Greater Bay Area School Awards12 March 2026 - Hong Kongget your gala dinner ticketsMeet OUr 2026 FINALISTS!
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The GBA School Awards are the first ever opportunity for those involved in education in the GBA to celebrate education innovation. Each of the awards are open to any school in the GBA and will be voted on by a panel of independent and distinguished judges.

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2026 Finalists

Meet 2026 Finalists in Respective Categories

Awards Categories

  • AFTER SCHOOL PROVIDER

    After School Provider

    Recognizing outstanding providers of afterschool enrichment activities

  • ARTS

    Arts Award

    Awarded to schools that have inclusive and outstanding creative and performing arts programs

  • ATHLETICS & SPORTS

    Athletics & Sports Award

    Awarded to schools that have inclusive and aspirational athletics and sports programs

  • DIVERSITY EQUITY AND INCLUSION

    Diversity Equity and Inclusion
    Celebrating schools that excel in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within their communities.

  • EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER

    Early Childhood Center

    Recognizing outstanding and innovative early childhood centers

  • EDTECH PROGRAM

    EdTech Program
    Awarded to schools that demonstrate innovative and effective use of educational technology to enhance learning.

  • EDTECH SOLUTION

    EdTech Solution Award

    Award to EdTech platform or product that supports next generation learning in K-12 schools

  • EDUCATION SUPPLIER

    Education Supplier Award

    Celebrating suppliers that provide outstanding products or services that enhance educational environments.

  • EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING PROGRAM

    Experiential Learning Program
    Recognizing exceptional programs that provide hands-on, real-world learning experiences for students.

  • EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING PROVIDER

    Experiential Learning Provider
    Recognizing providers that offer exceptional experiential learning opportunities outside of traditional school settings.

  • INNOVATIVE FACILITIES

    Innovative Facilities
    Celebrating schools with cutting-edge facilities that enhance the learning environment.

  • INNOVATIVE MARKETING

    Innovative Marketing
    Recognizing schools with creative and effective marketing strategies that engage their communities.

  • INNOVATIVE TEACHING AND LEARNING

    Innovative Teaching & Learning
    Celebrating innovative approaches to teaching and learning that significantly impact student outcomes.

  • JUDGES CHOICE AWARD

    Judges Choice Award

    Awarded to outstanding finalists recognized for exceptional merit and compliments from the judges within their category

  • PROFESSIONAL LEARNING AND STAFF DEVELOPMENT

    Professional Learning & Staff Development
    Honoring schools that excel in providing exceptional professional development opportunities for their staff.

  • PUBLIC CHOICE AWARD

    Public Choice Award

    Award voted on by the general public across all the categories above

  • SCHOOL LIBRARY

    School Library Award
    Recognizing outstanding school libraries that foster a love for reading and learning

  • SCHOOL WELLNESS

    School Wellness
    Honoring schools that prioritize and excel in initiatives promoting physical, mental, and emotional wellness.

  • SERVICE LEARNING

    Service Learning

    Recognizing schools that have implemented authentic and sustainable service learning programs

  • STRATEGIC PLAN

    Strategic Plan

    Awarded to schools that have a community led strategic plan that is driving the school to excellence

  • STEAM AWARD

    STEAM Award
    Recognizing outstanding programs in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics education.

  • STUDENT AGENCY

    Student Agency
    Awarded to schools that empower students to take initiative and ownership of their learning experiences.

  • STUDENT LEADERSHIP

    Student Leadership

    Awarded to schools that have authentic and sustainable student leadership programs

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Awards Partners

The reach and impact of our awards is amplified by our valued partners

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Reach out to Justin Hardman (jahardman@21c-learning.com) if you are interested in partnering with the awards. We are looking for partners to help promote the awards as well as sponsors for the awards themselves.

FAQ

GBA refers to the “Greater Bay Area”. This includes: the two Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macao, and the nine municipalities of Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Huizhou, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen, and Zhaoqing in Guangdong Province.

The awards are open to schools that are physically located in the GBA or for businesses that operate (service schools) in the GBA.

No fees are required to apply for the award. The only cost to schools/applicants is to attend the Gala Dinner. Anyone involved in Education is welcome to attend. Although it is required for nominated entities to send at least one representative to the Gala Dinner to witness the announcement of winners. More about the Gala Dinner.

The GBA is the largest and most populated urban area in the world as well as one of the fastest growing. Already a center for innovation in multiple areas including education. These awards are designed to showcase and promote innovation and excellence in education in this dynamic and interconnected part of the world as well as to provide a platform for sharing and collaboration between schools that are part of a dynamic region that will help shape the 21st Century. 

These awards are organized by 21st Century Learning (21CL), a Hong Kong-registered company in cooperation with its partners. 21CL has a long history of bringing together educational innovators through their conferences and events throughout the region. They also previously ran the prestigious Innovative Educator and Innovative Teacher Awards which were sponsored globally by Pearson. 

Yes, absolutely.

Yes, you may submit the same application into multiple award categories as long as your submission is relevant to each of them. If you do intend to submit into multiple categories, do note that the Application Form only accommodates one award category selection per submission, thus you will need to fill in the form every time you select a different category.

The award submission can represent just one particular initiative your school leading/engaging in. For example, for the School Library Award, it could be for a new student leadership initiative in a particular school library (if you have Early Year/Primary/Secondary libraries). Or the Experiential Learning Award, it could be for a program that impacts only on a particular grade level for example.

All nominees will be invited to the Gala dinner, where we will spotlight them during the event and announce the winner LIVE for each award. Winners and finalists will be invited for photo op with the distinguished judges. Nominees should send at least one representative to the Gala Dinner on 13 February 2025.

The Gala Dinner is also open to anyone involved in Education to attend.

Tickets are $250USD per seat per person, or $199USD per seat for groups of three or more. Learn More.

Award winners will receive a trophy and plaque which they can showcase in their school. There will also be digital badges issued to award winners for display on their digital platforms. 

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Integrated with 21CLHK

  • The GBA Awards is integrated with the Annual 21st Century Learning Conference (21CLHK). The GBA Awards Gala Dinner will take place in March 2026, the evening before the conference kicks off.
  • Nominees and winners of the awards will receive discounted ticket prices for the Gala Dinner and the conference.
  • Winners will be celebrated during the conference itself amplifying the great work via the network of innovators and leaders that join 21CLHK each year.
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