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HKPRI Expands to Qianhai and Joins YCCECE to Co-host Inaugural Greater Bay Area Early Childhood Education Summit
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22 Aug, 2024
03 : 50
The Hong Kong Policy Research Institute (HKPRI) held the opening ceremony of its new Guangdong Representative Office. In commemorating this remarkable expansion, it joined Yew Chung College of Early Childhood Education (YCCECE) to co-host the Inaugural Greater Bay Area Early Childhood Education Summit.
The opening ceremony and summit took place in Shenzhen on 20 August 2024. The event brought together around 150 scholars, researchers, and practitioners from China and abroad to address pressing issues in early childhood education. Online views reached more than 1.8 million.
The opening ceremony featured welcome remarks from Mr. Li Naiyiu, Director of the Hong Kong Policy Research Institute, as well as officiating addresses from officials including Mr. Liu Maozhou, Level I Bureau Rank Official, Education and Technology Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong SAR and Mr. Wang Jinxia, Deputy Director-General, Authority of Qianhai-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone of Shenzhen. While congratulating the HKPRI’s Guangdong Representative Office opening, the officials welcomed the closer collaboration of institutions across borders.
"The establishment of the HKPRI Guangdong Representative Office relies on strong support from all parties. Moving forward, it will continue to provide practical and feasible recommendations for national construction and participation in global affairs, supporting and promoting the development of the Greater Bay Area," said Mr. Li Naiyiu. (photo on right)
(Photo on right) Mr. Liu Maozhou said, “The establishment of the Guangdong Representative Office by the Hong Kong Policy Research Institute in Qianhai symbolises the evolution of Hong Kong-Shenzhen cooperation from 'collaboration' to 'integration’.” As a leading area for deep integration and development between Shenzhen and Hong Kong SAR, Qianhai will play a key role in the coordinated development of the service and manufacturing industries. We hope that the representative office can provide high-quality policy suggestions to promote the integrated development of both regions and contribute wisdom to the practice of 'One Country, Two Systems’.”
(Photo on right) Mr. Wang Jinxia stressed that, “HKPRI Guangdong Representative Office officially landed in Qianhai now, this will become the institution’s springboard for exerting strength and influence, collaborating the research resources and expertise in Hong Kong SAR and the Chinese mainland, striving to extend concrete influence leveraging the public policy in the two territories. Qianhai will continue to support HKPRI to expand research space, enhance research standards and leverage the influence of think tanks to provide high-quality and efficient services.”
Professor Guo Yong, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee at Tsinghua University, delivered a special invited address via a recording. He said, ”Warm congratulations on the establishment of HKPRI Guangdong Representative Office, and high praise for its contributions to the fields of public policy research and education. It is believed that with the support of all parties, the Guangdong Representative Office will make significant contributions to the development of the Greater Bay Area, advancing innovation in education, technology, and talent. We also look forward to this forum further enhancing educational cooperation between Hong Kong SAR and the Chinese mainland, and boosting regional innovation capabilities.”
Professor Guo Yong, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee at Tsinghua University delivered congratulatory message via online video.
Inaugural Greater Bay Area Early Childhood Education Summit
"We are honoured to co-host this inaugural summit with HKPRI," said Professor Allan Yuen, President of Yew Chung College of Early Childhood Education. "By convening experts from China and around the world, we aim to facilitate the exchange of ideas and promote the development of high-quality early childhood education in the Greater Bay Area and beyond."
The summit featured four keynote addresses with a focus on the theme "Research and Practice of Quality Early Childhood Education in China and Abroad". YCCECE Professor Shi Ping and Dr. Zhang Ye shared topic on the “Background, Concepts, Process, and Outcomes of a Research Project on Kindergarten Quality Assessment Standards in the Chinese mainland”.
Professor Shi Ping has introduced the background and motivations of the College in developing a specific scale in Quality Assessment for kindergartens in China. She has also shared her views on the quality of kindergartens’ childcare and education. Dr Zhang Ye then followed up on introducing the objectives and design of the scale, Kindergarten Quality Rating Scale (CKQRS), as well as sharing the results of the validation they have performed in demonstrating the scale is a comprehensive, reliable, and valid assessment tool for kindergarten quality.
YCCECE Dr Zhang Ye shared her project findings
Professor Iram Siraj, OBE, Professor of Child Development Education and Senior Research Fellow from the Oxford University and Honorary Advisor of YCCECE, delivered an address delving into professional development in the early childhood education and outcomes. Her speech titled “Can Professional Development Improve the Quality of Teaching and Child Development in Early Childhood? Findings from a Randomised Controlled Trial of the Leadership for Learning Intervention.” In her study featuring the Fostering Effective Early Learning (FEEL) study, it showed that Professional Development programme has a strongly positive impact on the quality of practice, in areas of curricular and interactional quality investigated, and that it led to improved outcomes for young children in key domains.
Professor Iram Siraj, OBE delivered keynote speech on her FEEL study.
Symposium Highlights: Collaborative Insights into Early Childhood Education Quality Standards
During the summit, two engaging symposiums were held, showcasing the expertise of distinguished leaders in the field of early childhood education. The first symposium was led by the College's President, Professor Allan Yuen, who emphasized the importance of fostering high standards in early education through collaborative efforts and innovative practices. Joining him were Professor Shi Ping and Dr. Zhang Ye, both of whom contributed valuable insights from their recent research initiatives.
The participation of Professor Iram Siraj, an esteemed expert in child development, added a significant dimension to the symposium. Her research on professional development underscored the vital role educators play in delivering quality education and nurturing children's growth. The collaborative discussions fostered a rich exchange of ideas, inspiring attendees to rethink and innovate within their own educational practices.
From left: Prof Allan Yuen, Prof Iram Siraj, Prof Shi Ping, Dr Zhang Ye
Professor Li Minyi from Beijing Normal University Faculty of Education delivered a keynote presentation titled “Development and Quality Enhancement of Preschool Teacher Workforce - International Experience and Chinese Narratives”, her study compares the development and quality enhancement of preschool teacher workforce in local and international contexts. Professor Li is also the Honorary Professor (ECE and Care) of YCCECE.
Professor Li Minyi from Beijing Normal University delivered a keynote speech.
Dr. Huang Runke, Assistant Professor Applied Psychology of The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen) School of Humanities and Social Science, introduced her study on enhancing teaching quality and promoting child development through evidence-based teacher professional development programmes in Shenzhen. It focused on teachers’ pedagogical skills and used a randomised control trial design involving 24 preschools. The PD programme proved to improve classroom interaction and teaching quality, in the long run positively affected children’s literacy, numeracy and executive function skills.
Dr. Huang Runke shared her research findings.
Insights from the Second Symposium: Advancing Early Childhood Teacher Development
The second symposium, led by Professor Eric Cheng, Vice President (Academic) of Yew Chung College of Early Childhood Education, explored critical themes surrounding the development and quality enhancement of the early childhood teacher workforce. Professor Cheng was joined by Professor Li Minyi and Dr. Huang Runke, who shared their expert insights and research findings.
Together, the symposium provided a dynamic platform for exchanging ideas and fostering collaboration among participants. The discourse centered on nurturing a well-trained, adaptable teacher workforce, essential for delivering high-quality early childhood education. Participants left inspired by the innovative approaches discussed, poised to implement these insights in their own educational settings.
The event was concluded by a closing remark by Professor Shi Ping.
From left: Prof Eric Cheng, Prof Li Minyi, Dr Huang Runke
Book Signing
During lunch break there were two Book Signing Sessions, which featured three book titles namely, Yew Chung Approach to Early Childhood Education (Simplified Chinese Version), Movement Environment Rating Scales (MOVERS, Chinese), and Sustained and Shared Thinking and Emotional Wellbeing (SSTEW, Chinese).
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