The Hong Kong-based Yidan Prize Foundation has announced the 2023 recipients of the Yidan Prize for Education Research and the Yidan Prize for Education Development.

Michelene (Micki) Chi, Regents Professor & Dorothy Bray Endowed Professor of Science and Teaching at Arizona State University’s Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College, was awarded the Yidan Prize for Education Research for her work in cognitive science. Her widely adopted theory of cognitive engagement, ICAP (Interactive, Constructive, Active, Passive), is considered a benchmark for defining active learning, which provides teachers a clear understanding of how students learn and how to design lesson plans and activities to better engage them.

Shai Reshef, founder and president of the U.S.-based University of the People, was awarded the Yidan Prize for Education Development for developing a model of higher education which responds to the needs of learners with an innovative, scalable solution and demonstrating its potential through his tuition-free, nonprofit, accredited online university that reaches over 137,000 students globally.

The laureates will each receive HK$30 million ($3.83 million)—HK$15 million in the form of a cash prize and HK$15 million in support of a project fund of their choice. Chi plans to strengthen the ICAP framework, create professional development training modules for K-12 and postsecondary teachers, and expand the reach of ICAP globally. Reshef plans to continue to grow the University of the People and support more students and populations with a comprehensive solution to issues of accessibility and affordability in higher education.

Established by Tencent co-founder Charles Chen Yidan, the Yidan Prizes are the world’s largest international award for education.

“Our laureates are ensuring quality education for all through innovative approaches, transforming the way we think about learning,” said Koichiro Matsuura, chair of the Yidan Prize judging committee and a former director-general of UNESCO.

“We’re delighted to welcome Micki and Shai to our global community,” said Edward Ma, secretary-general of the Yidan Prize Foundation. “The work of this year’s laureates is widely applicable and scalable, reimagining education for the needs of today’s learners.”

(Images courtesy of Yidan Prize Foundation)