2026 Yidan Prize honors researchers for education advances

US economist Paul Glewwe and three other researchers were named for the Yidan Prize on Wednesday in recognition of their contributions to improving education through evidence-based research and early childhood development programs.

Glewwe, regents professor at the University of Minnesota, got the 2026 Yidan Prize for Education Research for his work examining how socioeconomic conditions, health and nutrition affect children's learning.

His research, conducted across more than 15 developing countries, has helped shape education policies and identify programs that can improve learning outcomes.

Professor Susan Walker from the University of the West Indies, Professor Sally Grantham-McGregor from the University College London and Dr Susan Chang-Lopez from the University of the West Indies received the 2026 Yidan Prize for Education Development for developing Reach Up, an evidence-based early childhood intervention for children in low-resource, displaced and indigenous communities.

The program supports parents and caregivers of children aged 0 to 4 through low-cost, culturally adaptable activities designed to promote cognitive development.

It is now implemented in more than 21 countries across the Caribbean, Latin America, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

The Yidan Prize, established in 2016, is a global education award recognizing individuals and teams whose work is innovative, transformative and sustainable.

It has two categories: Education Research and Education Development.

The laureates will receive their awards at the 2026 Yidan Prize Awards Ceremony in China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in December.