6/19/10

UNESCO-APEID Wenhui Award

Education and innovations are universally recognized as the keys to improve productivity and achieve sustainable development. Past and recurring economic, financial, food and energy crises, environmental disasters and ongoing conflicts continue to demand answers for meeting the challenges of the 21st century. It is therefore crucial for governments, industries and international organizations to respond to this demand by promoting and supporting innovations in education.

Recognizing the potential of education and the human innovative spirit to address and resolve such pressing issues and problems, the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Programme of Educational Innovation for Development (APEID) and the National Commission of the People’s Republic of China for UNESCO have jointly established the UNESCO-APEID Wenhui (文 晖) Award for Educational Innovation.

The Wenhui Award embodies two important elements of educational innovation. Wen (文) refers to all facets of civilization and culture, including wisdom, knowledge, moral and ethics, and encompasses the desire for learning and inquiry. Hui (晖) symbolizes the creative and radiant force of education that allows civilization and culture to flourish. Taken together, the Wenhui Award personifies the power of education in promoting learning and allowing individuals and cultures to innovate and grow.

This Award will serve to improve the access to and quality of education and training, especially to those most in need. Given the challenges facing education, it is necessary to strengthen the commitment of individuals and institutions to continuously innovate and enlighten people now and in the future.

What are the objectives of the Award?
The specific objectives of the Award are to:

* Value and encourage pioneering innovative practices to improve the access to, quality of, and teaching and learning processes in, education.
* Recognize the contributions of individuals or institutions which have brought about significant educational innovations to enhance the access to education and improve the quality of teaching and learning processes.
* Foster indigenous wisdom and ingenuity in educational innovation.

What is in the Award?
The Award shall be conferred on two individuals or institutions in recognition of their commitment and outstanding efforts in the development of educational innovations according to the theme to be announced each year. The two winners will receive a Certificate of Excellence and prize money of US$ 20,000 each at the UNESCO-APEID International Conference and/or China Hangzhou International Conference on Educational Innovations. Certificates of Merit may also be awarded to individuals or institutions that have demonstrated commendable innovative practices.

For 2010, the theme of the Wenhui Award is Reaching the Marginalized in Basic Education. The winners and awardees of Certificates of Merit will be selected by a jury of distinguished educators from the Asia-Pacific region. The results will be announced through a variety of channels to share the achievements of the winners and awardees.

Who is eligible for the Award?
Individuals or institutions from UNESCO Member States in Asia and the Pacific region that have designed and implemented significant educational innovation leading to improved access to and quality in education will be eligible for the Award.

To qualify for nomination, the candidates shall possess the following qualifications or attributes:

* Have demonstrated their ability to initiate innovative practices that have helped to increase access to information, promote learning and generate new knowledge in the education sector.
* Have verified the positive impact of their contributions to improve the access to education and quality of teaching and learning processes.
* Have proven their commitment in enhancing the reach and quality of education, and promoting the concept of lifelong learning.
* Have established that their innovative practices are current and relevant to the educational issues of the 21st century.

What are the evaluation criteria?
The entries will be evaluated according to selected criteria reflecting the theme of the Award for 2010, Reaching the Marginalized in Basic Education, including but not limited to the following:

* Uniqueness and originality of the innovation
* Timeliness and relevance of the innovation
* Success and impact of the innovation
* Quality of the supporting evidence
* Innovative use of available resources
* Potential for replication of the innovation
* Sustainability of the innovation

How to apply for the Award?
The Award organizers are calling for nominations from governments, educational institutions, international organizations, non-governmental organizations and individuals in Asia and Pacific countries following the procedure below.

* Nominations shall be submitted to the Award Secretariat at UNESCO Bangkok through the National Commissions for UNESCO, UNESCO Offices, APEID Associated Centres and other organizations associated with UNESCO, using an official Award Application Form available below.
o Each nomination must be accompanied by the following attachments:
+ Description of the candidate’s/institution’s background and achievements (1 page, A4 size, in English)
+ Summary of work, publications and other relevant documents of major importance (maximum of 4 pages, A4 size, in English)
+ Evidence to support the nomination of the candidate (may be in English or local language)
+ Letter(s) of recommendation (in English or local languages)
+ Consent form for use and distribution of materials
+ All nominations must reach the Award Secretariat by 13 August 2010. Please check with your nomination agency on the status of your submission.
+ For list of UNESCO offices, see
 http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=34016&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html
+ For list of National Commissions for UNESCO in the Asia-Pacific region, see
http://www.unesco.org/ncp/index.php?lc=E®ion=3&module=national_commissions&web=
+ For APEID networks, see
http://www.unescobkk.org/education/apeid/networks/apeid-associated-centres/

Conditions of entry

* All entries must be from the Asia-Pacific region.
* The work must be attested to be authentic and original.
* The innovation must be current or initiated in the last five years.
* Shortlisted entries may be asked to supply more documents or evidence, if necessary.
* All entries must be accompanied by evidence that supports the nomination.
* All nominees will be responsible for the delivery of their materials to their respective nomination agencies and for checking that their materials are received by the Award Secretariat.
* All submissions will be taken to imply the granting of permission to publish all materials and particulars, without charge to UNESCO.
* All nominees must complete the consent form available online at the Award website permitting UNESCO to publish and share their work, on the understanding that the work will be fully acknowledged and credited to the relevant individuals or institutions stated in the nomination forms.
* All materials submitted will not be returned.
* The jury’s decision is final and correspondence will not be entered into.

Important dates

* Closing date for nominations 13 August
* Selection of shortlisted nominations 17 September
* Final selection and announcement of winners 8 October
* Award ceremony 21 October



Award consent form

For further information, contact:
UNESCO-APEID Wenhui Award Secretariat
UNESCO Bangkok
920 Sukhumvit Road, Prakanong
Bangkok 10110, Thailand
Tel: (66-2) 391-0577
Fax: (66-2) 391-0866

Contact detail: apeid-award@unesco.org
Moreinfo: http://www.unescobkk.org/education/apeid/wenhuiaward2010

1 comment:

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