The WISE Prize for Education Call for Applications is now open ($1 million Prize)

WISE is introducing the next iteration of the WISE Prize, which will be a unified initiative that selects a group of finalists to participate in the competition. Throughout this process, WISE will identify and provide support to organizations that are tackling new challenges in education through capacity building and mentorship.

During the course of one year, the chosen finalists will collaborate with WISE to develop innovative solutions that address one of the three key education challenges:

• improving the teaching of Arabic language,
• accelerating foundational literacies,
• or addressing challenges in A.I.

Prize Information

• Organizations are required to submit a proposal in order to tackle one of the three education challenges.
• After that, a select group of applicants will go through a comprehensive due diligence process.
• Following this, a committee of external education experts will identify 4-6 finalists.
• These finalists will then work on developing an education solution over a period of 12 months.
• To support the development of the solution, financial assistance ranging from $100k to $150k USD will be provided.
• Additionally, the finalists will have access to tailored mentorship to drive the development of their solution, as well as capacity-building opportunities for their team members.
• Throughout the process, WISE will provide progress monitoring and support. Finally, at the 2025 WISE Summit, a prestigious $1 million USD Prize will be awarded.

To assess the applicants, WISE will consider the following criteria:

1. Credentials: Applicants must have a proven track record that demonstrates their ability to solve the given challenge.
2. Innovation: Applicants should approach the education challenge in a manner that is evidence-based and has not been previously tested or implemented.
3. Feasibility: Proposals must include a well-defined timeline for the development of a Minimum Viable Product, along with clear resource allocation and manpower planning.
4. Scalability: Proposed solutions should have the potential to expand and secure sustainable funding over time.
5. Contextualization: Proposed solutions should be adaptable to different geographic and social contexts.

By evaluating applicants based on these criteria, WISE aims to identify and support organizations that have the potential to make a significant impact in the field of education.

Who is eligible to apply for the WISE Prize?

• Any legally registered organization, including colleges, universities, academic networks, schools, civil society, community organizations, governments, international agencies, private-sector companies, and non-profit entities working in the field of education, are welcome to apply. The organization should have been in operation for at least 12 months and have established programs or products.
• Representation from any education sector, such as pre-primary, primary, secondary, tertiary, EdTech, vocational training, higher education, special needs education, informal learning, lifelong learning, and more, are encouraged to apply.
• Applications should be for original works and projects and must be submitted by a representative who is actively involved in the project. All applicants should ensure that their organization or themselves are the originators of the project and should not hold WISE responsible for any claims or actions from third parties regarding the submitted project.

APPLICATIONS

• Applications should be for original works and projects and must be submitted by a representative assigned to work on the solution development.
• All applicants should ensure that their organization or themselves are the originators of the project and should not hold WISE responsible for any claims or actions from third parties regarding the submitted project.

PREVIOUS APPLICANTS

• Individuals who have previously submitted applications to any previous programs run by WISE are eligible to submit new applications for other works.

PREVIOUS WINNERS

Individuals or organizations that have previously received the WISE Awards/WISE Prize can apply for the WISE Prize for Education as long as the proposed solution is a new project. The solution should not be part of the same project that was previously recognized by WISE.

MULTIPLE APPLICATIONS

Only one application can be submitted for a single educational activity or project. Each individual may only submit a single application. Other individuals may submit their own applications.

What qualities are we seeking in applicants?

• We are looking for applicants who can demonstrate the transformative impact they have had on individuals, communities, and society through their previous ventures in education.
• These applicants should have a strong track record of proven success, with a minimum of 2 years of operation and multiple sources of funding.
• Additionally, they should have at least one dedicated full-time team member driving the development of their solution.
• It is important that applicants have a clear plan outlining their project’s objectives and how it addresses the education challenge at hand.
• Furthermore, their solution should be scalable and replicable in different contexts and regions.

What is the process and timeline for submitting applications?
The application period will begin on 24 January and end on 15 March, 2024.

SUBMISSION PROCESS

To ensure eligibility, please follow these guidelines for submitting your application/nomination form:
– Fill out the official form on the online system.
– Ensure that your submission is complete and accurate.
– Submit your application in English.
– Use the official online platform at https://wise-qatar.awardsplatform.com/ to submit your form.
– Include the contact details of two supporters in your form.

TIMELINE

• The deadline for submitting applications is 15 March 2024, 17:00 GMT.
• From April to August 2024, a due diligence process will be conducted for the shortlisted projects.
• The external committee will review the applications that have been shortlisted.
  In October 2024, a group of finalists will be announced.
• From November 2024 to November 2025, there will be support, mentorship, and solution development for the finalists.
• The $1 million USD Prize* will be awarded at the 2025 WISE Summit.

ApplicationFor the program details visit the website
For application go here
Closing date is March 15, 2024