WISE Prize for Education 2026–2027 (Global Education Award by Qatar Foundation)

Nominations are now open for the WISE Prize for Education 2026–2027, one of the world’s most prestigious global awards recognizing outstanding contributions to education.

the award honors individuals or teams making transformative impacts in education and learning worldwide.

The WISE Prize celebrates innovative leaders who improve access to quality education, advance inclusion, and create sustainable educational change across communities and countries.

About the WISE Prize for Education

The WISE Prize for Education was established in 2011 to recognize exceptional contributions to education at a global level.

Often described as one of the most prestigious awards in education, the prize highlights:

• Educational innovation
• Social impact
• Inclusive learning
• Access to quality education
• Lifelong learning initiatives
• Educational leadership and reform.

The award seeks individuals or organizations whose work has:

• Demonstrated measurable impact
• Inspired systemic educational improvement
• Influenced communities, institutions, or policies globally.

Prize Benefits

The winner of the WISE Prize for Education receives:

• A prestigious global recognition award
• International visibility and media exposure
• A gold medal
• USD 500,000 prize money.

The laureate is honored during the:

WISE Summit

which brings together global education leaders, policymakers, researchers, innovators, and social entrepreneurs.

Who Can Be Nominated?

The prize is open to:

• Individuals
• Teams
• Educational leaders
• Social entrepreneurs
• Researchers
• Policymakers
• Organizations working in education.

Nominees may come from:

• Schools and universities
• NGOs and nonprofits
• Government institutions
• Social enterprises
• Community-based education initiatives.

The award recognizes contributions across all levels of education, including:

• Early childhood education
• School education
• Higher education
• Technical and vocational training
• Informal and lifelong learning.

Selection Criteria

Nominees are evaluated based on:

• Innovation and originality
• Global relevance
• Long-term impact
• Scalability and sustainability
• Contribution to improving education access and quality. (wise-qatar.org)

The selection process is conducted by an independent jury of internationally respected education experts and leaders.

Focus Areas

The WISE Prize values initiatives that address:

• Educational inequality
• Technology in education
• Refugee and crisis education
• Girls’ education
• Inclusive learning
• Teacher development
• Skills and future learning
• Education policy reform
• Sustainable development through education.

Global Impact of WISE

WISE

has become a major international platform for:

• Educational innovation
• Policy dialogue
• Research and collaboration
• Youth and leadership engagement.

The initiative regularly gathers experts from around the world to discuss the future of education and learning systems.

Previous WISE Prize laureates have included:

• Influential educators
• Social innovators
• Educational reformers
• Humanitarian leaders working in education.

Nomination Process

Nominations generally require:

• Detailed nomination form
• Description of educational impact
• Supporting evidence and achievements
• References or endorsements
• Information about innovation and scalability.

Self-nominations may not be accepted depending on the award cycle guidelines.

Why This Award Matters

The WISE Prize for Education is significant because it:

• Recognizes transformative educational leadership
• Elevates innovative education models globally
• Encourages scalable educational solutions
• Promotes international collaboration in education.

For educators and organizations, the award can lead to:

• Greater global recognition
• Partnerships and funding opportunities
• Increased policy influence
• Expanded impact and visibility.

Application / Nomination Deadline

Applicants and nominators should review the official WISE website for:

• Current nomination timelines
• Eligibility requirements
• Submission procedures.

Deadlines may vary depending on the award cycle.

Conclusion

The WISE Prize for Education 2026–2027 is a globally respected award honoring visionary leaders and organizations transforming education worldwide.

With international recognition, substantial prize funding, and a platform connected to global educational innovation, the WISE Prize continues to celebrate and support impactful educational change across the world.