HONG KONG - Demographer Wolfgang Lutz and members from the War Child Alliance have been awarded the Yidan Prize in Hong Kong for their contributions to global education.

John Lee Ka-chiu, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, gave an online speech on Sunday, saying that the Yidan Prize aims to create a better world through education.

The bright minds, and dedication of laureates throughout the years have helped to reshape the future of education, paving the way for a better future for students, he said, promising that the HKSAR government is committed to creating an equitable and effective educational environment for all learners.

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Lutz, Distinguished Emeritus Scholar at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, was awarded the Yidan Prize for Education Research. As a statistician and demographer, he pioneered assessments of education's impact on sustainable development goals including health, economic growth, gender equity, and climate resilience, highlighting the multiplier effect of quality education for a brighter future.

In his speech at the ceremony, Lutz said he was impressed by the rapid expansion of high-quality education and science in China in a recent visit to the country. In the future, more education at all levels will be needed to push for better informed, rational and enlightened dialogues.

The Yidan Prize for Education Development was awarded to War Child Alliance's Mark Jordans,  and Luke Stannard. They are dedicated to developing evidence-based care systems to improve the physical and mental health of children in conflict-affected areas.

Founded in 2016, the Yidan Prize is intended to help create a better world through education. It consists of two awards, one for education research and another for education development. Each winning unit will receive HK$30 million (around $3.8 million).

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Chen Yidan, the founder, congratulated the laureates at the awards ceremony.

Stressing that education is driving force for social progress, he said that as four new award recipients joined the Yidan Prize community this year, everyone has witnessed how their work brings us one step closer to a better future.