The rapid development of kindergarten education requires all researchers and practitioners to continue to learn from one another. Therefore, in January 2018, a group of early childhood educators from the mainland China, as well as a representative from the Education Bureau, visited the Department of Early Childhood Education to exchange knowledge.
Professor Kevin Chung, Head of Department, extended his warm welcome to the visitors. He also provided an overview of the latest trend in early childhood education, and showcased some of our most important work in the local context, such as our development of a research-informed, locally relevant intervention that promotes child social and emotional competence. On the other hand, Dr. Jin Sun, Assistant Professor, reviewed the history of the Department, and our vision to lead the field toward a better development in early childhood education. She also compared the education systems of Hong Kong versus the mainland China.
The visitors then went to the Early Childhood and Learning Center (ECLC). They observed how children learned through classroom as well as outdoor activities in Hong Kong settings. They also discussed with ECLC’s teachers about how kindergartens may fully utilize its limited physical space to support the learning of children, and how different play-based activities could be used to motivate children to question, observe, and discover. Overall, this visit demonstrated the Department’s dedication to collaborate with frontline teachers from different regions.
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