similar initiatives;
- have shown itself to be effective in mobilizing new intellectual and material resources.
How to apply?
Candidates must register online to request an account. In doing so, candidates must comply with the eligibility requirements.
- After registration is completed, only eligible candidates will receive an invitation link via email to access and complete the online application form.
- Candidates upload the nomination letter in the online platform;
- Candidates receive an email notification once they submit their application. Their respective nominating body also receive an automatic notification announcing the submission of the application.
- The application is received by the Prize Secretariat, and the process is complete.
In exceptional cases where candidates do not have access to the Internet, nominating bodies can request access to the online platform to submit the candidate nomination and application. In order to do this, the National Commission to UNESCO or the NGO in official partnership with UNESCO may contact the Prize Secretariat.
Please consult the User’s guide for candidates if you need further guidance for the online application process.
For any question regarding the processes of nomination and application to the UNESCO-Hamdan Prize for Teacher Development, please contact the Prize Secretariat at UNESCO’s Section for Teacher Development: Tel: +33 (0) 1 45 68 05 46; E-mail: teacherprize@unesco.org.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, READ THE BROCHURE.