Statutes of the Comenius Medal

Awarded in recognition of outstanding  achievements in the fields of educational research and innovation

 

General provisions

 

1. The Jan Amos Comenius Medal, created jointly by the Ministry of National Education, Youth and Sport of the Czech Republic and the Director-General of UNESCO, in 1992, on the occasion of the 400th anniversary of the birth of Jan Amos Comenius, is intended to reward outstanding achievements carried out in the fields of educational research and innovation and exceptional examples of personal devotion to education and the ideals of UNESCO demonstrated throughout an important part of one's life. As well as commemorating the spiritual heritage of Jan Amos Comenius, its principal aim is to promote and encourage new initiatives making a significant contribution to the development and renewal of education.

 

2. The Jan Amos Comenius Medal will be awarded during sessions of the International Conference on Education (ICE) or during any other of UNESCO’s important conferences concerning education, by the Director-General of UNESCO to not more than ten laureates coming from the five regions of the world (Africa, the Arab States, Asia, Europe, and Latin America and the Caribbean).

 

3. The Medal, together with a diploma, will be awarded to individuals (teachers, researchers, directors of educational projects) or to groups of educators or researchers. Neither staff members of UNESCO, nor the staff of the Ministry of National Education, Youth and Sport of the Czech Republic will be eligible.
The Medal will be awarded preferably to individuals and groups who have not so far received other awards.

 

4. In awarding the Medal, priority will be granted, once other conditions have been met, to candidates who have distinguished themselves by innovations in fields related to the theme of that session of the ICE or another UNESCO’s Conference during which the ceremony will take place.

 

5. The Medal is an honorary award and does not involve any financial remuneration.

 

6. The Jan Amos Comenius Medal will be struck by the Czech authorities and made available to the IBE before each award ceremony.

Selection of laureates

 

7. The selection of the laureates will be made by a jury consisting of the President of the IBE Council, the Director of the IBE, a representative of UNESCO’s Education Sector and a representative of the Ministry of National Education, Youth and Sport of the Czech Republic. The decisions of this jury concerning the choice of laureates will be submitted to the Director-General of UNESCO for approval.

 

8. The candidatures will be submitted to the Director of the IBE by UNESCO Headquarters, the Organization’s field offices, the other educational institutes, National Commissions for UNESCO, Ministries of Education and appropriate non-governmental organizations. Candidates’ files should contain a description of the research or the innovation recommended for the award (a maximum of three pages), as well as an evaluation prepared by the institution submitting the candidature.
The candidates’ names and their files should be submitted to the Director of the IBE at the latest three months before the opening of the Conference.

Awarding of the medal

 

9. After approval by the Director-General, the Director of the IBE will inform the laureates of the Jury’s decision and will invite them to attend the ceremony.
The list of laureates, as well as a brief description of the research or innovation being recognized, will be distributed to Member States, non-governmental organisations and other bodies concerned, as well as to the media.

Member States may wish to invite the laureates to form part of their delegations to the ICE or another UNESCO conference during which the Comenius Medal will be awarded.

 

10. The award ceremony will form an integral part of the ICE or another UNESCO conference. It may take place during a plenary session, in the presence of heads of delegations, or during a special ceremony.

 

11. If a laureate is unable to attend the ceremony, her/his Medal may be given to a representative of the country concerned (the delegation at the conference, the permanent mission in Paris or in Geneva) or sent to the regional or sub-regional office of UNESCO in order to be presented there.