Khalifa for Education launches, for the first time, a field for Early Learning on an international level. The Khalifa Award offers a cash prize of US$50,000 to each winner. The Award winners also receive a certificate of appreciation and the Award emblem shield.
Almost every country in the world now realises the importance of early learning and its vital role in ensuring the optimal development and lifelong success of children, including their success in later schooling. The Khalifa International Award for Early Learning originates from the principled directives of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Presidential Affairs and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Khalifa Award for Education. The directives called for the establishment of an international award for early learning that would enrich the culture of excellence and innovation in education and promote research and development in this field.
The Award is intended to discover and recognize research, programmes, methodologies and advanced teaching practices, acknowledge distinguished teachers and activate the role of educational centres, institutions and companies specialised in the field of early childhood education. In addition, this new Award aims to raise awareness and focus attention on serving young children with disabilities in early childhood education. It will promote the publication of distinguished studies, successful practices and the methodologies to improve early learning policy and practice.
The interest of the Khalifa International Award for Early Learning Field in supporting evidence-based research and practice to create early learning programs for children with special needs is timely and will grant a meaningful contribution to the field around the world. This truly outstanding award will not be limited to developing the capacity of researchers, policy makers and practitioners, but will also inspire them to seek to enrich early childhood programs with the aim of achieving maximum outcomes for all children.
Early childhood is considered the ages from birth to age eight. Programs and research applicable to children anywhere in that age range are eligible to apply.
All applications must be submitted through the on-line systems at website following the instructions provided there. Teachers and researchers apply by creating an account and uploading documents: https://kiafel.khaward.ae/
More information can be found on FAQ section of the dedicated platform: https://el.khaward.ae/faq/
In 2022, applications will be accepted in only two categories. The first is outstanding initiatives in early learning care and education and their impact on the children and communities served. The second is outstanding specialized research and distinguished studies that support scientific enrichment and development of the education and care of young children.
There will be two prizes in each category offered in 2022. For research, one award will be for best research to inform policy and the other for best research to inform practice. In 2023 cycle, the categories will be expanded to include 4 additional awards.
Sources: Khalifa Media Center, Kalifa Award for Education: News Image: Khalifa Award for Education: Gallery
