On Thursday, it was announced that two students and an educator from India are among the 15 finalists worldwide contending for the World Education Medals 2025. Raul John Aju, a 16-year-old student from Kerala who established AIrealm Technologies Pvt Ltd, along with Ashwat Prasanna from Bengaluru, who founded EyeSight, are included in the five shortlisted candidates in the medal’s “Students” category.
Vineeta Garg, who serves as the Head of IT at a school in Delhi, has been recognized as one of the five finalists for the World Education Medal in the “Educators” category.
“With changemakers such as Raul John Aju, Ashwat Prasanna, and Vineeta Garg, I am optimistic that we are progressing positively towards the future,” stated Mayank Dhingra, the Director and Global Head of Education Business and Strategy at HP, the IT company responsible for the medals. “Their innovative contributions illustrate a hopeful trajectory for education, ensuring it adapts to fulfill the requirements of future generations,” he added. The World Education Medals were established by HP to highlight the groundbreaking efforts of individuals utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) to revolutionize education and bridge learning gaps.
They honor global achievers in three distinct categories: Leaders, Educators, and Students, for their impactful contributions, leadership, and advocacy in utilizing AI for social good. “Research, including our own ‘HP Futures 2025’ report, indicates the advantages of AI in bridging learning gaps and providing equitable education, but this is only achievable when it is implemented ethically and effectively,” Dhingra remarked. Raul has been selected for his prominent initiative, ThinkCraft Academy, which seeks to democratize AI education by ensuring accessibility for learners ranging from rural schools to international universities.
His fellow finalist, Ashwat, is competing for his contributions to making science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education accessible to visually impaired students.
Vineeta’s nomination in the Educator category stems from EmpowerED with AI, an initiative that creates multilingual AI resources, accessible tools, and gamified learning platforms to help students and teachers comprehend, utilize, and innovate with AI.
Other contenders for this year’s medals include representatives from the US, the UAE, and the Philippines, as well as from Switzerland, Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Italy, and Greece.
The winners of the three medals, selected from the finalists by a Global Judging Academy made up of distinguished individuals, will be revealed next month and celebrated at the Education Leaders Forum in London.