Call for nominations UNESCO ICT in Education Prize 2020 -Last Date 8 Jan 2021

News UNESCO Website - 17th December 2020

ITC Prize

Funded by the Kingdom of Bahrain and established in 2005, the Prize awards annually US$ 25,000 each to two innovative projects leveraging new technologies to expand educational opportunities.

The theme of the 2020 edition is the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance the continuity and quality of learning.

Each year the Prize has a specific theme to be taken into account by nomination proposals.

Theme 2020: The Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance the continuity and quality of learning

Technology innovations fuelled by Artificial Intelligence (AI) have the potential to locate and reach excluded and marginalized groups and provide relevant learning programmes for learners who are in crises and emergencies; accurately analyse difficulties faced by students studying in a language other than their mother tongue and facilitate the learning of foreign languages; and facilitate cost-efficient access to quality learning opportunities for large numbers of learners with physical and cognitive disabilities. Moreover, they can support teachers with a better diagnosis of learning problems and personally adaptive feedback to improve pedagogical responses.

To ensure the quality of learning for the marginalized groups and to keep pace with the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 4, UNESCO aims to mobilize its partners to steer the use of AI toward inclusion and equity, and integrate technology innovation as one key pillar of inclusive and crisis-resilient education systems.

In 2020, the Prize will award scalable AI-powered solutions or technology innovations that have proven effective in improving learning outcomes of marginalized groups while ensuring ethical and equitable use of these technologies in education. these technologies in education. Special attention will be given to projects that provide access to education in remote areas or aim to improve the availability and affordability of connectivity for education and learning.

Who can apply?

Individuals, institutions, non-governmental organizations or other entities.

Eligibility criteria

The project should be ongoing for at least for 1 year
The project and its organization should not be affiliated to UNESCO or receive any funding from UNESCO
The technology solutions used by the project should be designed completely for public good or for charitable purposes, meaning that they should not be the free parts of commercial applications or application packages that only offer limited functions free of charge while requesting users to pay for advanced functions

Selection criteria

Relevance to the Thematic Focus: The project is in line with the objectives of the Prize and is relevant to the specific theme of the year
Innovation: The project applies innovative technologies and Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enhanced solutions or blends AI and conventional technologies in a new innovative way
Evidence of Impact: The project should provide evidence of improved learning outcomes of the targeted beneficiaries
Potential for Replicability and Scalability: The project should show evidence that it can be replicated in other contexts or have the potential to further optimize and scale its impact
Inclusion and Equity: The project should use AI or innovative technologies to advance inclusion and equity in education, while taking into account marginalized groups, leaners in crises and emergencies contexts and learners with physical or cognitive disabilities

Important

The Prize is not a grant scheme aimed at supporting new projects or organization. The Prize is aimed at recognizing already implemented projects and activities.

All projects should be nominated by a National Commission for UNESCO or a NGO in official partnership with UNESCO. Self-nominations will not be accepted.

2020 documents

2020 calendar

September 2020: Launch of the call for nominations
18 December 2020: Deadline for submissions
January 2021: International jury meeting
April 2021: Award ceremony

Source:- UNESCO Website