Dubai: Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences, in collaboration with the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organisation (ALECSO), announced today the winners of the Hamdan-ALECSO Award for Distinguished Educational Research and the Hamdan-ALECSO Award for Digital Innovations in Education for the 2025 cycle. This year's edition received 116 educational research submissions from 13 Arab countries and 77 digital innovations from 11 countries, resulting in two winning research papers in the Distinguished Educational Research category and three winning projects in the Digital Innovations in Education category.
According to Emirates News Agency, this year's cycle stood out for the breadth and quality of Arab participation, with submissions reflecting a wide range of research interests and emerging trends in digital education. Entries across the Distinguished Educational Research and Digital Innovations in Education categories provided a clear picture of the region's growing scientific and innovative momentum, setting the stage for selecting the winning projects in each category.
Humaid Mohammed Al Qutami, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences, stated, 'The announcement of Hamdan-ALECSO Award results marks an important milestone in advancing educational research and innovation across the Arab world. It reflects the Foundation's commitment to enhancing the quality of education and empowering educational systems with talent capable of driving positive change.'
The 2025 Hamdan-ALECSO Award for Distinguished Educational Research recorded strong regional participation, with Saudi Arabia topping the submissions with 41 research papers, followed by Egypt with 16, Palestine with 13, and the United Arab Emirates with 10. Other countries also contributed, showcasing the diversity of research interests across the region.
Al Qutami emphasized the strategic partnership with ALECSO, highlighting a shared vision focused on strengthening Arab knowledge production and empowering researchers to propose innovative solutions to educational challenges. This partnership reflects a commitment to supporting excellence and creativity in education.
Professor Mohamed Ould Amar, Director-General of ALECSO, echoed these sentiments, noting that the award plays a crucial role in supporting Arab educational research and enhancing knowledge production. The collaboration between ALECSO and the Foundation aims to advance human capital development and raise the overall quality of education in the Arab world.
The Hamdan-ALECSO Award for Digital Innovations in Education also saw significant participation, with Algeria leading submissions. The evaluation process identified three winning innovations, including Alef Pathways from the UAE, and individual projects by Hind Abdullah Ali Al Ateeqi Al Junaibi and Nouf bint Abdulaziz bin Muqbil Al-Jehani, which demonstrated exceptional use of artificial intelligence and digital solutions in education.
The winners will be honored at the Conference of Arab Ministers of Higher Education and Scientific Research in Baghdad, under the auspices of ALECSO, showcasing the ongoing commitment to advancing educational research and digital innovation in the region.