American economist Paul Glover and four other researchers received the Idan Prize on Wednesday. The award was presented for their significant contribution to improving the education system through evidence-based research, as well as for developing early childhood development programs.
Paul Glover, a professor at the University of Minnesota Council, was honored with the prize for his educational research due to his work studying the influence of socio-economic conditions, health, and nutrition on children's learning process. His scientific investigations, conducted in more than 15 developing countries, have contributed to shaping educational policies and identifying programs capable of improving learning outcomes.
Professor Susan Walker from the University of the West Indies, Professor Sally Grantam-MacGregor from University College London, and Dr. Susan Chang-Lopez from the University of the West Indies received the Idan Prize for development in the field of education. They developed the Reach Up program—a scientifically grounded intervention for early childhood designed for children from low-income, displaced, and indigenous communities.
This program supports parents and caregivers of children aged 0 to 4 through affordable and culturally adapted activities aimed at stimulating cognitive development. Currently, the program is implemented in over 21 countries, covering the Caribbean, Latin America, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.
The Idan Prize, established in 2016, is an international educational award that recognizes individuals and teams whose work is characterized by innovation, transformativeness, and sustainability. It has two categories: Education Research and Education Development. The laureates will receive their awards at the 2026 Idan Prize Ceremony, which will take place in Hong Kong, a Special Administrative Region of China, in December.