Spotlight on Early Learning Impact

Award Categories

There are two award categories for this Spotlight call:

• Best Programs, Curricula, and Teaching Methodologies and Practices: For initiatives, projects, and/or programmes that aim to improve early learning with demonstrated improvements in quality and/or the learning and development of the young children
• Best Research and Studies: For published research studies that provide innovative solutions to problems, new insights in learning and teaching, and enrich the evidence base for policy and practice in ways that can lead to meaningful improvements in early learning

What do selected innovators get?

There will be one winner selected for each category. Each winner will receive international recognition from HundrED and The Khalifa Award for Education as well as $100,000 USD. The winners will be featured in a Spotlight report published by HundrED and invited to the awards ceremony in April 2027 in Abu Dhabi. 

How do innovators apply?

This Spotlight is a joint collaboration with The Khalifa Award for Education. The deadline for applications is 31st of December. 

Applications for the "Best Programs, Curricula, and Teaching Methodologies and Practices" can apply by: 
1) Submitting your innovation page on the HundrED site by clicking "Submit Innovation".
2) Fill out the application form on the Khalifa Award for Education website.

Applications for the "Best Research and Studies" category, can be submitted directly on the Khalifa Award for Education website. 

How are submissions evaluated?

Applications for the Best Programs, Curricula, and Teaching Practices Prize will be judged on four criteria: innovativeness, importance, impact, and feasibility/sustainability. Each submission must demonstrate rigorous evaluation. Each of the criteria will be assigned equal value in judging the applications. 

Applications for the Best Research and Studies Prize be judged on four criteria: innovativeness, importance, methodological rigor, and impact. Each submission must demonstrate rigorous evaluation. Each of the criteria will be assigned equal value in judging the applications. 

About The Khalifa Award

Khalifa Award for Education is an organisation founded in 2007 in the United Arab Emirates. It seeks to advance Emirati and Arab educational outputs and the standard of education at all levels by rewarding the outstanding innovators in numerous academic and learning domains.

In this collaboration, the focus is on early childhood learning, and the selected solution will receive the Khalifa International Award for Early Learning prize.