The General Secretariat of the Khalifa Award for Education has introduced an Innovation and Artificial Intelligence in Education category as part of the award’s 20th edition, according to an announcement from the Abu Dhabi Media Office. This addition aims to recognise exceptional research, innovative practices and practical AI-driven solutions that enhance the quality of education, modernise teaching and assessment practices, and improve learning outcomes. The category is open to individuals, multidisciplinary teams, educational institutions and students whose projects have shown practical implementation over the past three years with sustainable educational impact, the secretariat’s details show. Projects will be judged on their ability to strengthen institutional performance while delivering measurable benefits to learners at every stage.
Humaid Al Houti, secretary-general of the award, stated that the 20th edition marks a significant milestone as the programme celebrates two decades since its founding in 2007 under the directives of the late Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. “The launch of the 20th edition represents a landmark occasion for the Khalifa Award for Education as we celebrate two decades since the award’s establishment,” Al Houti said. He added that the award has played a transformative role in building a comprehensive culture of excellence across the education sector, which serves as one of the key pillars of national development envisioned by the UAE’s founding father.
Over the past two decades the Khalifa Award has established itself as a leading specialised education award at regional and global levels, according to Al Houti. The programme operates under the directives of Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence and chairman of the board of trustees. It enjoys support from the UAE’s highest leadership, including President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, whose vision places education at the core of comprehensive development, Al Houti noted in the announcement.
Nominations for all categories in the 20th edition can be submitted online through the award’s upgraded interactive website until December 31, 2026, with results due to be announced in April 2027, the General Secretariat reported. The award now features 10 fields with a total of 18 categories spanning educational, applied and community initiatives at local, Arab and international levels. Among existing fields are the Khalifa International Award for Early Learning, which has attracted global recognition since its launch four years ago, along with categories focused on creative teaching, educational research and innovation in Arabic language instruction.
A UNESCO assessment found that artificial intelligence holds potential to address some of the biggest challenges in education today by innovating teaching and learning practices to accelerate progress toward sustainable development goal four. In one World Bank documented randomised controlled trial in Ecuador, an AI-powered mathematics remediation system produced a 0.28 standard deviation increase in test scores and reduced the likelihood of course failure by 9 percentage points among higher education students. Such evidence aligns with the new category’s focus on applied solutions that can modernise education while supporting the UAE National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence.
The new category expands the Innovative Educational Projects and Programs field for the first time since the award’s inception in 2007, the General Secretariat reported. Al Houti emphasised the award’s commitment to carrying forward the legacy of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who viewed education as the cornerstone of nation-building and sustainable development. The initiative will continue to foster partnerships with national, regional and international institutions to promote excellence across the sector.
