Top-notch educators explored ways to tackle future challenges through education

HONG KONG, CHINA/CAMBRIDGE, UK - MediaOutReach - 6 March, 2019 - The Yidan Prize Foundation and Jesus College, the University ofCambridge brought globally renowned speakers to the Yidan Prize ConferenceSeries: Europe on 4 March to discuss how education can be improved to bettermeet the challenges of tomorrow.

Welcoming remark by Dr Charles Chen Yidan, Founder of the Yidan Prize at the Yidan Prize Conference Series: Europe

Welcoming remark by Professor Stephen TOOPE, Vice Chancellor, University of Cambridge at the Yidan Prize Conference Series: Europe 

 The two 2018 Yidan Prize laureates, Professor Larry Hedges and Professor Anant Agarwal Laureate had an in-depth discussion with educators at at the Yidan Prize Conference Series: Europe 2019 taking place in Jesus College, University of Cambridge

The conference debatedwhat makes a great education, discussed the role of NGOs, assessments, EdTechand data. Findings of the 2018 Worldwide Educating For the Future Index(WEFFI), commissioned by the Yidan Prize Foundation and compiled by theEconomist Intelligence Unit for the second consecutive year, were presented.Speakers included:

• Dr CharlesCHEN Yidan, Founder of the Yidan Prize
• ProfessorStephen TOOPE, Vice-Chancellor, University of Cambridge
• ProfessorAnant AGARWAL, Yidan Prize for Education Development Laureate 201
• ProfessorLarry HEDGES, Yidan Prize for Education Research Laureate 2018
• ProfessorSir Leszek BORYSIEWICZ, former Vice-Chancellor, University of Cambridge
• Dr BoStjerne THOMSEN, LEGO Foundation
• Dr David HALPERN,Chief Executive of the Behavioural Insights Team and National What WorksAdvisor
• Nunzio QUACQUARELLI,QS Quacquarelli Symonds
• Trisha SURESH, EconomistIntelligence Unit

WEFFI is the first comprehensive index thatevaluates inputs into education systems rather than outputs, such as testscores. The index has expanded itslist of covered economies from 35 to 50, representing nearly 93% of global GDPand 89% of the world's population. Finland, Switzerland and New Zealand are thetop three performers in the index.

WEFFI assesses the 50 economies on dozensof indicators, focusing on the policy environment (30% weight), the teachingenvironment (50% weight) and the socio-economic environment (20% weight).

Nomination deadline of the Yidan Prize2019 is 31 March, 2019

Dr. Charles CHEN Yidan, founder of theYidan Prize said,"Education goesbeyond race, religion, economic status or country of origin. I hope the YidanPrize Conference Series: Europewill help facilitate an actionable way forward towardsa brighter, more equitable future for all. By creating WEFFI, we hope to providea useful benchmark, helping provide data and independent analysis forpolicymakers and educators around the world."

Professor Stephen TOOPE, Vice-Chancellorof University of Cambridge said, "The Yidan prize provides us with anopportunity to recognise the power of education in making the world a betterplace, and to celebrate the role of evidence-based research in supporting thatimportant mission. I am grateful to Jesus College for agreeing to be our hosts,bringing the Yidan conference to Europe for the second successive year.Cambridge has a long and proud history of research into the practice ofeducation -- whether through our Faculty of Education's involvement in projectsoverseas, or on our own doorstep, working with teachers and schools in Cambridgeand the surrounding region."

WorldwideEducating For the Future Index 2018 Top 10 Performers

About the Yidan Prize

Founded in 2016 by Dr Charles CHEN Yidan, acore founder of Tencent, the Yidan Prize has a mission of creating a betterworld through education. It consists of two awards, the Yidan Prize for EducationResearch and the Yidan Prize for Education Development. Yidan Prize Laureateseach receives a gold medal and a total sum of HK$30 million, half of which is acash prize while the other half is a project fund. To ensure transparency andsustainability, the prize is managed by Yidan Prize Foundation and governed byan independent trust with an endowment of HK$2.5 billion. Through a series ofinitiatives, the prize aims to establish a platform for the global community toengage in conversation around education and to play a role in educationphilanthropy.